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How to
Select Running Rigging
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What It Does
Running rigging is a general term for rope (line) or wire on sailboats,
used to hoist and trim sails. It consists of halyards, sheets, guys, control lines, and
assorted specialized lines. By creating tension on the corners of sails and other sail
controls, running rigging is used to shape sails and propel the boat forward.
Running Rigging Characteristics
Almost all line used on modern boats is constructed from synthetic
fibers: nylon, polyester, Kevlar®, Technora®, Spectra®, Vectran® polypropylene.
Synthetic line has many advantages over organic fibers, including rot resistance,
strength, and more desirable stretch characteristics.
There are two primary constructions of marine line: three-strand and
braided. Due to its stretch characteristics, three-strand line is more commonly used for
dock and anchor lines, but polyester three-strand is favored by traditionalists who want a
twisted line that has a knobby texture for handling.
In the family of braids, single braid line consists of twelve
sets of fiber strands woven together, with no cover. The construction makes it very supple
and gives it a knobby surface texture. Double braid line has a braided cover over a
braided core, and is used for almost all running rigging applications. The strength of the
rope is shared by both the cover and core fibers. Parallel core line has a core
that consists of parallel fibers running the entire length of the line, and a braided
cover. Although initially stiffer than double braid, parallel core lines have lower
stretch. New England Ropes makes high-quality single braids (Regatta Braid, SpecTwelve,
and Regatta Lite), double braids (Sta-Set, T-900, Spect-Set II, and V-100) and
parallel-core lines (Sta-Set X, Sta-Set X Lite and Sta-Set X+).
Line used for running rigging must combine strength, flexibility, low
stretch, and abrasion resistance. Each rigging application emphasizes certain qualities in
the line, which is why there is such a diversity of line available. The constructions
compare as follows:
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Construction |
Strength |
Flexibility |
Stretch |
Abrasion Resistance |
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Three-strand |
Medium |
Low |
High |
High |
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Single Braid |
Med-high |
High |
Medium |
Medium |
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Double Braid
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High |
Medium |
Low |
Med-high |
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Parallel Core |
High |
Med-low |
Very Low |
Med-high |
In almost all running rigging, less stretch is better, but some
applications are more critical. In general, lines which act directly on the corner of a
sail, like halyards, sheets and guys, require the lowest stretch and the greatest
strength. Control lines that are adjusted frequently are less affected by stretch. For
lines like mainsheets, vangs, outhauls, etc., good handling characteristics (flexibility)
and good abrasion resistance are more important than low stretch.
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Sta-SetNew England Rope
New England Rope Brite-Lite Spectra
New England Rope Color Coded Sta-Set
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