Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions

[mapa50 at windstream.net]

I have noticed a wide range of experience that people are reporting on the life of the black braided Dacron polyester rope. I have had extremely good life and strength use on a wide range of antennas and other uses, such as holding a cover on a 24 ft. diameter above ground pool. The pool was put in in 1982 and removed 2 years ago. The rope is still fine after all that time. It was in and under pool water for 7 to 8 months each year. I have a TH3mkIII Hygain beam that has been up on a mast at 45 ft since 1983 using 3/8" Dacron rope. I have a 73 vertical that has been up since 1990 using 5/16" black rope. These antennas have stood many strong storms, 2 of which had winds over 80 mph.

  It seems to me there must be a wide range of quality people are buying Unfortunately, I don't have a good answer, but I will no longer just say that Black Dacron polyester is  the world-beater I thought it was.

  The source I have always bought from is The Radio Works.

                                73 es DX
                                Pat H. Armstrong KF5YZ
---- Jim GM <jim.gmforum at gmail.com> wrote: 
> In about 7 years that Dacron stuff starts to dry out and comes apart
> slowly, Rots it in water like rain gutters.
> 
> I have seen some guys use this Space Walk gray tethering cord for fling big
> kites 120 square feet of sail and bigger.  Not sure of the composition and
> how UV resistant it is. Has a very high Tensile strength for how small it
> is. Not sure what they call it.
> 
> -- 
> Jim K9TF
> _________________
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