Plasma Winch Ropes

ooops, hit the submit button too quick,I should havealso said, there's nothing to say that it can't happen.

Not so at all. Most Plasma ropes are UV safe. Amsteel Blue for instance was actually developed for offshore commercial fishing applications - and the no.1 requirement in its development was that it was UV stable.

As for the sheath on the last couple of meters of the rope. That is actually an abrasion guard that can be slipped up and down the rope and positioned where the rope is touching rocks / the gtound etc to protect the rope from abrasions. It is then just wound onto the winch drum on the last couple of meters - nothing at all to do with protecting the rope from UV.

There is so much misinformation around about what everyone wants to call 'plasma' rope. To me it is a great bit of kit. If it gets dirty, then you just spread the strands by hand and hose the dirt out. You cannot kink it, it is light on the front end, it doesn't recoil - and best of all - if you buy it from the states it will cost you less than wire cable in Australia from a 4wd shop.

Anyway, am not going to debate the benefits as there are so many out there with no experience of it and plenty of opinions / misinformation (not having a go at you Duncs, just the general rope debate that pops up regularly). I have been investigating importing Amsteel Blue and becoming a distributor here. I have researched Amsteel and all the other ropes such as Dynamica, bronze, plasma etc extensively. If they are used correctly (ie. don't power out your planetary winch for long peiods or use it as a hoist then you won't have any problems.

Common sense goes a long way - ie. protect it from sharp rocks etc, keep it clean. I do have to laugh though when people say dirt in the rope will abraid it and it will break - it is not like a few grains of dirt/sand are going to be 'sawing' away - they will just sit there tight under load until washed out.

Sorry about the long post...one last thing. I have found through my research and discussion that those who say synthetic rope is no good are either 1. never have used it or even held some, or 2. can't justify the cost / afford it and therefore bag it. JMHO

Moggs,

Thanks for the info. I don't claim to be an expert but was simply passing on what I had heard, thinking out loud. I am not anti plasma, just as you say miss-informed.

My experience with climbing gives me great confidence in synthetic rope both in terms of strength and durability. The rope I regularly abseil on is now about 18 years old and has done heaps of work in some pretty dirty places. As I said a lap in the Whirlpool has it clean and ready to go again pretty easily. People in the climbing industry go to considerable lenghts to keep rope clean primarily out of fear of what the dirt is doing inside the line.

I have seen plasma break under load and was impressed with the way it simply fell to the ground, and the way the guy just tied a quick not and started winching again. The safety aspect is something that can not be overstated.

Thanks again Moggs for your info and for being honest about your interest in the product.

Duncs

If you only knew how the plasma ropes have been treated during comps. It's a wonder they last one event.

Having been in a couple of OB Challenges and other OFF Road Comps, using both wire and plasma ropes, I would prefer to handle and use the plasma. Its safer, lighter, floats and when you a pulling it up a rock face far easier than a 8 - 10 mm wire.

On the last comp I helped run last month only one vehicle had wire and no one broke a cable at all. It was on some of the toughest winching tracks you will ever find.

RenorRXGQ,

Thanks for the feedback but I can't seem to conect to the web you show