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.
| 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 |
| Dinghy |
Polyester & |
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 |
| Racing |
Polyester & |
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 |
|
Performance |
Polyester & |
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 |
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.
