Hi folks

I quite like the Dyneema rope in my Severne extension - no signs of wear after a couple of years of using. For some reason their Enigma booms do not come with the same rope, more like a normal rope from Bunnings. The outhaul is fine, but the lock jaw rope is wearing out, just wondering whether there is a reason not to use Dyneema?
Cheers

Generally speaking the mast extension needs a well wearing slippery rope to work through the pulley, where as the front and back end of the boom just needs a rope that will grip well in the teeth when locking off.

Yes that black and red rope is ok for outhaul rope but not fit for that clamp job, mine weared till breaking point pretty quickly, i use formuline for that rope and for downhaul rope.

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Tasdoc said..
Hi folks

I quite like the Dyneema rope in my Severne extension - no signs of wear after a couple of years of using. For some reason their Enigma booms do not come with the same rope, more like a normal rope from Bunnings. The outhaul is fine, but the lock jaw rope is wearing out, just wondering whether there is a reason not to use Dyneema?
Cheers

I use Formuline dynema 3.8 everywhere. Downhaul, outhaul, and boom lock. Why not indeed, it is way stronger and lasts longer. I even have a bunch of Formuline 4.5 left over from my now lost () AL360 extension that I am now using for the outhaul.

Never had a problem with the black and red rope that comes with the enigmas, normally get a couple of years out of them before they start to look worn.
I read that formuline is not great for boom clamps as it has no stretch but just as an experiment I swapped mine over to formuline today to see if it made any difference and it didn't. Also tried it on the outhaul, here it reduced friction but putting outhaul on was never a struggle anyway.

I use Formuline everywhere. Best option.

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Tasdoc said..
Hi folks

I quite like the Dyneema rope in my Severne extension - no signs of wear after a couple of years of using. For some reason their Enigma booms do not come with the same rope, more like a normal rope from Bunnings. The outhaul is fine, but the lock jaw rope is wearing out, just wondering whether there is a reason not to use Dyneema?
Cheers

As per above, formuline has almost no stretch so there is more chance that you overtight your boom clamp and damage the mast.
If you're able to use your boom clamp without overtightening it, formuline is fine.
Personally, I use the original rope because I'm scared of overtightening it but I know some people who never had any issue with formuline.

^agree. I use Formuline through all the downhaul pulleys. The outhaul and inhaul do next to nothing.

As the boom clamp rope is only about 20cm long I don't think it would stretch that much anyway so no more chance of breaking the clamp or mast using formuline.

The 'Stretch' is in the layup or design of the Normal rope. Formuline a totally different layup. Almost zero stretch.

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olskool said..
The 'Stretch' is in the layup or design of the Normal rope. Formuline a totally different layup. Almost zero stretch.

I don't think anyone is saying otherwise .. just that it must be pretty minimal or negligible.. short rope and low tension force = negligible stretch

Well I just found this out, formuline/dyneema might not stretch but does get longer under load by up to 5% where the normal braided boom clamp stuff stretches up to 10%

Why would you want a stretch at your boom clamp rope anyway?
You set it once and it stays like that, you set it tight so it doesnt slide down after jumps, if rope stretches then there is less grip to the mast.
If you keep the stretchy rope too short, you will still damage your mast or clamp, its all about initial tightness setting you apply at first.

Stretchy things deform more by time, so it will get loose by time, then you need to adjust again which is another negative point.

Main point is, a top of the line booms rope shouldn't be needing replacement after 1 season usage, doesn't matter if it is stretchy or not.

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Ben1973 said..
Well I just found this out, formuline/dyneema might not stretch but does get longer under load by up to 5% where the normal braided boom clamp stuff stretches up to 10%

Thats exactly what im saying.

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olskool said..

Ben1973 said..
Well I just found this out, formuline/dyneema might not stretch but does get longer under load by up to 5% where the normal braided boom clamp stuff stretches up to 10%

Thats exactly what im saying.

Not quite I think but very close, nylon/polyester type ropes the material itself stretches as well as the strands getting pulled straight under load. With formuline the material doesn't stretch at all but the rope elongates as the fibres get pulled straight, also why formuline getting thinner under load.

the loads were talking about to get either type rope to stretch/elongate are hundreds of kg's which is way more load than the boom clamp is putting them under.

in case anyones interested, 3.8mm formuline will break at 620kg and at that point will of got 3.6% longer.

What a fantastic nerdy discussion.

Surely in all sailing, including windsurfing, any rope is a consumable product that you replace every year or two?
For sure Forumline lasts a long time but that doesn't mean you use it everywhere.

If this is your only worry in windsurfing then, well done.

My main worry is when the wind will next blow.
- Oh, and the price of fuel when heading to the beach.