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Recreation & Cruising Line

Recreation & Cruising Line

Outfitting your sailboat for recreational sailing or cruising doesn't mean sacrificing on line. At West Coast Sailing, we offer a variety of high quality, durable, and affordable line options designed for the recreational and cruising sailor. Line has come a long way in the past 5-10 years, with even the most entry level options offering more strength, durability, and uv resistance than ever before.


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  • 10mm Kingfisher Matte Polyester 10mm Kingfisher Matte Polyester

    10mm Kingfisher Matte Polyester

    Kingfisher Yacht Ropes
    $0.92
    Matte Polyester from Kingfisher is a soft polyester braid on braid with a high grip staple polyester cover. It is ideal for sheets, control lines and classic rigging, and super comfortable in the hand. Diameter - 10mm Core - Polyester Cover...
    Qty in Cart: 0
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    $0.92
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  • 8mm Kingfisher Matte Polyester 8mm Kingfisher Matte Polyester

    8mm Kingfisher Matte Polyester

    Kingfisher Yacht Ropes
    $0.68
    Matte Polyester from Kingfisher is a soft polyester braid on braid with a high grip staple polyester cover. It is ideal for sheets, control lines and classic rigging, and super comfortable in the hand. Diameter - 8mm Core - Polyester Cover -...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $0.68
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  • 6mm New England Ropes Sta-Set

    6mm New England Ropes Sta-Set

    New England Ropes
    $0.77
    Sta-Set is a strong, flexible and long wearing performance double braid polyester line with superior durability and dependability. It is high strength, low stretch, and extremely durable, yet it still remains soft over time. Sta-Set is both easy to...
    Qty in Cart: 0
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    $0.77
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  • 6mm Robline Orion 300 Line Green 6mm Robline Orion 300 Line Red

    6mm Robline Orion 300 Line

    Robline
    $0.46
    Robline Orion 300 is a versatile all-round rope featuring a traditional design. Its high UV resistance, longevity, and great ease of handling make this product a benchmark for many recreational and cruising applications. The soft hand and durable...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $0.46
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  • 8mm Orion 500 Line

    8mm Robline Orion 500 Line

    Robline
    $0.66
    8mm Orion 500 from Robline is one of our favorite all-around, jack-of-all-trades type line options. It is a fantastic all purpose polyester line suitable for mainsheets and jib sheets in many small sailboats. It has a soft hand, great strength, and is...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $0.66
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  • 8mm Orion 300 Line

    8mm Robline Orion 300 Line

    Robline
    $0.66
    Robline Orion 300 is a versatile all-round rope featuring a traditional design. Its high UV resistance, longevity, and great ease of handling make this product a benchmark for many recreational and cruising applications. The soft hand and durable...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $0.66
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  • 10mm Robline Orion 300 Line Blue 10mm Robline Orion 300 Line Green

    10mm Robline Orion 300 Line

    Robline
    $0.93
    Robline Orion 300 is a versatile all-round rope featuring a traditional design. Its high UV resistance, longevity, and great ease of handling make this product a benchmark for many recreational and cruising applications. The soft hand and durable...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $0.93
    Subtotal:
  • 12mm Orion 300 Line Blue

    12mm Robline Orion 300 Line

    Robline
    $1.17
    Robline Orion 300 is a versatile all-round rope featuring a traditional design. Its high UV resistance, longevity, and great ease of handling make this product a benchmark for many recreational and cruising applications. The soft hand and durable...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.17
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Finding The Right Diameter

If you are replacing an existing line, the easiest way to determine what diameter you need is to match what you already have. This can be done with a caliper or by close estimation with a tape measure. If you've previously used a 7mm sheet and it has performed well, another 7mm line is likely a great choice. In most applications, there is some flexibility in the exact diameter that can be used. Most blocks, for example, have an 'ideal' diameter (ie, the line diameter that runs most effectively though the block's sheave) but also have a range so that you can run a slightly thinner or slightly thicker line. If you have a sheet that is getting hung up in your rig, stepping down 1-2mm might help the sheet run more efficiently. If you have a larger boat or rig and want to run a thinner sheet, consider a double braid line that features a Dyneema or spectra core for strength.

Line Diameter Conversion

1mm = 3/64 inch | 2mm = 5/64 inch | 3mm = 1/8 inch

4mm = 5/32 inch | 5mm = 3/16 inch | 6mm = 1/4 inch

7mm = 9/32 inch | 8mm = 5/16 inch | 9mm = 3/8 inch

10mm = 25/64 in | 11mm = 7/16 in  | 12mm = 1/2 in

Double Braid vs Single Braid

Two terms you will often see in line descriptions are 'double braid' and 'single braid', which refer to the way the line is constructed. At the most basic level, a double braid line has a cover and a core whereas a single braid does not, but there are other important distinctions to consider when making a line selection.

Single Braids are made up of either 8 or 12 strands that are braided into a circular pattern, half clockwise and half counter clockwise. This produces a line that is supple, absorbs twists, and tends not to kink. There are two types of single braid lines: performance single braids and polyester/blended single braids. Performance single braids are made from fibers with very low stretch and designed to handle extreme loads - think Dyneema, Spectra, or Vectran. Polyester/blended single braids, sometimes called hollow braid, are soft and easy to grip, built for sheets and hand-adjusted control lines. These are less common than performance single braid lines but recommended in a few specific applications.

Double Braids, sometimes called braid on braid, have a braided core within a braided outer jacket or cover. This creates a strong, durable, smooth-running line that is easy to handle. Double braids are used for the vast majority of all running rigging on sailboats including sheets, halyards and control lines for both cruising or racing. There are two types to consider: polyester double braids and high-tech double braids. Polyester double braids, found most commonly on recreational and cruising sailboats, have a polyester cover with polyester core. These are low maintenance, affordable, and long-lasting, while offering relatively low stretch and high working loads. For additional strength and minimal stretch, consider high-tech double braids. These lines typically feature a Dyneema or Spectra core (non-stretch) inside a polyester or polyester/dyneema blend cover for additional durability. They are more expensive but often the go to choice for high performance racing boats.

Whipping & Splicing

Looking to clean up the end of your line or need to add a splice to your rig? Visit our Whipping & Splicing page for a full selection of whipping twine, fids, splicing needles, and complete splicing kits. Perfect for the DIY sailor looking to further optimize their rigging.

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