Seek REAL Manila (like former Columbia Co. line)

[David Ditmars]

Recently, I bought (sight unseen) a spool of 1/4 in. "Manila" line from
Winne & Son, Phila. PA. Wish it were still unseen ! Probably, even the Swiss Lake Dwellers made better stuff. OK, it comes from the Philipines but that's the only Manila aspect of it. Doesn't anybody make tight, smooth, clean Manila rope like we used to get from the old Colombia Rope Co. ? Please let me know.

[Thorne]

You **might try** Bevis Rope co, but I won't go bail for their Manila either -- maybe order a sample first?

For the real thing - http://www.tarsmell.com/

http://www.tarsmell.com/Images/marline3-1.jpg

These folks have real tarred yacht marline, but only high-quality/price artificial Manila.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I have been wondering about this, too.

I suspect that with the collapse in demand for yacht sizes of manila rope, the quality we were used to is no longer manufactured and the techniques for making it have vanished.

I recall that in England one used to be offered "Yacht Manila" or "Number One Manila" and being poverty stricken as a student I always bought "Number One", which was cheaper.

[Thorne]

I've been using the least expensive faux Hemp line -- Hempex from the UK -- and although quite soft in the smaller diameters, it looks and handles well.

Best to not use it for heavy-use running rigging, as it can get pretty fuzzy, but for a small boat halyard or sheet it can't be beat -- at the price.

If interested, check the prices from R&W Rope - They also carry the more expensive "Posh" faux hemp, also the real thing -- don't know the price or quality of their real hemp line.

http://www.rwrope.com/traditional_rigging/traditional_rigging.htm

http://www.rwrope.com/images/products/real%20hemp_big.gif

[George Ray]

This old thread was looking at Faux Manila/Hemp but in my research there were several of the companies that also maintain a line of high quality traditional manila cordage. I forget exactly which but just follow the links in the thread to thier web sites.

http://www.woodenboat-ubb.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=19841


**************
OH! I found it,..... here is one link: ( (a) goto page, (b) click 'product range', (c) click 'natural ropes'.
http://www.langman.com/Engels/index%20engels.htm

[Hughman]

Manilla used to be cheaper than hemp, which was unavailable for other reasons. Hemp was always superior as a natural fiber, and is becoming available again. Might be time to rethink old habits.

[Hughman]

Having said that...

Mystic Seaport had some beautiful manila made up for the AMISTAD. Check with the shop manager on how they acquired it.

[pcford]

Manilla used to be cheaper than hemp, which was unavailable for other reasons. Hemp was always superior as a natural fiber, and is becoming available again. Might be time to rethink old habits.

Hemp line available? Where?

[Thorne]

R&W as above -- don't know where they get it, possibly the UK. Supposedly some hemp line is being made at Chatham Boatyards, but I think it is too expensive for actual (non-decorative) use.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

The website is here: http://www.master-ropemakers.co.uk/index.html

Des Pawson, who stocks their ropes, comments that the diameter is a little variable between batches of the same nominal diameter, which I suppose is not too surprising.

I have been thinking seriously of going over to four strand hemp for Mirelle's shroud lanyards, and toying idly with the idea of natural fibre halyards, which I think should probably be manila.

[George Ray]

http://www.langman.com/Engels/index%20engels.htm


Hemp is a natural rope.
Langmantouw Hemp is produced of a high quality raw material. Hemp doesn’t burn the skin, is environmental friendly, good degradable and fire retardant. It has a light brown colour and a soft feeling.

General information
Hemp rope was frequently used in the shipping industry.
Nowadays it is still used in the aquatic sports for rigging traditional ships. For example
the VOC-replica “Duyfken”, which was built in Australia was rigged with Langmantouw hemp.
The Duyfken has sailed 18.200 miles over the oceans from Australia to the Netherlands.
Nowadays hemp is used as climbing ropes, swinging rope, bannisterrope, bell-rope, whipping twine,
skirting-board rope and hockey ring. As it has a natural look it is very suitable for decoration.
In theatres it is used behind the side-scenes.

Shock load: Good
Handiness: Good
Durability: Excellent
Rot proof: Bad
UV-resistance: Excellent
Resistance to acids: Bad
Alkali resistance: Reasonable
Abrasion resistance: Good
How to storage: Dry
Buoyancy: Sinks
Melting point: doesn’t apply here
Fire retardant: Yes

If this rope is not suitable, in our productrange you will find the following alternatives

Standard supply possibilities:
At "things worth knowing" you will find detailed information about rope constructions.

Construction Diameter
3-strand twisted 4 mm up till 40 mm
4-strand twisted 8 mm up till 40 mm
6-strand twisted 28mm, 33mm, 36mm and 38mm

They have other constructions such as braided, etc..

[Thorne]

Very cool link -- and they even have braided hemp! Too bad I don't need 220 meters of the stuff...

;0 )

[George Ray]

The suppliers of Hempex automatially have a line of communication to these folks for natural hemp lines.