Sorry I messed this one up before. :-(( Here is another point on nylon straps. Not all straps are created equal. There is the thin, flat strap that is very easy to use and works well in plastic buckles. This stuff is fine for fanny pack straps but I consider it marginal at best for securing kayaks. There is the tubular nylon strap. Tube nylon is very soft and easy to handle but is also very easy to chafe through. This is fair for securing kayaks as long as you are very carefull to make certain that it cannot rub on anything. Then there are various grades of thick, heavy nylon strap, type 18 parachute bridle is one that is excellent. It is far stronger than needed for the job of securing kayaks giving a very good safety margin to allow for wear and UV degradation. It is also the most chafe resistant of all nylon lines. Remember, any line or mechanical connection can break, sometimes without any warning. My idea is to secure the boat(s) so that no one and preferably no two failures will result in the loss of the boat. michael johnlebl_at_aol.com wrote: > Back to rof racks. Nylon straps are strong, but are not nearly as abrasion > resistant as other material. The least little thing will wear right through > them. A point well made in another post. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Years ago I was advised not to use nylon for securing a gel coat canoe. The argument was that the nylon would cut right through the gelcoat. I've used Poly ropes ever since. Never cut the gelcoat. I've always preferred ropes since they don't sing like the straps tend to do. I can't believe that the strap vibration is doing anything any good. Is there any truth to nylon cutting? or is it another old saw with no basis? > Back to rof racks. Nylon straps are strong, but are not nearly as abrasion > resistant as other material. The least little thing will wear right through > them. A point well made in another post. _________________________________________________________________ * "Nothing is as terrible to see as ignorance in action ." * GOETHE * Bob Washburn P.E., Director of Facilities Management * Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville * rwashbu_at_siue.edu (618) 650-2560 fax (618) 650-2595 __________________________________________________________________ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Bob Washburn wrote: > > Years ago I was advised not to use nylon for securing a gel coat canoe. > The argument was that the nylon would cut right through the gelcoat. I've > used Poly ropes ever since. Never cut the gelcoat. I've always preferred > ropes since they don't sing like the straps tend to do. I can't believe > that the strap vibration is doing anything any good. > > Is there any truth to nylon cutting? or is it another old saw with no basis? Don't think so. Been using nylon straps for 7 years, and see no significant loss of gelcoat, except when grit/sand gets undr the strap. OTOH, DO have wear in gelcoat showing from ONE 3-hour stint under polypropylene laid ropes -- while strapped across the bows of a Zodiac. I think the wear requires something "harder" than gelcoat in contact with it. Nylon is softer, and so is polypropylene. I suspect grit is the culprit. Re: singing straps: a half-turn of the strap across any larger open expanses will detune it away. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Bob, >Is there any truth to nylon cutting [gelcoat]? or is it another old saw with no basis? I'd consider it an old saw with no basis. I've used Nylon ropes for years on gelcoated boats with no problems whatsoever. I use mainly Polypropylene, now, but only cause it's what I have. Bought it because it's not as stretchy as nylon which is a real pain in the rain (even in the plain - sorry..). I don't think that any other easily available synthetic rope will bother the gelcoat, either. Don't sweat it. Hank Hays. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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