Choosing the Best Marine Rope
With so many people dropping anchor at the Bight Marina each year, not many have ever stopped to wonder how much marine rope they actually use in their boating life and/or career. Whether you are sailing, docking, anchoring or even towing a boat, marine rope is used in so many facilities that we don’t even give it much thought. What makes marine rope (or line) different than any other rope? How do you know whether you want a rope that floats as opposed to one that sinks? Below you will find a detailed list on how to choose the best marine rope for anchoring, docking or towing. Yes, there are different needs for various types in the boating world.
Types of Marine Rope
Typically never needed when it comes to power-boating, more common than not sailboats use a lot of rigging and rope. Below are four different types of marine rope that sailors are familiar with:
- Docking Rope
- Anchor Rope
- Tow Rope
- Sailing Rope
Color-Coded Marine Rope
If you’re feeling adventurous and looking for a way to impress your boating friends, knowing the correct terms and differences in marine rope colors are crucial to any avid boater or sailor.
- Black Rope | Travelers and Vangs
- Green | Guys
- Red | Spinnaker
- Blue | Jib / Genoa Line
- White | Mainsail sheet and halyard lines
Rope Materials and Fibers
In the manufacturing of any marine rope, you’ll notice synthetic and natural fibers. Each rope is carefully constructed to accommodate a facet of needs any boater should encounter. Below you’ll find a detailed list of each type of rope materials and fibers:
- Nylon
- Shock absorption, UV and wear resistance. Durable and used for docking and anchorage lines. Will not shrink when wet.
- Polyester
- Low stretch, durable and can be used for anchor lines.
- Polypropylene
- As strong as nylon, lightweight and great elasticity. Great for tow rope as polypropylene floats on the water. UV resistant and melts at low temperatures.
- Kevlar
- Incredibly strong, minimal stretch and rust-resistant. Used for mooring lines on ships, sailing rigs and oil rigs. Has a polyester cover over Kevlar/Technora core and also known as Technora.
Some may arguably say that a boater’s life is the best life. No wonder hundreds of thousands of people frequent the Key West Bight Marina each and every year. We are consistently met with blue skies and one of the most beautiful oceans right in our backyard.
Visitors come to the Bight Marina, drop anchor and stay for long periods at a time. They are greeted with the perfect blend of old and new Key West while experiencing superior service and state of the art amenities. It is because of this cherished novelty that the Bight Marina is one of the most sought after marina facilities in the City of Key West.
