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Rope Guides

Technical information for The Rope Shack running rigging:

1. Tier Selection Guide:

The following table is designed to help all sailors decide which tier best suits their needs.

 Tier   Composition   Recommended Use   Suitable For 
 Economy  Double braid polyester Halyards, Sheets and Control Lines Cruisers seeking reliable, budget-friendly solutions
 Premium  Dyneema core with polyester jacket (Superbraid/Superspeed) Suitable for all uses (e.g. Halyards, Sheets, Control Lines) Cruising sailors, club racers, inshore and offshore racers wanting less stretch and increased performance
 Elite  Dyneema core with technora/polyester blended jacket (Superbraid Performance Tec) Halyards, Sheets, Control Lines Inshore and offshore racers requiring high heat and wear resistance under load

2. Donaghys Rope Selection Guide:

Rope Name Composition Applications
Yachtmaster XS Double Braid Polyester Cruising Lines
Superspeed Lightweight UHMwPE Core with Polyester Jacket Halyards & Sheets
Superbraid UHMwPE Core with Polyester Jacket Halyards & Sheets
Superbraid Performance Tec Technora/Polyester Blended Cover with UHMwPE core High-Performance Halyards & Sheets
Winchline UHMwPE Single Braid Strops, Backstays, Purchase Systems and Soft Shackles
Shockcord Elastic bungee cord Bungee Applications
Chafe Guard Dyneema Cover Sleeve Wear sleeves for high friction areas
Dockline Double Braid Nylon Core with Polyester Jacket Dock Lines
3 Strand Nylon 3-Strand Nylon Anchor lines & Dock Lines
3 Strand Silver Rope 3-strand Polypropylene Dock Lines

3. Rope Construction Types

Construction Description Stretch Flexibility Donaghy's Product/s Applications
3-Strand Three strands twisted together High (nylon) Moderate Silver Rope, Nylon Dock Lines, Anchor Lines
Double Braid Braided core inside a braided outer jacket Low (polyester) High Yachtmaster Sheets, Halyards
Core-Dependent High-strength core (e.g. Dyneema®, Vectran®, Technora®) with a protective jacket Very Low High Superspeed, Superbraid, Performance Tec, Dockline Halyards, Control Lines
Single Braid Hollow or solid braid, usually 8, 12, or 16 carriers Very Low High Winchline, Chafe Guard Lashings, Control Lines
Parallel Core Multiple high-strength parallel yarns inside a braided cover Ultra Low Low - Stays
8/12-Plait Interwoven strands in plaited pattern Medium Moderate Flexline Anchor Lines, Mooring Lines

4. Rope Diameter Selection by Boat Length for Halyards

Boat Length Polyester Double Braid Polyester Double Braid with Dyneema Core
< 20 ft (6 m) 5–8 mm 6–8 mm
20–30 ft (6–9 m) 8–10 mm 8–10 mm
30–40 ft (9–12 m) 10–12 mm 8–10 mm
40–50 ft (12–15 m) 12–14 mm 10–12 mm
50–60 ft (15–18 m) 14–16 mm 12–14 mm

If you're still unsure, send us an email and we'd be more than happy to assist you with your decision.

5. Halyard Replacement Guide

Replacing a halyard is a straightforward process when done with care and the right tools. Follow this step-by-step guide to get it done smoothly.

Equipment Required

  • 1 x Long String Line (approx. 5–10m longer than your halyard)
  • Electrical or rigging Tape
  • Measuring Tape

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Locate the non-load bearing end
    Start at the tail end of the halyard—either in the cockpit or at the mast base.
  2. Attach the string line
    • If your halyard has a reeving eye (soft loop):
      ➤ Tie the string line using a bowline knot to the eye.
    • If not:
      ➤ Overlap the string line and the halyard tail by approx. 300mm and tape them securely together.
  3. Begin removal (Best with 2 people, but can be done solo)
    • One person gently pulls the halyard down from the load-bearing end (foredeck/mast).
    • The other feeds the string line in, keeping tension to prevent it from slipping off the masthead sheave.
  4. Secure the string line
    Once the halyard is completely removed, untie it from the string line. Tie the string line to a secure point on deck or at the mast base.
  5. (Optional) Order a replacement
    • Use a measuring tape to confirm the length and diameter.
    • Head to our online store to customise a halyard that suits your yacht.
  6. Prepare the new halyard
    Lay the new halyard out on the foredeck. Tie the reeving eye to the string line.
  7. Pull the halyard in
    From the cockpit or mast base, gently pull the string line while someone on the foredeck helps guide and feed the halyard.
  8. Secure the halyard
    • Untie the string line from the halyard.
    • Tie a Figure 8 knot at the non-load bearing end to prevent it from pulling back through.
    • Clip or tie the load-bearing end to a strong point (e.g., bow fitting, cleat, or mast base) and tension lightly.
  9. Store the string line
    Re-spool your string line for next time.

✅ You’ve Successfully Replaced a Halyard!

6. Dock Line Diameter and Length Guide

Boat Length Dock Line Diameter
< 26 ft (8 m) 10-12 mm
26–33 ft (8–10 m) 12-14 mm
33–39 ft (10–12 m) 14-16 mm
39–46 ft (12–14 m) 16-18 mm
46–53 ft (14–16 m) 18-20 mm
53 ft+ 20-24 mm

Dock Line Setup Guide

Use a combination of bow lines, stern lines, and spring lines.

Basic Docking Configuration:

  • Bow and Stern Lines: About half the boat length.
  • Spring Lines: At least the full length of the boat.

Rough Conditions or Long-Term Docking:

  • Increase line diameter
  • Use chafe protection
  • Add redundancy with extra lines

7. Fibre Types:

Fibre Type Description Application
UHMwPE (Spectra® / HMPE) Lightweight, extremely strong. Melts at 150°C, strength loss begins at 65°C. Core for halyards, sheets, lashings, and soft shackles
Aramid (Kevlar®, Technora®, Twaron®) High heat resistance to 500°C, very low stretch and creep. Jackets for halyards, high-load control lines
LCP (Vectran®) Breakdown at 330°C, strength loss from 220°C. Very low stretch and creep. Core for performance lines requiring low creep
Zylon® (PBO) Approx. 1.6× tensile strength of Aramid. Breakdown at 650°C. High-performance jackets in heat-intensive areas
Nomex® High heat and chemical resistance. No melting; decomposes after 350°C. Protective jackets in high-temp zones
Polyester Strong, low stretch, durable. Melts at 260°C, weakens from 150°C. Common jacket material; also used in dock lines
Nylon Good strength and elasticity. Melts at 220°C, weakens from 150°C. Dock lines, anchor lines, mooring lines
Polypropylene Low cost and lightweight. Melts at 140°C, weakens from 90°C. Economy ropes, temporary lashings

For more information visit submit an inquiry through our contact us page or email us at info@theropeshack.com.au

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