Dynex Dux redux

[Joe Henderson]

Dear Gashmore, Jack and Brian,

It is gratifying to see the cause of Dynex Dux being taken up so enthusiastically in the Northern Hemisphere.

Down here at the bottom of the world, we have been aware for more than three years that this stuff behaves like wire, albeit with a slightly more elastic take-up period.
We have rigged more than 20 vessels ( Keelboats and dinghys, as well as multihulls) using this material and have nothing but respect for the way it deals with load cycling, chafe and U/V attack.

Of particular satisfaction is the way that this material responds to competent rigging skills.
The better job you make of the terminations, including the choice of tensioner ( Colligo, Pre Court, Custom Stainless, Lashing, lanyard or Turnbuckle) The better and more suited to the particular application the set of rigging will be.

One should not assume that Dynex Dux is a "one size fits all" super-material but rather treat it as a quantifiable, proven and documented extra resource that responds well to clear thinking and skilled manipulation.

All the numbers quoted in this and other threads are (surprise, surprise!) in pretty close agreement with the manufacturers figures that have been available for some time on the web, ( Strong Rope and Hampidgan to name the two foremost sites.)

Perhaps now the use of this stuff as direct replacement for 1X19 wire on mainstream criuising and racing yachts will be accepted. We have, as I say been specifying it for three years now.

The crucible that is the Bering Sea fishery has proved the toughness and durability of the gear, now the fashionable world of the "Universal French Plastic Yacht", among others, surely needs to embrace the technology.

While we are on the subject, and to address the spectre of twitchy new owners being suspicious of the material, I seem to remember Brion Toss writing a beautiful piece on how, in the old days, Hemp and Flax fibre rigging (to name but a few of the various natural fibres that were in common use for both standing and running rigging) was the norm and everybody was suspicious of this new fangled metal rigging!

"The more things change, the more thay stay the same" I can not remember who said that first, but it seems apt!

Regards,
Joe Henderson.