Howdy,
Last week, I finally got around to replacing my downhauls and outhauls with formuline. On the first run out yesterday I went to waterstart on a gust and as the cams rotated on my 6.4 Koncept, the outhaul rope snapped. A closer inspection revealed that it had frayed and snapped right near the figure 8 knot in the boom end. This was brand new rope!
Luckily I had a spare in my harness...(not formuline!)

Is it possible that the knot weakened the rope??
Has anyone ever had that happen with this type of rope before?? I was under the impression that formuline could be used for huge loads and as both a downhaul and outhaul...
Thank you in advance, Seabreeze gurus!

Are you sure there is not a sharp edge?
I have a wave boom with a stupid cleat that just eats outhaul rope. Moving to a larger diameter has helped. Formuline (the real stuff) should last a long time.

That is very strange. That rope is almost unbreakable? Even with extreme fraying.
The knot does not weaken the rope either....

Are you sure that the knot didnt undo itself. The formuline is a slippery ****er. If you don't leave a good tail on the knot it can just slip off. The fraying is normal, it's hard to keep that stuff together. I use a dab of glue.

Are you sure its formuline and not sash cord? Sash cord is about the only thing I can think of that would break that easily, although the difference should be pretty obvious.

I agree with the others, this shouldn't happen.

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Waiting4wind said...

Are you sure that the knot didnt undo itself. The formuline is a slippery ****er. If you don't leave a good tail on the knot it can just slip off. The fraying is normal, it's hard to keep that stuff together. I use a dab of glue.

Similar thing happed with my downhaul recently the knot was not a figure eight, it slipped and then bang, the rope did look like it snapped but closer inspection, you could see the knot had slipped.

never had a problem with formuline, it is super tough that stuff, you know you got the right stuff if it was expensive

you can buy it in bulk spools and split the costs with a few guys it usually works out well

usually better tying a double overhand knot rather then a figure 8, bit more reliable.

Thanks seabreezers,
It's definitely formuline... My bank account proves its the expensive stuff!
I reckon you are onto something... A closer inspection suggests that the knot undid itself and then got freyed as it shot through the cleat.
In doing my best CSI, the outhaul is the same length as the one I used as a measurement and on one of the strands of the freyed ends there's still a hint of where the tip had been moulded from the hot knife. I'll definitely extend the tail of the line after the figure8 knot.

Once again thanks for your input and I'll organise with Huey to give you a little special something to reward your assistance.
Cheers and big breezes,
Mick

Yer i had some formuline snap on my downhaul as well a month or so ago on my race sail, lucky i was near where i launched in knee deep water.

Formuline is great.. Haven't broken a line in years on the downhaul as outhaul lines.

Like others mention, - the only minor "problem" , is that it is slippery and the knots can slip if not tight enough.

On new extensions where the Formuline is used, make sure to have a close look at the knot in the bottom and be sure that it is tight before use,,

I always superglue the formuline figure 8 knots, and the cut end. No probs ever.
Actually I always use a 2 meter length and reverse the line after the first season as most of the wear is in the last 500 odd mm. Throw it out after season 2!!!!

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fullmoon said...
... and reverse the line after the first season as most of the wear is in the last 500 odd mm. Throw it out after season 2!!!!

Nice tip!