Best Ropes For Sailing in 2020

‍Written by Paul

Our editors independently researched & tested all of the sailing ropes mentioned in this article & we only recommend what we believe are the best. We may receive a commission on purchases made through our links (at no extra cost to you) Learn More

In a rush & just want to see the top picks?

Best Overall: New England Nautical Rope

Best For Price: Miami Cordage Polyester Double Braid Rope

Best For Miscellaneous Uses Around Sea Water: Attwood Braided Polypropylene Cords

Best Marine Rescue Rope: Marine Throw Rope Rescue Bag

Worth Mentioning: Yacht Braid Premium Polyester Rope

Considerations Before Buying Sailing Rope

We've been asked by our community to find the best ropes for sailing. While an unusual request, we figured there might be more of you wondering the same so we tested out a number of them under stress to find the best sailing rope for your sailboat.

Now as you can imagine, rope isn't the most exciting thing to write about but for the nerds out there who enjoy every little detail of their sailboat, this is for you....

The big problem with finding the top sailboat ropes is sea water tends to corrode them over time. So we needed to find the premium grade of ropes to ensure things run smoothly over time.  We also wanted to make sure it was easy to splice

Getting the right rope for your boat will ensure peace of mind and a pleasurable boating experience. You don't want to be constantly messing with things once they are installed.

So let's dig into the top marine ropes available.

Yacht Braid Premium Polyester Rope

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Yacht Braid Premium Polyester Rope


First up is Yacht Braid Premium Polyester Rope. This is rope specifically designed with boating in mind meaning it takes a lot longer for it to corrode with sea water.

  • 100 - 300 feet available
  • Made in USA
  • 8400 pounds tensile strength
  • 1/2 inch double braided polyester

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Optimal Use

  • Halyards
  • Sheet & Control lines

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Please note ** It's cut to length and doesn't come spliced**

Pros

  • Extremely durable
  • Easy to splice
  • Plenty of length available
  • Stays flexible when wet from the sea water

Cons

  • Only blue color option

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Check Price On Amazon →

New England Ropes


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Next up is New England Ropes. This is another great option for your vessel and it comes in various lengths and sizes.

 

Optimal Use

This is our favorite pick from the list and fits the best overall rope for sailing.

Pros

  • Extremely durable
  • Excellent quality
  • Easy to splice
  • Multiple colors
  • Flexible & long wearing


Cons

  • Would like more length options for bigger boats

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Blue Ox Rope Yacht Braid Rope

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Blue Ox Rope Yacht Braid Rope

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Another on the list is Blue Ox Rope Yacht Braid Rope. This is another rope specially made with sailing in mind.

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Optimal Use

Pros

  • Easy to splice
  • Multiple length options
  • Durable

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Cons

  • Not many color options

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Check Price On Amazon →

Attwood Braided Polypropylene Marine Cord

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Attwood Braided Polypropylene Marine Cord

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The .Attwood Braided Polypropylene Marine Cord is great rope for all around uses on a sailboat.

Optimal Uses

Pros

  • Multiple lengths
  • Great for miscellaneous uses around the water
  • Multiple colors
  • Durable with less heavy uses
  • Lightweight
  • Great price

Cons

  • Not for prolonged stay in the rain
  • Sleeves are not lined
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Marine Throw Ropes Rescue Bag 70 Feet of Marine Line

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marine throw ropes

The next rope on the list is a very important one to have on any boat. The Marine Throw Ropes Rescue Bag 70 Feet of Marine Line is the perfect safety rope to have onboard. It is crucial safety equipment as there is no price on a loved ones life.

  • 70 feet throw rope
  • Weighs 1.5lbs
  • Each bag is 12” long x 5” in diameter.
  • Made of quality nylon and contains a flotation insert
  • 3/8" thick rope
  • 1500 pound tensil strength

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Optimal use

  • Rescues
  • Man overboard
  • Canoeing,
  • Sailing
  • Ice fishing

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Pros

  • Will replace or refund if you aren't happy
  • extra long throw rope of 70 feet
  • Easy to use
  • Lightweight safety device
  • Durable, high quality nylon

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Cons

  • Tricky to place the rope back in bag after use

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Check Price On Amazon →

Miami Cordage Polyester Double Braid Rope

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The final on the list is Miami Cordage Polyester Double Braid Rope. This rope is a low stretch but excellent strength.

  • Multiple sizes available from 50 feet to 250 feet
  • Tensile strength 1200 lbs
  • Polyester Yacht Braid
  • Adjustable hood & cuffs
  • Reflective Logo branding
  • 5 over-sized pockets

Optimal Use

  • Running Rigging
  • Pulling Lines
  • Flag Pole Halyards

Pros

  • UV & chemical resistant
  • Stores well
  • Multiple colors available
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Tensile strength lower than other ropes

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Check Price On Amazon →

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Now that we've gone through some of the best ropes for sailing on the market, let's take a look at what you'll want to consider before ever making a purchase.

Considerations before buying rope for your sailboat

TYPE OF MATERIAL

You are going to want strong rope material to withstand the harsh environments onboard a boat at sea. Ideally the material should be able to cope with the corrosive power of sea water and also handle the different pressure being put on it.

Premium Polyester rope is generally a top option for your boating needs.

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DURABILITY

You don't want to find out the hard way that the rope isn't durable. It's a pain to set things up on deck only to find it last once or twice before snapping.

The list above have all been tested on sailboats around the world from our community so they have been tested in rigorous real life experiences from the hot sunny climates in the Bahamas to the harsh cold climates of the North Sea.

Length

This will depend on your own unique circumstances but ideally you'll want to get a rope size fitting that matches the sizing on your sailboat.

You can play around with with rope you buy to fit but it's always best to read the instructions with your own boat for specific measurements.

Price

Most premium grade ropes for sailing are relatively inexpensive so this shouldn't be an issue. Obviously, the longer the rope you buy, the more expensive it should be.

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Color

If you like your boat to look great, you'll want to pick a color that suits your own boat. There are plenty of different options with colors for sailing ropes so ideally, you'll pick one that gives that added and subtle beauty to an already beautiful vessel.

Weight

This will generally depend on the type of sailing you are doing. Obviously, with performance sailing, the lighter the better and for simple day cruising, it won't matter as much.

Use Of Ropes

Another important thing to consider is what the marine ropes will be used for on the vessel. You won't want the same type of rope for marine rescue as you will want for ropes commonly used on deck.

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So with that being said, you should be ready to find the perfect rope for your vessel. Find a color that matches the boat nicely to ensure all looks greats.

With the considerations before purchase you should be well aware of what to look out before buying any sailing ropes. The list above all meet the standards so you should start there.

Thanks for reading and Happy Sailing!

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