By materials

Once you've chosen your rope according to its intended use, you'll need to select a fiber that's suited to your needs and sailing schedule. Synthetic or natural fiber, both offer different qualities. Today, natural hemp fiber is used almost exclusively for decoration and restoration of old rigs.

Polyester, polyamide, Dyneema and polypropylene are the most widely used synthetic fibers on the marine rope market. They all guarantee durability and resistance to marine conditions, taking hemp rope into the world of decoration and DIY.

HEMP ROPE

Even if it has been replaced by a version that imitates its appearance to perfection, hemp rope is still the most popular choice. is inseparable from the world of sailing. From the manufacture of fishing nets to use in boat rigging, natural hemp fiber was already commonplace in medieval times. This is why hemp is still associated with the marine imagination, even if synthetic materials and fibers have largely replaced it today.

A 100% natural, ecological fiber with an authentic look, hemp rope is recognizable by its beige color and soft feel. If treated for outdoor use, this material can be put to many uses. Be careful, however, to check the breaking load and the environment in which it will be used.

DYNEEMA

It's thanks to the evolution of technology that materials like Dyneema have come into being. Widely used in the world of racing, the Dyneema is a material with very high tensile strength. In fact, Dyneema fiber is five times more resistant than standard polyester rope. This is one of its many qualities, in addition to low stretch, minimum weight and excellent buoyancy.

Like all synthetic fiber marine ropes, Dyneema fiber is not damaged by UV rays or salt. A material of unrivalled performance, Dyneema rope is made from polyethylene and is used in particular to manufacture halyards for optimal sail trim on racing boats.

In spools or by the meter, browse our online marine rope store to find the Dyneema fiber best suited to your application. Nautisports stocks various diameters of Dyneema marine rope, including 8mm, 10mm and 12mm. Dyneema fiber is also suitable for standing rigging on all types of sailboats.

NYLON

Also known as polyamide, nylon is another synthetic material used in the sailing world for its great strength. Easy to work with, nylon's suppleness makes it easy to tie knots, for example. With its smaller diameter, nylon is also widely used for tennis racket strings.

On the other hand, one of the few disadvantages of Nylon (Polyamide) is that it absorbs water. As a result, it becomes heavier and more difficult to handle when maneuvering. This is why nylon, or polyamide, is mainly used for mooring lines. Its ability to withstand shocks at sea guarantees maximum safety for your boat when moored in port or at sea, for added durability.

POLYESTER

For an all-purpose material with almost unrivalled outdoor resistance, polyester remains one of the most widely used synthetic fibers. Whether for mooring lines, halyards or sheets, polyester rope is the material of choice. Polyester on many decks and rigs of yachts and cruisers. Resistant to UV rays, seawater and humidity, polyester is also highly resistant to breakage. It's a leading material in the nautical industry for the manufacture of all types of ends.

Thanks to its many technical properties and possible variations, polyester is one of the most useful rope materials in a wide variety of fields, such as handling, mooring, DIY, gardening... If you're looking for a versatile rope material for your boat, and you're not aiming for racing performance, polyester will give you the greatest satisfaction.

POLYPROPYLENE

Most often available in standard or textured imitation-hemp versions, polypropylene is the material of choice. Polypropylene is a very versatile marine rope because it is highly resistant to abrasion and heavy loads. That's why it's used in so many fields, including construction, industry, lifting, gardening and DIY.

As with all marine ropes, PP polypropylene rope is UV-resistant. It is also rot-proof, seawater-resistant and guarantees good flotation. It can be found on board in the form of mooring lines and hawsers, even on the decks of heavy-duty vessels such as merchant ships.

In addition to these technical manufacturing qualities, polypropylene is very inexpensive. It's a material we recommend for its diverse properties and unbeatable value for money. For a more natural effect, you'll find hemp-like textured polypropylene rope on our site for all your interior and exterior decorating needs.

MARINE ROPE SELECTION BY MATERIAL

At Nautisports, you'll find all the ropes by material you need for your sailboat: Dyneema fiber halyards for performance in regattas and competitions, or braided polyester mooring lines for winterizing your pleasure boat. Even if you can still find natural hemp rope on old rigs, you'll want to use it for interior decoration in a nautical style to great effect. Technical advances have made it possible to develop marine rope materials for a wide range of uses at sea.

Choosing the right marine rope from the various materials available on the market will ensure the safety and longevity of your sailboat. Choosing one synthetic fiber over another can affect sailing performance and even the reliability of your rig. Each material has its own characteristics, so there's no need to look for a single-use line. There's no such thing as a fiber that can replace all your onboard rope. Polyamide and polyester materials are designed for anchoring and mooring, because they are strong, while the performance and handling of polyester and Dyneema fibers are used for halyards and sheets.