When picking out a rope to use outdoors, certain characteristics need to be present. Some ropes – even when made to the highest quality standards – just aren’t meant for prolonged exposure to the harsh elements that are often encountered outside. To make sure you get great value and reliable performance from your next rope, you’ll want to pick a version that is designed specifically for outdoor purposes.
It’s easy to find such a rope when you shop at SEACO. We have many options available, and those options are usually offered in various thicknesses to suit your specific needs perfectly. Let’s take a look below at how you can find the right rope for any outdoor application.
A Simple Starting Point
When you know you’ll be purchasing a rope that is going to spend most or all of its time outside, start with polyester. While there are other types of rope that will work nicely outdoors as well, such as nylon and polypropylene, polyester rope is the default choice for a smart purchase.
What is it that makes polyester rope such a reliable, versatile pick for outdoor duty? Consider the following –
- It deals with the water. Perhaps the biggest difference between using a rope indoors and outdoors is that outdoor rope is sure to get wet at one point or another. Of course, ropes used in a marine environment will be wet all the time, but even ropes used on land are likely to deal with rain, dew, and other sources of moisture. Where water can cause other types of rope to weaken, swell, or undergo other changes, polyester will be largely unaffected. That means you can expect a polyester rope to perform the same when wet as it does when dry, and the wet environment won’t harm its durability.
- Cut down on stretch. For most rope applications, you’ll want the line to be stable and provide minimal stretch when under load. Polyester rope allows for minimal stretch, which is what allows it to stand apart from another popular outdoor rope option, nylon. Like polyester, nylon can stand up to most of what Mother Nature has in store, but the higher degree of stretch means that it is not suitable for every application (although it can work nicely in the right situation).
- Modest price. When compared to some other materials, polyester rope is quite affordable, which is yet another reason to look this way early in your shopping process. Of course, while an affordable price tag is always nice, you don’t want to buy a “cheap” rope that doesn’t deliver the quality you need for reliable performance. This is why it’s important to shop with a trusted name like SEACO – we will only sell ropes that we are proud to stand behind.
Finding the Right Marine Rope
We’ve clearly established polyester rope as the go-to pick for outdoor duty, but not all outdoor settings are created equal. If you are using these ropes specifically for marine work like docking a boat, you’ll want to also consider polypropylene as a contender.
As compared to polyester, the big advantage of polypropylene is the fact that it floats. If you don’t want your ropes to slip out of view into the water while working, polypropylene is a nice choice because of its buoyancy. Also, this is a very inexpensive rope, so you can stock up on what you need without breaking the bank.
With that said, we would still steer you toward polyester for most marine work. While it doesn’t float, it delivers better resistance to UV rays, which are likely to take a toll on polypropylene. Also, the strength and lack of stretch in polyester make it suitable for various rigging, anchoring, and towing tasks.
What About Natural Fibers?
So far, the three types of ropes we have mentioned – polyester, nylon, and polypropylene – are all synthetic. This pattern is not a coincidence, as synthetics tend to fare better over time than ropes made from natural fibers. For example, Manila rope is a popular type of natural rope, and you have probably seen or used this kind of product at some point. While Manila rope can be used outdoors, some issues will come up when the rope is exposed to water. Specifically, the fibers will shrink up when wet and you may struggle to untie your knots as a result. Also, durability can be a problem with natural ropes, since rotting is likely when prolonged exposure to moisture occurs.
Choose SEACO for Any Rope Purpose
Whether for outdoor or indoor use, SEACO is the best place to shop for your next rope. Our selection is outstanding, of course, but it is our customer service that sets us apart from the competition. With SEACO, you’ll always be able to contact us to quickly get the help you need when placing an order. Thank you for stopping by and we are excited to serve you!