Image copyright - Premium Ropes (S Cup halyard - Performance range)
When it comes to sailing, the choice of ropes can make all the difference in your performance on the water. Whether you're a dinghy sailor, cruiser, or a competitive racer, having the right running rigging lines can greatly enhance your sailing experience. Today we look at Premium Ropes range with our advice on preferred ropes depending on the size of your boat.
Rope brands on Upffront.com
On Upffront.com you will find various rope brands, like Gottifredi Maffioli, Kohlhoff Rigging, Robline and Premium Ropes. All manufacturers aim to provide ropes that work for different boat sizes with suitable options for a dinghy or a larger cruiser. Specific product lines, materials, and characteristics of the ropes vary to accommodate specific needs and preferences of sailors.
Experienced riggers and ropemakers Premium Ropes started their business over 10 years ago and at first focussed on splicing and rigging services. Later they introduced their own range of lines to create performance ropes for all applications. Their extensive range puts them firmly alongside other big rope manufacturers.
Premium Ropes range
Their own Stirotex UHMWPE core material offers high-performance characteristics at a cost-effective price point compared to the more common Dyneema® available on the market. You can read about Stirotex in our previous blog article.
With a wide range of cores and braided covers available, it's natural to feel a bit overwhelmed when choosing the right rope for your boat. To help you navigate this sea of options, here are some baseline recommendations from Upffront.com
When choosing sailing hardware and, of course, the ropes you often start with your boat size and style of sailing. Our recommendations:
Ropes for Boats under 45ft
For general cruisers and club racers double braid polyester is quite sufficient. Below 45ft performance racers and offshore sailors will benefit from performance improvement and durability of Dyneema® cores and blended covers.
1. For basic, budget sheets, topping lifts, or fender lines, consider Cruiser 16 or P Sheet.
2. For sheets and halyards, the default baseline recommendation is Cruiser XTS.
3. If you need extra grip in clutches, consider upgrading to Cruiser XTS Grip.
Ropes for Performance Racers and Cruising boats over 45ft
Above 45ft loads are increasing to a point where the vast majority of sailboats should be considering Dyneema® SK78 / Stirotex cores as a minimum baseline.
A 100% polyester cover is still a good starting point but for each application. You should consider the benefits of improving abrasion resistance and grip in clutches and around winch drums with polyester / Technora / Cordura blends.
1. At this level, it's time to consider upgrading from a polyester core to Dyneema®/Stirotex core.
2. For general halyards and sheets, the best all-round price vs. performance option is S Cup.
3. If you require more grip and abrasion resistance, TN Racing is the clear winner for both sheets and halyards.
Ropes for Dinghy Racers
1. For all-round dinghy sheets and halyards, start with DX Trim.
2. If you seek higher performance in terms of stiffness and grip, Dinghy Race Grip PRO is your next step.
3. For sheets that see constant use, Dinghy Race Grip offers extra comfort.
Explore the complete range of Premium Ropes products with descriptions or use our table below (click to enlarge):
Summary on Premium Ropes range
When selecting sailing hardware, it's crucial to consider boat size and sailing style. Boats under 45ft generally find double braid polyester suitable, while performance racers and offshore sailors benefit from Dyneema® cores and blended covers. Recommendations include Cruiser 16 or P Sheet for basic needs and Cruiser XTS or Cruiser XTS Grip for sheets and halyards. For boats over 45ft, Dyneema SK78 / Stirotex cores are often essential, with options like S Cup and TN Racing for halyards and sheets. Dinghy racers should explore options like DX Trim and Dinghy Race Grip PRO for enhanced performance.
Choosing the right rope for your boat may seem to be a difficult task. At Upffront.com we are always happy to help! If you haven't found the rope of your interest, please contact us via email.
If you have any questions about ropes, please feel free to email us at support@upffront.com, or click the link below to see our full range of Premium Ropes:
