Author Topic: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?  (Read 13781 times)

oceanAddict

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Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« on: May 13, 2019, 08:05:04 PM »
What do you guys use for a leash string? I had one failed on me a few years ago and I bought a few the same day, just realized I'm out of those. Thought I prob could make them myself.
Thanks
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surfsupla

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2019, 08:22:21 PM »
Parachute cord. Pretty cheap on the amazons.

Area 10

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2019, 12:35:59 AM »
I use high-quality yacht rope: preferably dyneema core (or similar) with a polyester (UV resistant) outer sleeve. It takes a knot well, is very strong and durable, won’t fray if cut with a hot knife, and is designed to do what you are using it to do. You can also get it in a wide variety of colors to complement your board. I then superglue the knot to ensure it can never come undone. This will then pretty much outlast your board, and will not break.

Badger

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2019, 04:02:59 AM »
A10 is right. There is no rope stronger than this stuff. It lasts forever and won't chafe. I really don't think it needs the polyester outer sleeve as A10 suggests. It will still outlast your board.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/samson-rope--amsteel-dyneema-as-78-single-braid-sold-by-the-foot--P014895700?recordNum=3

.
« Last Edit: May 14, 2019, 04:19:43 AM by Badger »
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RideTheGlide

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2019, 04:50:55 AM »
A10 is right. There is no rope stronger than this stuff. It lasts forever and won't chafe. I really don't think it needs the polyester outer sleeve as A10 suggests. It will still outlast your board.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/samson-rope--amsteel-dyneema-as-78-single-braid-sold-by-the-foot--P014895700?recordNum=3

.
Or a near equivalent industrial cousin:
https://www.amazon.com/Mophorn-Polyester-Pulling-Arborist-Gardening/dp/B07M9X3NBS

Someone translated to English a little too literally. Read the first sentence of the description (starts with [ATTENTION]). ???
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Badger

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2019, 05:16:02 AM »
A10 is right. There is no rope stronger than this stuff. It lasts forever and won't chafe. I really don't think it needs the polyester outer sleeve as A10 suggests. It will still outlast your board.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/samson-rope--amsteel-dyneema-as-78-single-braid-sold-by-the-foot--P014895700?recordNum=3

.
Or a near equivalent industrial cousin:
https://www.amazon.com/Mophorn-Polyester-Pulling-Arborist-Gardening/dp/B07M9X3NBS

Someone translated to English a little too literally. Read the first sentence of the description (starts with [ATTENTION]). ???


That is just plain old nylon/polyester rope. It doesn't have 1/10th the strength and chafe resistance of Dyneema.

Check where it says breaking strength for 1/4 inch Dyneema is 8600 pounds.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/samson-rope--amsteel-dyneema-as-78-single-braid-sold-by-the-foot--P014895700?recordNum=3

or 1/4 inch Amsteel, breaking strength = 7700 pounds. 30% stronger than steel cable.

http://www.amsteelblue.com/amsteel-blue-1-4-synthetic-rope-by-the-foot-7-700-lbs/

.

« Last Edit: May 14, 2019, 05:30:00 AM by Badger »
Kalama E3 6'1 x 23" 105L
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RideTheGlide

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2019, 05:23:34 AM »
A10 is right. There is no rope stronger than this stuff. It lasts forever and won't chafe. I really don't think it needs the polyester outer sleeve as A10 suggests. It will still outlast your board.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/samson-rope--amsteel-dyneema-as-78-single-braid-sold-by-the-foot--P014895700?recordNum=3

.
Or a near equivalent industrial cousin:
https://www.amazon.com/Mophorn-Polyester-Pulling-Arborist-Gardening/dp/B07M9X3NBS

Someone translated to English a little too literally. Read the first sentence of the description (starts with [ATTENTION]). ???


That is just plain old nylon/polyester rope. It doesn't have 1/10th the strength and chafe resistance of Dyneema.

.
My bad - I thought Dyneema was a "standard" sailing line. The cable pulling stuff is the cheap variant of that - no stretch and strong enough for most applications. It does have excellent chafe resistance as the industrial application is pulling it through long sections of pipe, often with several elbows. It would be more than adequate, but not ridiculously more.

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Bean

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2019, 06:52:09 AM »
Abraison is the enemy to the lowly leash string, so my advice would always be to replace the string periodically.  My local surf shop keeps a bowl of free leash string on the counter (plain but good quality parachord).

I love Dyneema as winch rope on my Jeep, and while its absolutely fine to use as leash string, it's a bit overkill and perhaps offers some sense of false security.  (it does abrade and is subject to UV)

supsurf-tw

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2019, 09:55:32 AM »
Whatever you use, use 2. If one breaks or unties you have a backup. Make 1 slightly longer.
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spirit4earth

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2019, 10:22:58 AM »
Once again, I’ve learning something from the Zone.  I’m gonna double my leash string now.

Area 10

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2019, 10:48:16 AM »
Once again, I’ve learning something from the Zone.  I’m gonna double my leash string now.
I like surf SUPs that have double leash plugs and have them on my custom downwind boards also. I then use a separate leash in each, and run the leash attachment through both of them. If you’ve also used a really high quality dyneema-core marine rope, you are then almost as safe as it is possible to be as far as the leash being attached to your board is concerned. It might be overkill for flat water, but I still do it anyway :) and of course, always for surf and downwind. Plus, double plugs can keep a coiled leash from dragging in the water more than a single leash attachment point can (if you tie it like I said). Just *don’t* tie only one piece of string through both leash plugs. Use a separate string for each plug.

It’s dumb to risk your life or board for the sake of a couple of dollars.

oceanAddict

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #11 on: May 14, 2019, 11:49:38 AM »
A10 is right. There is no rope stronger than this stuff. It lasts forever and won't chafe. I really don't think it needs the polyester outer sleeve as A10 suggests. It will still outlast your board.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/samson-rope--amsteel-dyneema-as-78-single-braid-sold-by-the-foot--P014895700?recordNum=3

.

 Thank you!   What size/thickness(?) is more appropriate? 1/8 ?  3/16?
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Badger

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #13 on: May 14, 2019, 02:05:51 PM »
A10 is right. There is no rope stronger than this stuff. It lasts forever and won't chafe. I really don't think it needs the polyester outer sleeve as A10 suggests. It will still outlast your board.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/samson-rope--amsteel-dyneema-as-78-single-braid-sold-by-the-foot--P014895700?recordNum=3

.

 Thank you!   What size/thickness(?) is more appropriate? 1/8 ?  3/16?


I bought it at West Marine and didn't really notice the size. I think it's 3/16 but it measures 1/8 when you pull it tight. It's the same diameter as parachute cord.


« Last Edit: May 14, 2019, 02:11:45 PM by Badger »
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spirit4earth

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Re: Surfboard Leash String - what to use?
« Reply #14 on: May 14, 2019, 05:55:11 PM »
A10 is right. There is no rope stronger than this stuff. It lasts forever and won't chafe. I really don't think it needs the polyester outer sleeve as A10 suggests. It will still outlast your board.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/samson-rope--amsteel-dyneema-as-78-single-braid-sold-by-the-foot--P014895700?recordNum=3

.

 Thank you!   What size/thickness(?) is more appropriate? 1/8 ?  3/16?

The website says it’s very slippery and hard to knot.  How do you tie it off?

I bought it at West Marine and didn't really notice the size. I think it's 3/16 but it measures 1/8 when you pull it tight. It's the same diameter as parachute cord.

 


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