Choosing the right dock or sailing lines is important, the material and the size of your dock lines are very important and can vary according to your needs.

Polyester: ideal sailing line for sheets

An excellent choice for applications where strength, low stretch and durability are important, as in most running rigging applications. Also, polyester has a moderate price tag, which makes it a good fit for a variety of uses and users.

Nylon: ideal for dock lines.

One of the original synthetic fibers, nylon has great shock absorption properties, wear, UV resistance and strength. Also with a moderate price, nylon ropes are great for dock and anchor lines.

HMPE (Dyneema): ideal sailing line for halyard.

High Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE) or dyneema (dyneema is a brand) is another high performance fiber with very high strength and very low stretch. These ropes also repel water, float, and are ideal for lightweight running rigging. HMPE ropes do have a few drawbacks, however. They have a low melting point, which makes these ropes susceptible to friction.

Polypropylene: ideal for fisher man, lobster traps

This is a lower to moderately priced line that is great for applications where a lightweight or affordable line is important (perfect for the fisher man, and lobster trap) . Polypropylene line floats. The drawbacks to polypropylene are that it is not UV resistant, has high stretch, and melts at a low temperature

Type of material and lines use

Polyester  (the perfect sailing line)

Polyester has 25% less elasticity than nylon rope, high UV rating, excellent abrasion, rot, mildew and chemical resistance and is recommended for main sail and genoa sheet. Polyester rope does not float. Unlike nylon, polyester will retain its normal level of strength, even when wet.

Polyester sailing lines are low-stretch. While nylon’s flexibility does bring it certain advantages, polyester offers a set of different perks for its low-stretch nature.

Because it won’t stretch out while in use, polyester is also good for use for awnings, flagpoles, bundle ties, and general, firm tie-down requirements.

Polyester is the best-all-around synthetic rope. For a no-brainer, fail-safe, strong and efficient synthetic rope, polyester is almost always the best choice, but we won’t recommend it for dock lines.

While nylon is indeed more flexible (making it stretch and shock resistant), polyester doesn’t share any of nylon’s potential weaknesses.

Nylon (polyamide)  the perfect dock line

Nylon has the highest elasticity and strength compared to polyester and polypropylene, high UV rating, excellent abrasion, rot, mildew, marine growth and chemical resistance. Nylon is recommended for dock-lines and mooring/anchor lines. It has high shock absorbance properties.


Because of its flexibility, nylon is able to maintain its strength despite withstanding high levels of stress.

Unlike polyester, nylon rope has an impressive stretch resistance, which may be desireable if you need that extra “give.”

Nylon sailing ropes can stretch out, and the rope will still return to its normal size when you are done with the job.

Nylon is shock resistant. While nylon and polyester are both strong synthetic ropes, nylon is the big winner when it comes to shock works.

it is therefore preferable to overestimate the size of your dock lines especially if you are sailing the Caribbean or Mediterranean sea, as long as these are still of a size compatible with your bridge clits of course.

Polyrene

 Polyrene been developed as an economic alternative to nylon, maintaining similar strength, specific gravity and appearance characteristics, without water-related strength loss or hardening with use. A new rope will stretch approximately 25% at break. The permanent elongation after initial loading to safe working load is approximately 4%.

Because of its flexibility, nylon is able to maintain its strength despite withstanding high levels of stress.

 Polyrene been developed as an economic alternative to nylon, maintaining similar strength, specific gravity and appearance characteristics, without water-related strength loss or hardening with use. A new rope will stretch approximately 25% before to break. 

Dock Lines

 There are three main types of rope construction for dock lines: 
three-strand, double braid and Mega Braid.

Three-strand line is easy to splice and is the most affordable. 

Double braid is a little bit stronger for a given size, has about half of three-strand's stretch, and is available in many colors so you can color-coordinate your dock lines to match your canvas.

Mega Braid is a 12-strand Single braids are easy to coil and handle. Mega Braid is frequently the choice for boats above 60 feet but is harder to splice.