Spectra Cord on Fluke?

[catbirdseat]

A common complaint against flukes is related to the relatively stiff wire used on them. The wire makes the fluke harder to stow and eventually breakage of strands leads to the dreaded "meat hook" syndrome. The reason wire is used in the first place is its small diameter allows it to cut through snow so that the fluke will bite. Rather than wire, would 5.5 mm spectra cord be thin enough to work as a replacement? It's plenty strong enough. You might have to provide some sort of cover for abrasion resistance where the cord goes through the metal blade, such as the cover off of a piece of 7 mm cord, etc. A knot would serve both to hold the cover in place and to hold the bridle at the correct angle of attack.

 

The SMC TAnchor is a fluke-like tent anchor that uses perlon. This is sort of what I'm talking about.

[ketch]

I think it would work. Using a long fid it is not too hard to place a smaller line inside a larger jacket, (common practice on Halyards where a larger diameter tail is needed for handling). A small lashing would serve to keep it in place. I think if I tried that I would be tempted to use something like spectron twelve or one of the braided spectra cords. Too little give for normal use but not any worse than wire. I know ameribraid by Samson has each strand urethane coated and the twelve strand construction is great at not holding water.

[catbirdseat]

Arrrggghhh, a sailor ye be. I'm sure ye be a mighty fine one too.

[ketch]

Yah I've been around boats a bit. I use spectron 12 riggin a bit too. When I fly people I use the 5/64" spectron, 1600lb rated ultimate strength and real light weight. I like it stretching less than wire as a side bennie. A little bigger and it would be bomber on a fluke.

[Plinko]

New England/Maxim ropes makes some stuff they call tech cord in a 5mm (5000 lb tensil strength) that's a bunch stronger than the 5.5mm Spectra you buy on a spool for threading hexes...they also have a 3mm version rated at 3,200 lbs. Insanly strong for something so thin. Do you know what the rating was/is for the cable that's originally attached to the fluke? One of the biggest advantage of this stuff over Spectra it's better hand, making knot tying easier. I know a guy that's often got spools of this stuff layin around, and he sells it for about 1/3 what you'd pay anywhere else. If interested, pm me and I'll shoot you his e-mail address.