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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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.