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Line By Type

Shop Sailboat Line by Type - Polyester, Dyneema, Technora, & More

Line has come a long way in the past few decades, and current options offer great value and performance. We offer a variety of high tech Lines, which generally feature a non-stretch core for strength, durable cruising lines, which are typically polyester and less expensive but still strong and durable, or Dyneema, Spectra, & Vectran for non-stretch control line, halyard, and sheet applications. Shockcord bungee and floating Polypropylene also available. 


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  • 8mm Maffioli Swiftcord Line

    8mm Maffioli Swiftcord Line

    Kingfisher Yacht Ropes

    $1.98
    Gottifredi Maffioli Swiftcord from Kingfisher Ropes is lightweight, strong, durable, comfortable to hold in your hands. Made popular by Olympic dinghy sailors, Swiftcord is a favorite among many active sailors. It is a hollow braid construction with an...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.98
    Subtotal:
  • 7mm Maffioli Swiftcord Line

    7mm Maffioli Swiftcord Line

    Kingfisher Yacht Ropes
    $1.60
    Gottifredi Maffioli Swiftcord from Kingfisher Ropes is lightweight, strong, durable, comfortable to hold in your hands. Made popular by Olympic dinghy sailors, Swiftcord is a favorite among many active sailors. It is a hollow braid construction with an...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.60
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  • 6mm Maffioli Swiftcord Line

    6mm Maffioli Swiftcord Line

    Kingfisher Yacht Ropes
    $1.17
    Gottifredi Maffioli Swiftcord from Kingfisher Ropes is lightweight, strong, durable, comfortable to hold in your hands. Made popular by Olympic dinghy sailors, Swiftcord is a favorite among many active sailors. It is a hollow braid construction with an...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.17
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  • 3mm Robline Ocean 5000 Heat Set SK78 Dyneema

    3mm Robline Ocean 5000 Heat Set SK78 Dyneema Line

    Robline
    $1.64
    Robline Ocean 5000 is made of pure, pre-streched Dyneema® SK78. Often referred to as "heat-set" Dyneema. The SK78 Dyneema is heated and loaded to a percentage of its breaking load. The process aligns and equalizes the Dyneema fibers which makes for a...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.64
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  • 2mm Robline Ocean 5000 Heat Set SK78 Dyneema

    2mm Robline Ocean 5000 Heat Set SK78 Dyneema Line

    Robline
    $1.27
    Robline Ocean 5000 is made of pure, pre-streched Dyneema® SK78. Often referred to as "heat-set" Dyneema. The SK78 Dyneema is heated and loaded to a percentage of its breaking load. The process aligns and equalizes the Dyneema fibers which makes for a...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.27
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  • 2.5mm Robline Ocean 3000 Dyneema Line (Grey)

    2.5mm Robline Ocean 3000 Dyneema Line (Grey)

    Robline
    $0.46
    Ocean 3000 from Robline is a high-performance 12-strand single braid line made of 100% Dyneema fiber. It offers a high strength-to-weight ratio (stronger than steel) with very low stretch. High abrasion and cut resistance and it even floats. Recommended...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $0.46
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  • 8mm Robline Globe PRO

    8mm Robline Globe PRO Line

    Robline
    $1.56
    Developed with professional riggers, Globe Pro from Robline is a brand new product design for high performance applications. The 12-strand Robtec core is fully coated and may be stripped and tapered as needed. The core offers high breaking loads and is...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.56
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  • 7mm Marlow Excel Matrix

    7mm Marlow Excel Matrix Line

    Marlow Ropes
    $1.95
    Excel Matrix from Marlow is a high performance dinghy and small keelboat sheet. This is an ideal choice for spinnaker sheets. Does not kink or absorb water and is easy to taper thanks to thicker Dyneema core and thinner cover. High grip, blended cover of...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.95
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  • 6mm Marlow Excel Matrix Line

    6mm Marlow Excel Matrix Line

    Marlow Ropes
    $1.68
    Excel Matrix from Marlow is a high performance dinghy and small keelboat sheet. This is an ideal choice for spinnaker sheets. Does not kink or absorb water and is easy to taper thanks to thicker Dyneema core and thinner cover. High grip, blended cover of...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.68
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  • 9mm Robline Coppa DURA

    9mm Robline Coppa DURA Line

    Robline
    $3.62
    Robline Coppa Dura is a sheet for challenging demands aboard sporty boats, especially where little stretch, good grip and low abrasion are needed. This line offers maximum grippiness for ideal manual handling and yet great durability in aggressive...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $3.62
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  • 7mm Robline Coppa DURA

    7mm Robline Coppa DURA Line

    Robline
    $2.49
    Robline Coppa Dura is a sheet for challenging demands aboard sporty boats, especially where little stretch, good grip and low abrasion are needed. This line offers maximum grippiness for ideal manual handling and yet great durability in aggressive...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $2.49
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  • 4mm Robline Coppa 5000 Line 4mm Robline Coppa 5000 Line Line

    4mm Robline Coppa 5000 Line Line

    Robline
    $1.03
    Robline Coppa 5000 is a great high performance line for sheeting on larger dinghies and keelboats. It has a Dyneema SK-78 core and provided with a 24-plait cover for easy splicing and stripping. It is ideal for applications where minimum stretch and...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.03
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  • 5mm Robline Dinghy PolyTech

    5mm Robline Dinghy PolyTech Line

    Robline
    $2.41
    The Dinghy PolyTech from Robline is an easy-to-splice control line with a Technora cover and is ideally suited for use on skiffs and dinghies. This is our line of choice in our upgraded ILCA control systems and other dinghy controls...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $2.41
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  • 4mm Robline Dinghy PolyTech

    4mm Robline Dinghy PolyTech Line

    Robline
    $1.27
    The Dinghy PolyTech from Robline is an easy-to-splice control line with a Technora cover and is ideally suited for use on skiffs and dinghies. This is our line of choice in our upgraded ILCA control systems and other dinghy controls...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.27
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  • New England Ropes Nexus Pro

    7mm New England Ropes Nexus Pro Line

    New England Ropes
    $1.99
    Nexus Pro by New England Ropes has been developed in cooperation top sailors. Nexus Pro has a durable, lightweight cover that offers excellent grip and holding power. The core is pure Dyneema for ultra-strength and low-stretch. Colors: Blue,...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $1.99
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  • 6mm Kingfisher Float Line

    6mm Kingfisher Float Line

    Kingfisher Yacht Ropes
    $0.40
    Float Line from Kingfisher is the ideal floating bowline material. The braided multi-filament Polypropylene rope with no core is made from bright colors for high visibility, floats and is an ideal safety rope. 16 Plaint construction Multi-filament...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $0.40
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Line Fiber Type / Material Guide

Line Type   Stretch   Absorption Resistance Floatability Abrasion/Chafe UV Resistance     Creep       Hand Feel  
Polypropylene  Fair  Excellent  Excellent  Poor  Poor Poor Fair 
Polyester  Poor Poor  Poor  Excellent  Excellent Poor  Good 
Technora  Excellent Poor   Fair Excellent Poor Good  Good 
Dyneema/Spectra  Good  Good  Good Good  Good Fair  Good 
Vectran  Excellent Fair   Fair  Poor Poor Excellent  Fair 
Cordura  Good  Good Good  Excellent  Good Fair Excellent 

Line Application Guide - Dinghy

Dinghy

Polyester &
Polypropylene

Polyester
Double Braid

Dyneema Blended
Single Braid
Dyneema Blended
Double Braid
Blended Core
Double Braid
Dyneema Core
Double Braid
Vectran Core
Double Braid
 
Main Halyard         Good Better Best
Jib/Genoa Halyard         Good Better Best
Spinnaker Halyard         Good Better  
Mainsheet Good   Best Best      
Jib/Genoa Sheet Good   Best Best      
Spinnaker Sheet Good   Best Best      
Control Lines     Better     Better  

Line Application Guide - Racing

Racing

Polyester &
Polypropylene

Polyester
Double Braid

Dyneema Blended
Single Braid
Dyneema Blended
Double Braid
Blended Core
Double Braid
Dyneema Core
Double Braid
Vectran Core
Double Braid
 
Main Halyard         Good Better Best
Jib/Genoa Halyard         Good Better Best
Spinnaker Halyard         Good Best  
Mainsheet Good   Best Better Good Best  
Jib/Genoa Sheet         Good Best  
Spinnaker Sheet     Better Best Good Best  
Control Lines    Good Better Better Good Best  

Line Application Guide - Performance Cruising

Performance
Cruising

Polyester &
Polypropylene

Polyester
Double Braid

Dyneema Blended
Single Braid
Dyneema Blended
Double Braid
Blended Core
Double Braid
Dyneema Core
Double Braid
Vectran Core
Double Braid
 
Main Halyard    Good     Better Better Best
Jib/Genoa Halyard   Good     Better Better Best
Spinnaker Halyard   Good     Better Best  
Mainsheet Good Good Better   Better Best  
Jib/Genoa Sheet Good Good     Better Best  
Spinnaker Sheet Good Good     Better Best  
Control Lines Good Good Better   Better  Better  

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.

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