Nylon vs Polyprop anchor rope?
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48073
Printed Date: 30 May 2026 at 6:00am
Topic: Nylon vs Polyprop anchor rope?
Posted By: junketer
Subject: Nylon vs Polyprop anchor rope?
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2009 at 8:41pm
| I'm new to boating & need new anchor, chain & warp for the boat. Ive been told that nylon is better than polyprop cos it sinks whereas polyprop floats. Does this matter? Polyprop is way cheaper of course. What do all you experienced boaties use & does anyone have any hasssles with polyprop? |
Replies:
Posted By: cosmo
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2009 at 9:50pm
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also getting new anchor rope and been advised nylon because (a) dosent float (b) easier on hands pulling it up (c) small amount of stretch ------------- i just want to go fishing..........amd ignore all my adult problems |
Posted By: tugboat
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2009 at 10:17pm
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Go "nylon" mate, as cosmo says it sinks, it has more stretch and acts as a bit of a shock absorber while at anchor, much more supple, stay away from polyprop!!. "Polypropylene" is affected more so than others by uv light and becomes brittle and will eventually breakdown. Also you might run the risk of fouling up yours or someone else prop because of it floating. "Polyester" has similar properties to nylon, it sinks, good resistance to uv but a little weaker than nylon in breaking strain, would also make a good anchor warp..
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Posted By: kens
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2009 at 10:41pm
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I use a nylon warp for my main anchor, just a lot easier to handle and all the rest. I have a spare anchor on board that I keep for emergencies but also use for anchoring the stern to the beach when I am there for lunch and whatnot, I have polyprop on this one a. because it is cheap, b, because the floating is actually advantageous for this use, it draws the punters attention to it when they are walking near the boat so they dont get caught up and trip. Go for nylon for your main anchor though. ------------- The past, the present and the future walked into a bar. It was tense. |
Posted By: cosmo
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2009 at 6:29am
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depending on the size rope you after burnsco have some excellant deals going for card holders at moment 8mm x 50m nylon $49 ------------- i just want to go fishing..........amd ignore all my adult problems |
Posted By: junketer
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2009 at 8:36am
yep i got my burnsco card so will check that out. i've seen some low-stretch sinking polyprop (i think its polyprop from memory) on trademe. also i did a day skippers course down at the local coastguard the other weekend & the recommendation for warp length is 5 x the depth of water you are anchoring in, which seems to be a bit of overkill to me? |
cosmo wrote:Posted By: tugboat
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2009 at 5:14pm
and hes still looking at polyprop
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Posted By: Dagwood
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2009 at 5:24pm
| I decided to go for Polyester so I can use it as a tow rope to pull the trailer out of the tide without the risk of creating a dangerous slingshot if I went Nylon. |
Posted By: Clutch
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2009 at 5:46pm
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Posted By: Don18025
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2009 at 8:22pm
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Clutch, the 5X depth is the minimum recommendation for a secure anchorage, like if you are staying overnight in bay or wanting to sit out a blow. If it is fishing you can use some anchors at 3X depth without to many problems. Plough and Danforth anchors like having a bit more rope so they can dig into the mud whereas a grapnel on rocks can hook with the 1.5X the depth rode. So the best thing to do is determine the size of the boat and what you want to do when anchored, then picl your anchor and go from there. I have a 9 metre launch, weights 5.5 tonne loaded, when anchored for the night in mud I use 5X depth length of rode(rope & chain) and a 35 lb manson plough. Anchoring on a deep rocky reef I use 1.5 to 2X depth rode with a grapnel. Anchored on my favourite worm bed in 27 metres I use a plough and about 2.5X depth rode. I trust that helps. Remember to pick the right anchor for the right bottom, I have dived for many plough type anchors stuck in rocky reefs. Go for Nylon, the stretch is ideal. |
Posted By: Fissure
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2009 at 8:31pm
I like the small bit of stretch you get with nylon when towing my 4.2 rib out of the tide. tow out on an angle, and it 'pops out' luvley. anyways nylon for anchor warp as it sinks and gentle on de hands.. can be twice as much though, also sits better in the anchor bin
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Posted By: cosmo
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2009 at 9:32pm
better safe than sorry,only a little sea nymph but followed my day skipper course advice and got my length and a half of chain and 50 metres of 8mm rope and no wont be overnighting on boat but still........ ------------- i just want to go fishing..........amd ignore all my adult problems |
Posted By: Busted!
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2009 at 11:14pm
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Depends on what you are trying to achieve as to what line you use. Nylon stretches like a *****, hates friction, but sinks better. Polyester is the other sinking anchor warp commonly used, but doesn't sink as quickly.
Polyester has a lot less stretch, which can be an advantage on retrieving a stuck anchor because with nylon you have to take all the stretch out of the warp before you start to pull on the anchor. Can be bloody hard on winches, hands, boat bollards plus the fact that the boat moving over waves can be downright dangerous with nylon from the springing action.
On a tinny in shallow water, go for whatever you can get cheapest but be aware of the characteristics of each line material...
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Posted By: junketer
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2009 at 10:52am
| thanks for the advice guys. i have now purchased some 8mm x 100m nylon anchor warp. |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2009 at 11:20am
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was talking to a coast guard volunteer last night about what they used for towing broken down boats out at sea.... he said they mainly used "Polyester" and use at least 50-60mts he was saying the nylon rope for towing was especially dangerous if it broke under load, could take your head off with one whack.... he was saying they have a problem with Polyprop in the rescue boat they are using at the moment because its powered by a jet unit which will suck up a Polyprop rope due to its floating ability..... he was also saying its a mad house out there at the moment with ongoing rescue all day over the weekends, and some clowns wouldnt have a clue where they are, which makes it very hard to find them.... ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: felixx
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2009 at 11:57am
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Lethal,
Sumner Lifeboat (CG) have a jet. They use a rope that looks like a fat ski rope to stop it going into their intake.
At Waimak Ashley COastguard we use a polyprop rope for a tow line and a nylon anchor line.
Our tow line is about 120m long. It is stored on a drum under the navigators seat much like the one on the Wanganui Coastguards boat. Infact thats where we got the idea.
When towing on the ocean ad accross bars you want a long tow rope, as long as the swells, so the towed vessel is doing the same thing on a wave as you. (there is a bit more to it than that, but Im too lazy to type more) ------------- Originally posted by TG LMAO felixx, you a sick puppy! hehe |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2009 at 3:22pm
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haha yeah (there is a bit more to it than that, but Im too lazy to type more) i was too..... he did say that was the distance out the back not the length sorry i was too lazy to change it as i had just come home from 12hrs work (night shift), still lots of little story's of why the use it though... but that definitely was the one that stuck in my mind at the time.... ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: Dagwood
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2009 at 3:57pm
Our CG unit can confirm from bitter experience that a Jet unit isn't fussy and is quite happy to digest a Polyester Rope as well. We can also confirm that it is capable of stalling a very sizeable diesel engine too. Where and when is normally at Murphy's discretion!  |
Posted By: Busted!
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2009 at 4:38pm
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Why don't you get a rope cutter fitted in front of the first impellor stage? Line cutters work on the shredding principle, good for kelp and weed too.
If ya driver can't avoid the cray pots, the next option would be to carefully interview your prospective jet units, and get one with higher standards and is a bit more fussy...
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Posted By: Clutch
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2009 at 5:16pm
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