Synthetic standing rigging for gaff rig

I'm looking for directions, book or site, on standing rigging for a gaffer with synthetic rope (Dynema, Spectra).

It's a 21 foot boat, 20 foot wooden mast.

Thanks, Phil

Comments for Synthetic standing rigging for gaff rig

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Sep 28, 2015
 I have a tutorial
by: Her

And if you need help with the splices, let me know and I can post something on that too

Herb
Sep 28, 2015
 I have a tutorial
by: Her

Hi, I posted a tutorial on my site www.riggingdoctor.com/life-aboard for tensioning synthetic standing rigging.

Check it out and if you have any questions, shoot me an email.

I'm a rigger, but I think everyone should know how to do it themselves.
Herb
Nov 24, 2011
 Dyneema / Spectra
by: Mike

Hi Phil,

Modern synthetic ropes are, so they say, so strong I can’t understand why anyone uses wire for rigging or for those, so called, guard rails.

Anyone who has had to grab on to a wire shroud or ‘guard rail’ with any amount of weight will know what I mean.

They say that Dynema (High-Modulus Polyethylene) is world's stronger fiber.

Spectra (High molecular weight polyethylene) also has very high strength.

Both are being used on much larger rigs than yours.

Both are naturally slippery so on their own not good for holding knots and some of these hi-tec fibers have poor UV resistance.

So what you want is a core of either Dyneema or Spectra but with a braided polyester cover.

Splicing braided ropes is a bit more complicated than splicing three-strand but hey, if I can do it anyone can.

Marlow Ropes do a Splicing Kit that has superb illustrated instructions as well as the pullers adhesive tape, etc that you will need.

There are also instructions on their website.



Nov 21, 2011
 Standing rigging for gaffers (and much else beside)
by: Don


Hi, there are two bibles as you are probably aware,

The first is Gaff Rig by John Leather




The second is Hand, Reef and Steer by Tom Cunliffe

Enjoy!

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