On Thu, 4 Feb 2010 09:59:15 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

I've been using black ready made lines from West Marine for several
years and they are holding up well. *My recommendation is to buy one
size larger. * I've seen a few 1/2 inch lines snap under shock loads,
usually at the deck lead.

Wayne, what makes the "black" special or more durable? I take it that
the black is more UV resistant?

I don't actually know whether or not they are demonstrably more UV
resistant or not. Mine have held up well however and they are out in
the Florida sun everyday, on the south side of the boat, when we're
home at the dock.

There's a certain amount of anecdotal evidence that the dark shades of
canvas hold up better, like the dark navy blue sunbrella fabric that
is very popular. Perhaps the dark pigment reduces UV transmission to
the inner layers but that's just conjecture on my part. If so, that
might be true for dark colored dock lines as well.

Good news this morning on the alternator. It came back repaired and
working.