Ropes are a crucial tool for boating. Used in many different ways and made from many different materials. This post looks at nylon ropes, and their general use on the waters.

Standard nylon is used for most docking and anchor lines making it a popular choice. It’s strong and gives under load to absorb energy. It’s relatively inexpensive and easy to handle, making it great for those who are boating beginners.

Nylon comes in strands and braided. Three strand is usually used on anchor rodes because of its stretch and resistance to abrasion. Braided, more commonly seen on dock lines and in sailing rigging, will snag easier than stranded line which can be a serious detriment when scraping across the bottom of the sea. Despite this it’s easier to handle and has great strength.

It’s important to remember that some types of stranded lines are softer than regular 3 strand and less desirable for boat use. If you see stranded nylon in a hardware store that’s very inexpensive and not suited for boating.