The Advantages of Using Dyneema Trapeze Lines

The Advantages of Using Dyneema Trapeze Lines

About dyneema

Dyneema is one of the World's strongest fibres, it is quickly becoming the go to product to replace heavy and hard to work with wire.

Dyneema rope characteristics:

• High strength
• Lightweight
• Water resistant
• Chemical resistance
• UV Resistant

What diameter?

The diameter used is a personal preference, some people like to go thicker for their confidence but 2mm through to 3mm are the most popular. Remember a 2mm dyneema rope will have a breaking strain of around 400kg, which is plenty to hold your weight on the wire.

Making new dyneema trapeze lines

It's important to note that Sailing Chandlery do offer a rope splicing service, if you're not comfortable doing the splicing work then let us take the task on for you with a quick turn around time.

Tasks to complete:

• Measure your existing wires
• Order the same length plus around 2m to be safe, this allows you space for coming back on yourself and some spare incase something goes wrong
• Make sure you have the right splicing tools for the job, we would recommend:
  
  • D splicer needle set
  • 4mm selma fid
  • D splicer dyneema scissors
• Get any accessories such as Clamcleats ready and in place
• Lay out your exising trapeze lines and then work on top of them as a template
• Add a locking eye at one end, we usually add this at the top of the trapeze line system
• Work out where the bottom loop needs to be, feed it through any accessories you have and then add a non locking splice - we recommend this because it can be adjusted if needed - if you don't taper the rope in then you can tie a knot on the outside if needed
• If you're confident that you won't need to adjust then you can add a locking splice and taper the rope end in

Potential extras

• Protection at abraision points - you could add some other rope cover on your loops to help prevent against abraision
• Whip and stitch - not always needed but some people feel more comfortable with this

Advantages of dyneema trapeze lines

• Adjustable
• Lightweight
• Strong
• Less windage
• More flexible in terms of set up
• You can embed shockcord to pull the trapeze hook up so it easily hooks into your harness while you get out on the wire

Top tips

• Make sure you buy a dyneema rope with a protective coating - this will help protect against the sun and other elements
• Make sure you roll the boat over every so often and check the lines for any wear - even if the boat isn't being used the trapeze lines will blow around in the wind
• If you don't have the end fittings (such as Clamcleat) with you then you can cheat and feed the loop through itself to secure

Which dyneema products do we recommend for trapeze lines?

• 2.5mm Rig 12 dyneema - https://www.sailingchandlery.com/products/2-5mm-dyneema-sk78-rope
• 2.5mm Marlow D12 - https://www.sailingchandlery.com/products/2-5mm-marlow-excel-d12-dyneema
• 3mm Marlow D12 - https://www.sailingchandlery.com/products/3mm-marlow-excel-d12-dyneema
• 3mm Gottifredi Maffioli Compact Braid - https://www.sailingchandlery.com/products/kingfisher-3mm-dyneema-sk78-compact-braid

Helpful dyneema splicing videos

This is the method we use for D12 locking splices, very simple and very easy.

Questions?

As usual we are always happy to answer any questions you might have, please get in touch.