Don't Tie Bowlines in Dyneema Rope

Don't Tie Bowlines in Dyneema Rope

All across boat parks we see bowlines and other knots tied in 12 strand dyneema rope. This is most common on purchase systems where sailors know they should be using dyneema but are unsure on how to splice the rope.

This might seem like the right thing to do but there are a few reasons why you shouldn't do this:

• Dyneema is a slippery rope, the rope will slip through the knot and will eventually come undone when under load
• Putting the rope into a knot twists the strands of the dyneema into directions it is not meant to go into which means the load is not pulled at the correct angle
• If it breaks or comes undone you're going to lose out while sailing

We strongly recommend splicing your lines as standard on your boat. This is because the splice ensures a much higher break load and ensures all of the strands of the rope are utilised in the best direction for ultimate strength.

If you don't know how to splice then don't worry, we offer a splicing service here at Sailing Chandlery.

Example Video

We came across this video from Mozzy sails which shows exactly how the bowline in dyneema performs in a tug of war.