Textile cables for sailboats: the best solutions for your boat with DEN-RAN

Textile cables have established themselves in recent years as a powerful alternative to traditional stainless steel cables in the field of sailing. Lighter, more resistant, and easy to handle, they offer numerous advantages to boaters as well as ocean racing professionals and shipyards.

But what are the different types of textile cables, and how to choose the one that suits your needs?

• Exceptional resistance : At equivalent stiffness, textile cables have a much higher tensile strength than that of stainless steel.
• Reduced weight : Up to 88% lighter than stainless steel cables for the same resistance, they allow lightening the rigging and improving the boat’s performance. Indeed, the “weight in the tops” is a factor of the heel and therefore loss of performance. It has also become a major issue in recent years for offshore racers and builders.
• Greater flexibility : Easy to install, they do not require the use of a crimping machine.
• Increased durability : Resistant to UV, abrasion, and moisture, textile cables require little maintenance.

In addition to its mechanical performance, the textile cable stands out as a more environmentally friendly solution thanks to its lightness, durability, and potential recyclability. Opting for textile rigging means making a technical and eco-responsible choice.

If stainless steel cables remain a reference for certain uses, textile cables offer incomparable performance.La plupart des voiliers peuvent changer leur gréement dormant traditionnel pour un gréement dormant textile.

Making the choice of textile cable for its rigging depends on many criteria: intended use (runners, shrouds, J1, J2, J3, etc.), desired strength, navigation conditions and terminations (hook, winder, etc.).

Several types of cables exist, each with its own specificities.

• Dyneema® (UHMWPE – Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) is designated as the most resistant fiber in the world : Very light, extremely strong, and low extensibility, it is the reference material for modern rigging.
• Vectran® – (Liquid crystal thermotropic polyester – LCP): Very dimensionally stable and resistant to dynamic loads, it is appreciated for applications requiring high precision.
• PBO (Zylon® – Polybenzoxazole): High-performance with extreme rigidity and resistance, but sensitive to UV and moisture, requiring a protective sheath (resin).

• Exceptional resistance : At equal weight, it is 15 times stronger than steel.
• Low elongation : It offers excellent stability under load, ideal for dormant rigging.
• Lightness : 80% lighter than stainless steel, it allows a significant gain in performance.
• Resistance : To UV and moisture, its durability in a marine environment is excellent, especially when it is sheathed for better protection.

In addition to their technical qualities, textile cables offer adaptability to different types of sailboats, from cruise ships to competition sailboats, but also to the boat industry.
Our textile cables are custom-built to meet the specific requirements of each boat with a wide range of possible variants (grafts for halyard or tack point, choice of sheath color, choice of termination…).

• Coated Dyneema® sleeve
• Resin molding
• Anti-abrasion sleeve
• Stitched Dyneema® strap

The installation of a textile cable on a sailboat requires specific skills to ensure both the safety of the crew and the performance of the rigging. Unlike stainless steel cables, textile cables require a different approach to fixing, tensioning, and maintenance. Precise assembly optimizes the durability of the rigging while ensuring optimal adjustment of the mast and sails.

Click on the arrows to learn more.

• Upstream, ensure the compatibility of endings with the existing chainplate and turnbuckle.
• Pre-stretching of textile cables is carried out in our workshop in Ploemel (56). Our cables are always pre-stretched beyond their theoretical workload; this allows the stabilization of the textile cable and decreases elongation.
• Always keep eye contact with the mast and be attentive to the sounds of the rigging.
• Use appropriate tools and never install alone.

It is essential to take into account the safety factor and to check the breaking loads provided by our teams, to avoid any risk of under- and over-sizing.

If textile cables are designed to be robust and durable, regular maintenance is essential to ensure their longevity and maintain an optimal level of performance.
Unlike stainless steel cables that require corrosion control, textile cables must be monitored to prevent premature wear due to friction, UV, or excessive loads. Proper maintenance extends the life of the rig and avoids premature replacements.

• Frequent visual inspection: Check the entire length of the cable, especially at friction and fastening points.
• Clean with fresh water to avoid salt and dirt accumulation.
• Check the tension after a long regatta, strong sailing conditions, and an offshore race.
• In case of doubt, do not hesitate to contact us.

• Using protective sleeves on parts exposed to abrasion, DEN-RAN custom manufactures neoprene sleeves to protect the endings.
• Avoid excessive dynamic loads that can accelerate the wear of the textile.
• Store in good conditions if the rigging is dismantled out of season.

Even though textile cables are designed to be strong and reliable, they are not free from problems. Wear, elongation, or even external aggressions can alter their performance over time. Fortunately, there are simple and effective solutions to extend their lifespan and avoid premature degradation. Identifying signs of wear and adopting good maintenance practices are the keys to durable rigging.

Click on the arrows to learn more.

• Pre-stretch beyond the workload before installation. (Carried out in our workshop.)
• Foresee upstream an adjustment range with a certain margin to be able to tighten the cable.
• Regularly check the tension and note the settings, dating them. Too much elongation is not normal.
• If that is not enough, change the fiber and switch to aramid (PBO® or Dyneema®-Vectran®, which flows very little)

The field of textile rigging is constantly evolving, with innovations aimed at further improving the resistance, durability, and ease of use of cables.De nouvelles fibres synthétiques, des traitements anti-UV avancés et des systèmes de surveillance des charges font partie des développements récents qui révolutionnent le monde du nautisme.
In the future, textile cables could even completely replace metal solutions, thus offering optimal performance with reduced environmental impact.

• Hybrid and bio-sourced composite fibers.
• Monotoring system to measure tension, load in real time.

DEN-RAN markets the Smartlink® of Cyclops Marine; this sensor allows you to display static and dynamic load data live on your smartphone or instrument.

test on Mini 6.50 N° 1044

• Development of 100% recyclable cables.
• Optimization of manufacturing processes, reducing carbon footprint.
• Evolution towards all-textile rigging, removing steel from the deck to the mast.

With the rise of textile technologies in boating, more and more skippers are opting for lighter and more efficient solutions. But beyond weight and performance gains, the textile cable also stands out as a more environmentally friendly choice compared to traditional steel cables.

• Lower CO2 emission : Their manufacture requires less energy than that of stainless steel cables, whose extraction and processing are very energy-intensive.
• Optimized transportation : their lightness reduces fuel consumption during transport and contributes to lightening the boats, thus reducing their carbon footprint.
• Recyclability and recovery of waste : some fibres, such as PBO®, have a recycling pathway; others, such as Dyneema®, are subject to recycling and reuse study programs to extend their life cycle.
• The Dyneema® has a carbon footprint 90% lower than that of conventional HMPE fiber.

Adopting textile rigging for your sailboat means choosing a solution that is efficient, light, and durable. Thanks to technological advances, cables made of Dyneema®, Vectran,® or PBO® offer exceptional strength, low elongation, and better adaptability to demanding maritime conditions.
Whether it is for a complete standing rigging, a J2, a forestay, or shrouds, textile solutions allow you to optimize the weight and maneuverability of your sailboat while reducing environmental impact.

But to take full advantage of these advantages, the choice of accessories and careful installation are essential. Adapted terminations, protections, specific furling system… Every detail counts to ensure the reliability and longevity of your textile rigging.

With DEN-RAN, optimize your performance and the safety of your sailboat with innovative and proven textile solutions!

If you want to add other questions to this FAQ, don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments!