When was the last time you measured your ropes? I was astonished to find that my; 90’+ ropes=88 feet 100′ rope=92 feet 200′ rope=187 feet when measured lying flat on the ground(limp). This would explain why Ram’s group came up a little short when I lent them my rope for Clear Creek. The ropes are Imlay Canyon Gear ropes and are now getting on to approximately 3 years old. Repeated dunking and drying has obviously shrunk the ropes regardless of any inaccuracy in my measuring. It’s something to be aware of… Dave
Yahoo Canyons Group
Charly Oliver
Nyon, Polyester, Spectra and Dyneema like most textiles, are subject to stretching and shrinking as a result of exposure to moisture, heat and weight. It has been my experience that manufacturers understand this and typcially cut their ropes a meter or two longer than their stated length in an effort not to “short change” the customer. That said, what happens to a rope after it has been put into use can dramatically affect its length.
To minimize shrinkage manufacturers recommend drying ropes in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight. Sadly, many of us when on a trip (myself included) hang our ropes to dry in a tree or over a car door sometimes in high heat and direct sunlight (Southern Utah in the summer). It does not surprise me that ropes subjected to these conditions would exhibit a certain amount of shrinkage.
Maybe try soaking your now short ropes in water again and rappelling on them wet to try to re-stretch them to their original length. Then hang them somewhere in a cool dry place protected from direct sunlight to dry.
Charly
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Tom Jones” wrote:
Yes and yes, and no.
Better, though perhaps harder, to measure the ropes with some > tension on them. 50 or 100 lbs would get you a more > realistic “weighted rappelling length”. On a static rope, adding > more weight should not make too much difference.
I claim, with little evidence in hand, that my ropes (Imlay Canyon > Gear ropes) shrink considerably less than ropes made with mixed > materials. It is definitely an issue that people should be aware of.
Tom
> — In Yahoo Canyons Group, “davewyo1” wrote:
When was the last time you measured your ropes?
I was astonished to find that my;
90’+ ropes=88 feet
100′ rope=92 feet
200′ rope=187 feet
when measured lying flat on the ground(limp).
This would explain why Ram’s group came up a little short when I > lent
them my rope for Clear Creek.
The ropes are Imlay Canyon Gear ropes and are now getting on to
approximately 3 years old.
Repeated dunking and drying has obviously shrunk the ropes > regardless
of any inaccuracy in my measuring.
It’s something to be aware of…
Dave
>
Tom Jones
Yes and yes, and no.
Better, though perhaps harder, to measure the ropes with some tension on them. 50 or 100 lbs would get you a more realistic “weighted rappelling length”. On a static rope, adding more weight should not make too much difference.
I claim, with little evidence in hand, that my ropes (Imlay Canyon Gear ropes) shrink considerably less than ropes made with mixed materials. It is definitely an issue that people should be aware of.
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “davewyo1” wrote:
When was the last time you measured your ropes? > I was astonished to find that my; > 90’+ ropes=88 feet > 100′ rope=92 feet > 200′ rope=187 feet > when measured lying flat on the ground(limp). > This would explain why Ram’s group came up a little short when I lent > them my rope for Clear Creek. > The ropes are Imlay Canyon Gear ropes and are now getting on to > approximately 3 years old. > Repeated dunking and drying has obviously shrunk the ropes regardless > of any inaccuracy in my measuring. > It’s something to be aware of… > Dave >