Navigation and Seamanship (1+1)

Hard fibre ropes

1. Manila

As a rope it is smooth, glossy, strong, flexible, very durable, easy to handle and has a very high resistance to sea-water rotting. It is the most common natural fibre in use at sea. It can stretch about 25% of its length.

2. Sisal

This fibre is taken from aloe leaves in the pine apple family. East Africa and Java are the main producing centres. During the war, when manila was extremely scarce sisal was in wide use in this country and at sea. Very consistent in strength and very good sisal being of equal strength to medium grade manila.

Attractive creamy white colour, very brittle, glossy, and generally swells more than manila when wet. It is to a smooth rope and its hairy surface promotes considerable discomfort after prolonged handling. Sisal is not generally considered suitable for marine work where manila is available.

3. Coir

This is the fibre of the coconut and is removed after the shell has been water soaked for many months usage mainly in India and Sri Lanka. It is very elastic, red in colour, rough to handle, floats very easily, and is extremely resistant to seawater rotting.

It is about one-half the weight of manila and roughly one sixth as strong.