How the War on Drugs kills our Sailors

When I was in the Coast Guard, I learned of the dangers of a rope under tension "parting" (breaking). This happens when a rope under stress gets too taught, and there is a yank, or slow increase to the point of parting. When a rope parts there is snapback, like a whip or a rubberband breaking. Sailors have been literally sliced in half instantly by a rope parting. Oftentimes when you hear of a sailor dying in a "boating accident" (not drowning) this is how he died, but they don't say it because of how gruesome it is.

I also learned this only happens with synthetic rope, but not natural rope.

When I was taking a class on knots and rope in the Coast Guard,
I naturally asked, "Then why don't we use natural rope?"

"Because natural rope rots, and is weaker. Next question," he artificially answered.

Later I found out synthetic rope is made from oil, and natural rope is made from hemp. Any questions?

Natural rope also needs to be tared often to prevent rotting. Hemp rope is not banned in the US, just the plant itself unfortunately.

so its better when your natural rope rots and a 20 ton cargo container squashes a sailor like a bug ?

im sorry, but i dont think thats a very good arguement you're making.

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Originally Posted by higher4hockey

so its better when your natural rope rots and a 20 ton cargo container squashes a sailor like a bug ?

im sorry, but i dont think thats a very good arguement you're making.

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WTF is your problem? I wasn't making an argument, just stating facts. Hemp product is not illegal here, no reason the navy couldn't order it from elsewhere if needed. 99% of all rope failures happen at the base of the knot. Even hemp rope has a breaking point. Why not silk ropes then? 10x stronger then steel for its size.

thats wasn't a response to you mate. it was to the one who started the thread....

take it easy!

my bad, sorry. :thumbsup:

:S2:LoL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by higher4hockey

so its better when your natural rope rots and a 20 ton cargo container squashes a sailor like a bug ?

im sorry, but i dont think thats a very good arguement you're making.

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No. It doesn't rot out of the blue. That is like saying we shouldn't make wooden houses because they can rot and you can fall through the floor.

Umm...Maybe we can try LOOKING at the ROPE...If it looks weak, replace it, natural or synthetic. IF the cargo is important enough...USE TWO ROPES!

ok good point. but i still fail to see that the war on drugs kills sailors...to me that just seems like you're reaching a little too far.