Stephen is right - IF you get tangled in it while it is under tension,
Spectra cut right through you like any strong line. Since you need a strong
line, there's no getting away from that. The real danger from winch line is
ballistic impact and there steel is far more dangerous.

The commercial shipping and barge industries have almost completely switched
from wire rope to Spectra on the safety issue alone. Steel
stretches,storing energy like a spring - that energy is released in a
springback when it breaks. Steel cable used to result in a hundred or so
deck hand deaths a year. Spectra has eliminated those deaths. Spectra
creeps under load and creeps back a little when it breaks - no real danger
there.

Spectra does not eliminate the danger posed by line termination hardware
like carabiners and weak links. Those can hit the winch cab with the energy
of a pistol bullet. A good strong, armored cab is still a necessity. (A
heater and air conditioner would be nice too.)

Bob is right in that Spectra is sweet to work with. Bare hands are fine -
no gloves needed to protect your hands from "fish hooks" that are common
with stranded steel cable. It's not black and white, but steel is far more
dangerous than spectra and that alone makes it worth the switch.

Bill Daniels


"Stephen Haley" wrote in message
...
Ask arround the sailing community about how much one can be hurt by a
flailing synthetic rope - it might not be as bad as wire in some ways but
because it is infinately more flexible it can be just as bad.

"Bob Johnson" wrote in message
...
Hi Bill --

After my limited experience with it, I can't help but think that
synthetic is going to be a lot safer and less nasty to work with during
breaks or whenever else it has to be dodged or handled. It's light as a
feather, soft as a baby's butt and stores absolutely no energy.

BJ