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1. 

   stripbuilder
   Member

   At the Charleston kayak festival I paddled a few surf skis that used spectra/fireline for rudder control lines instead of 1/16 SS cables. The factory rep said he thought it was better than the SS cable. Have any of you tried this type of line and if so what's your opinion of it?

   Posted 5 years ago #
2. 

   Moose
   Member

   I think the Hobie Island yaks are using spectra rudder cables (or at least some type of similar sythetic). They're supposed to be stronger than the equivalent steel cable. They do seem to stretch a little, but that may actually be temperature expansion/contraction of the plastic hull, I think. Fraying, at any point where they can get consistent rubbing, is the biggest knock on them. On the TI (and I guess the AI, too), the lines are not very accessible, so that becomes somewhat worrisome to me on a windy day. But we've had no problems with them so far. 

   Posted 5 years ago #
3. 

   Feks
   Member

   Iv changed out the SS cabels on my new pace from the start, the 2.5mm dynema is 100% beter iv had no problem with stretch and it is more direct when I went straight from peddles to rudder, not runing it through the tern blocks on the auto ajust that some peddle sistems have , I yous webbing and buckles to fine choone the system.

   Posted 5 years ago #
4. 

   BustedRudder
   Member

   When I was rebuilding my Epic and making it a traditional rudder I had the choice of the SS cable that came with the smartrack or spectra. I chose spectra because it does not rust, it is light (does not absorb water) and it gives you lots of warning it might fail in that it can fray halfway through and still be strong.<o:p></o:p>

   When SS cable frays it stabs you mercilessly and must be replaced immediately. SS cable always fails at the worst possible time in the swedge where it has been quietly rusting unseen. <o:p></o:p>

   Posted 5 years ago #
5. 

   KayakVagabond
   Member

   Spectra is much easier to field repair -- it readly takes a knot. 

   I have heard of a few failures on Epic's where the line frayed on the (sharp) edge of the rudder yoke after a few years. I sand the edge of the yoke round to prevent this, some people use split rings attached to the yoke, with the line attached to the ring, for the same purpose.

   Posted 5 years ago #

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