Marlow Sailing Ropes

Marlow Ropes have been manufactured at the same site in Hailsham, East Sussex since 1807. Over 200 years of UK rope-making sits behind every reel, which is why they're trusted by the British Sailing Team, Olympic squads, and round-the-world racers.

For most dinghies, Marlow Excel Fusion is the go-to mainsheet rope. The Dyneema SK78 core gives you low stretch and the blended cover grips well through ratchet blocks and cleats. If you want something more traditional and grippy, Marlow Excel Racing is a strong alternative.

Excel Racing is a general-purpose rope with a 12-strand colour-matched Dyneema core and hard-wearing cover, ideal for control lines that get constantly adjusted. Excel Control is built specifically for continuous control line systems, with a lightweight core and tough Technora and polyester cover. Excel Fusion is the performance choice for sheets, combining an SK78 Dyneema core with a high-grip blended cover.

Marlow D12 is a 12-strand Dyneema SK78 rope that splices easily, making it the rope of choice for purchase systems, kicker primaries, vang systems, trapeze lines, and backstays. D12 MAX is the heat-set, pre-stretched version, giving you higher strength and less creep when loaded.

Yes. Marlow's Dyneema and braided ropes splice cleanly, and most of the Excel range is designed to be tapered. Sailing Chandlery offers a splicing service if you'd rather not tackle it yourself. Add the splice option to your order when you check out and let us know what you need.

It depends on the class and the application. As a rough guide: 4mm or 5mm for control lines on most dinghies, 6mm or 8mm for mainsheets and jib sheets, and 2mm to 4mm Dyneema for halyards and high-load purchase systems. For class-specific recommendations, take a look at our rigging guides or get in touch and we'll talk you through it.

Yes. Marlow Excel Racing is widely used by ILCA and Laser sailors for control lines and is fully class legal. Sailing Chandlery is an official ILCA dealer, so anything you buy from us for your boat will meet class rules. If you have questions or want to be sure just get in touch with the team.

D12 MAX is heat-set and pre-stretched at the factory. That process locks the fibres and removes most of the constructional stretch, so the rope holds its length under load far better than untreated D12. For purchase systems where creep matters, MAX is worth the extra cost.

Yes. Most of our Marlow ropes are sold by the metre, so you only pay for what you need. Full 100m reels are also available on popular lines like Excel Control if you're kitting out a complete boat or want to keep spare stock at the club.

Dyneema is a high-strength polyethylene fibre, prized for its strength-to-weight ratio and very low stretch under load. Technora is an aramid fibre that performs better at high temperatures and resists abrasion exceptionally well. Marlow combines them in ropes like the R8, which uses a Dyneema SK78 core with a Technora and polyester cover for the best of both.

Marlow's Dyneema-cored ropes have very low stretch in normal sailing loads, which is why they're used for halyards and high-load control lines. Polyester ropes will stretch slightly more but offer better grip and feel. Heat-set ropes like D12 MAX have minimal constructional stretch and very low creep over time.

With sensible care, a good Marlow rope will last several seasons. Rinse with fresh water after salt sailing, check regularly for fraying or glazing at high-wear points like cleats and blocks, and rotate sheets and control lines if you spot wear. Dyneema-cored ropes hold their performance well; it's usually the cover that wears out first.