The Amazing Lightweight Rope That Can Lift A Car!!!

October 22, 2022 by Sailing Tips | Language: EN Play Time: 00:04:19 | SAILING YOUTUBERS

It used to be that the gold standard for strength and low stretch in sailing was this, stainless steel.

Now it’s this, a synthetic fibre called Dyneema, which is not only stronger than steel, but soft, and much nicer to cuddle with.

Dyneema is also much lighter, and 100 feet of this weighs only one pound, or 450 grams, so it floats. This doesn’t float.

Finally, you can us Dyneema line to replace both the wires to hold up your mast, and as fasteners like this shackle, by making soft shackles.

These soft shackles are very easy to make, like in this video, and very strong. This soft shackle made with 3/16” or 5mm Dyneema is strong enough to lift a car, plus you can make them in any length you need.

A single strand of this 3/16 or 5mm Dyneema can hold two tons. The strength of a soft shackle really comes down to the type of knot you use.

We’re going to need more than a 1.5 ton car to really put this to the test, so I enlisted the help of this six ton hydraulic press, and attached the soft shackle like this.

Even with a simple overhand knot, which is the simplest kind of knot you can use in a soft shackle, we could still lift a car, that just wasn’t enough weight, so hopefully this six ton press will help us find the limits.

The Dyneema is so strong that it doesn’t break, but the overhand knot is starts to slip at around 1.75 tons, still more than enough to lift a car. Most lines break before the knot, but not Dyneema.

If you need more strength, use a better knot, like a Diamond knot, although those are more difficult to tie. I tried that and just wound up deforming this piece of steel in the press, but the Dyneema didn’t break.

These soft shackles have all kinds of uses on sailboats, like connecting the mainsheet to the clew of the main sail, or connecting the spinnaker blocks to the boat, or even replacing a busted steel clew ring.

On my boat I use Dyneema lines and soft shackles for connecting the main sail to the main sheet, as well as for the main outhaul and reef lines.

I use Dyneema soft shackles for connecting the spinnaker turning blocks to the aft beam.

And that’s a Dyneema soft shackle for attaching the spinnaker sheets to the spinnaker clew, and the jib sheets to the jib clew.

You may think that foiling is the greatest gift to sailing in the last decade, but foiling wouldn’t be possible without materials and control lines made of Dyneema.

Moreover, everybody can benefit from Dyneema lines on their boats, whereas very few boats can benefit from foiling.

Overhand knot holds 75% of line strength, double figure eight holds 150%.

Do not use for safety critical applications (e.g. 4x4 recovery)!!!

Disclaimer:
- This content is offered solely for your education and entertainment.
- There are no warranties, expressed or implicit, about any content or its fitness for a particular purpose.
- There are risks of injury, death, drunkenness, and financial hardship involved in sailing.
- The skipper is always responsible for the safety of their vessel and crew.
- Sailing Tips is not responsible or liable in any way for anything that happens on or anywhere near your boat or any boat that we are not in command of.

#howto #tie #softshackle #Dyneema #knot #sailing #howtosail #learntosail #sailingtips

The Amazing Lightweight Rope That Can Lift A Car!!! Locations

Note of Recognition for Sailing Tips

At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Sailing Tips and other creators invests in crafting each and every video. Their passion for delivering exceptional content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.

We invite you to watch their captivating videos and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.

We're also inviting you to explore any sponsorships and partnerships highlighted in the video description of "The Amazing Lightweight Rope That Can Lift A Car!!!", or directly on YouTube. By considering their offerings or purchasing services and items, you not only support Sailing Tips but also the brands and collaborators they're associated with.

If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Sailing Tips or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.

Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!