On Wed, 12 May 2004 10:56:49 -0400, dbraun wrote:

A number of people are making this stuff these days, but I will only list
the stuff made by Samson Ropes as that is probably what you were looking
at based on the color you describe.

MFP Floatline- least expensive
ultralight- high tech line
Litespeed- high tech line

You are correct. A floating line is important. Non floating lines often
get caught in props- especially at the worst possible moment such as when
backing down an anchor or maneuvering in tight spaces.

I have been using a poly floating line that looks like yacht braid, it's a
braided cover with an un-braided bundle of fibers inside. I don't know
the brand, got it at
a flea market, but it's red with a yellow tracer. This line handels well
and holds knots ok but it doesn't have a lot of give and can't be spliced.
I use a double figure eight and nylon thimbles. The last thing you want
for a tow line is some high tech low stretch stuff. I took to leading the
line over a fender lashed flat near the stern cleat to reduce the shock
loads in rough weather. I am planning to replace it with three strand
polypropelene with spliced eyes this year.
RB