How does a winch effect the lifetime of synthetic ropes? 

Synthetic ropes, like every other material, don't last for ever. The lifetime of a rope depends on the degree of detioration during operation and storage.

1. Creep    Stored for a long time under tension the rope slowly but inexorably stretches, never to return to its original length. This effect called "creep" results in a smaller rope diameter and a reduction of the tensile strenght. To avoid this type of detioration we advise that before storage the rope is payed out and spooled on without a load.

2. Rope abrasion on the winch    Abrasion of the rope fibers due to friction and fatique (destortion) by sharp bends are the main fators that cause rope detioration. This type of abrasion damages both external as internal rope fibers.

Drums are traditionally constructed with an inner ring and two flanges. During a launch the rope is squeezed between the flanges with extreme forces. The Hydrowinch Club Series are fitted with revolutionary drums (patent pending) that practically eliminate this effect.  

Spooling systems contain small guide rollers that force the rope to bend in a small radius. This results in a high contact pressure between the rope and roller. Short spooling levers create more friction than longer version. Hydrowinch mounts the drums at a longer distance from the fairlead to enable the rope to spool evenly on the drum without the mechanical help of a spooling system.   

Fairleads also contain rollers. The contribution on wear by these rollers is smaller because there is less contact with the rope during the launch. Hydrowinches are fitted with fairlead assemblies that contain no rollers. The rope is guided by a large diameter wheel to reduce abrasive wear.