Marlow Ropes for Dinghy Sailing

Marlow has been making rope in Hailsham, East Sussex since 1807, and the Excel range is the part of that catalogue built for small boats. We hold 26 Marlow lines here at Sailboats.co.uk, cut to length by the metre: Dyneema cores for halyards and control systems, braided polyester for sheets, 3 strand and 8 plait for the jobs that call for something simpler, plus shockcord, whipping twine and splicing fids.

  • Which Marlow Ropes to Use

    Dyneema SK78 is what you reach for when stretch is the problem. A polyester control line gives when a gust loads it up, and your sail shape moves at the moment you wanted it to hold.

    Excel Racing puts an SK78 core under a 16 plait polyester cover, which makes it the default for kicker, cunningham and outhaul systems on most racing dinghies. Excel Racing GP78 runs the same core under a Technora blend cover, worth the extra where the line passes through a ratchet block and heat becomes a factor. Excel R8 uses an 8 plait Technora blend cover and is the one hand-held mainsheet sailors tend to settle on.

    Excel D12 is 12 strand Dyneema with no cover at all. On a dinghy it does the jobs a cover would only get in the way of: primary lines inside a boom, strops, soft shackles and lashings. Excel D12 Max 78 is the coated version. Bare Dyneema is slippery, so neither holds well in a standard cam cleat unless you cover the section that gets cleated.

    Excel Vectran covers the low creep applications where even Dyneema moves over time under sustained load.

    Marlow Braid Rope and 3 Strand Polyester Rope

    Not every line on a boat needs a Dyneema core, and the braided and laid ropes cover a lot of ground for a fraction of the price.

    Excel Pro is the all-rounder, and the one most club sailors buy for sheets and halyards where a little stretch does no harm. Excel Fusion Plus and Excel Marstron Plus are the lightweight sheet options: both float, neither soaks up water, and the textured covers give you something to hold on a long beat.

    24 Plait Matt Braid gives a soft, matt-finish braid rope with good hand feel. 8 Plait Standard and 8 Plait Pre-Stretched cover halyards and general purpose work, with the pre-stretched version holding its length better under load.

    3 Strand Pre Stretch is the traditional laid polyester, still the right answer for mooring lines, painters and anywhere a classic look matters more than the last percent of performance.

  • Marlow Rope Cut to Length

    Every reel on this page is sold by the metre. If you need 1.4m for a kicker cascade or 11m for a mainsheet, that's what you pay for.

    The Excel colour range runs across black, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red and white, so colour-coding your cunningham against your outhaul is a matter of asking for it.

    Splicing fids, Needles and Whipping Twine

    Marlow ropes are designed to be spliced, and Excel Racing, Excel Fusion and Excel Control all have covers that strip back cleanly for tapering. Tapering a sheet or halyard takes weight and friction out of the system while leaving thickness where your hand goes.

    We stock Marlow splicing fids in small (3mm to 4mm rope) and medium (5mm to 6mm rope), a splicing needle pack covering 4mm and 5.5mm, and a three-piece pack with a needle and two fids. Marlow whipping twine comes in 0.8mm and waxed No.2 0.5mm for finishing ends properly.

    Choosing Rope for the Job

    • Mainsheet: Excel Fusion Plus or Excel R8, typically 6mm to 7mm
    • Jib sheets: Excel Marstron Plus or Excel Pro
    • Control lines: Excel Racing at 3mm or 4mm, D12 for primaries inside a purchase system
    • Halyards: Excel Racing or 8 Plait Pre-Stretched
    • Spinnaker and gennaker: Excel Fusion Plus, tapered where it runs through blocks
    • Mooring lines and painters: 3 Strand Pre Stretch

    Check the rope diameter against your cleat and block before ordering. A rope too thick for the sheave adds friction, and a rope too thin for the cam will slip under load.

    Why Buy Marlow Ropes from Sailboats.co.uk?

    We've sold small boat equipment since 1982, and we've stocked class-legal ILCA gear since the class was still called the Laser. Our experience in specialty sailing gear is key when it comes to stocking the parts that sailors want for their rigs.

    If you need a Marlow rope that isn't listed, ask us and we will check whether we can source it.

FAQs About Marlow Ropes

What is the difference between Excel Pro and Excel Racing?

Excel Pro is an all-polyester rope, which makes it affordable and easy to handle, with a small amount of stretch under load. Excel Racing has a Dyneema SK78 core, so it is stronger, lighter and holds its length when the pressure comes on. Pro suits club sheets and halyards. Racing suits control systems where the setting has to stay where you put it.

Which Marlow rope is best for a dinghy mainsheet?

Excel R8 and Excel Fusion Plus are the two we sell most for hand-held mainsheets. Both are light, neither absorbs water, and the covers grip well in a ratchet block and in the hand. Most dinghy mainsheets sit at 6mm or 7mm.

Can I taper Marlow Excel ropes?

Yes. Excel Racing, Excel Fusion and Excel Control are all designed for it. Strip the cover back to expose the Dyneema core where the line runs through blocks, and leave the cover on where you hold it. We label the ropes that have spliceable cores and spliceable covers.

What diameter should I use for control lines?

On most modern dinghies, 4mm is the standard for cunningham and outhaul systems, running freely through small blocks while still gripping in a cleat. 3mm suits secondary lines inside a cascade. 5mm is worth considering if the load is higher or you want an easier line to handle in cold hands.

How do I stop rope ends fraying?

Cut synthetic rope with a hot knife so the strands seal as they part. We do this for you on anything we cut. If you shorten a line at home, a lighter will seal the end, and waxed whipping twine gives a more durable finish that also stops the core and cover separating.

How do I wash a salty mainsheet?

Salt crystals stiffen a rope and grind at your blocks. Put the line in a mesh bag and run it through a cool wash, 30°C at most, with no detergent or a very small amount of mild soap. Rinse thoroughly and dry it out of direct sun. Skip fabric conditioner, which coats the fibres and can cost you grip in a cam cleat.

More Info

Shop Marlow sailing rope and shockcord at Sailboats.co.uk, including Excel D12, Excel Pro, Excel Racing and continuous control line. Compare rope construction, diameter and product specifications to choose a line for your boat’s rigging or control system.