Climbing rope exposed to saltwater, Damaged?

[porsche4life]

A friend of mine has a climbing rope, a Petzl Nomad that has been for a swim in the Mediterranean. There has been concern raised about what the salt could have done to the core of the rope. I am not sure, as this is one of Petzl's ropes with the Duratec Dry system.
9.8 Nomad | Petzl

What say you guys? Safe to use as long as the rope passes visual inspection?

[onlycafe]

you mean like, bet your life?

[Rednine11]

I would email the manufacture and ask them. dont take chances with your life

[James Brown]

Our rope rescue team just did a salt water rescue drill, most of our rescue rope got wet in salt water. Washed in fresh water and its good to go.

[Tishabet]

How long was the swim? Did the rope get sandy? Why was it swimming ie was it being used for an anchor or somethng?

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Rednine11

I would email the manufacture and ask them. dont take chances with your life

Bing bing bing...we have a winner.

[gr8fl4porsche]

With my safety gear I use the rule - 'when in doubt, throw it out.

You don't actually have to dispose of it - just re purpose it.

[Evans, Marv]

I'd agree with Randy as that was/is the rule of thumb. But Like James says, I doubt a dunk in salt water & a rinse in fresh water would affect it. Additionally the manufacturer should be the last word on it, if in fact it only got wet with nothing else factored in.

[John Rogers]

I agree with checking with the maker and it you can not find them then trash it. As an example, US Navy towing hausers are made to be exposed to salt air/water over their life time and in the middle is a wee little rolled piece of plastic with the date made, strength and how it degrades over time but they never get to zero since they are usually trashed when a ship is decommissioned.

[nynor]

that rope is done. when saltwater evaporates, it leaves salt crystals. salt crystals are sharp. every time the rope is flexed, twisted, bent, etc., the crystals are making the rope weaker.

plus, water weakens a rope all by itself.

replace it.

[sjf911]

The biggest chemical danger to ropes (and harnesses) is acid where seawater is mildly alkaline. I would think a good washing would do the rope well but would check with the manufacturer to make sure.

[nynor]

washing the rope (getting it wet, yet again) will only make it weaker.

[James Brown]

Washing a rope will not make it weaker. That's how you clean it.

[chocolatelab]

Sidney

I wouldn't sweat a wet rope.

As James noted thats how you clean them. You should be inspecting your rope and cleaning occasionally for sure. Think about all the rock and grit that gets on it while you are belaying your partner.

A climbing rope is pretty durable. Particularly that 9.8. We always visually inspect ours for fraying. If the sheath starts to look a little hairy that when we swap them out. If you are taking lots of swingers on it it may be time to swap it also.

I generally only keep a rope for a season or two, but everyone is different.

Each time you head out climbing you should give your gear a quick inspection. Make sure the cams are working properly, check quickdraws for damage, double check the gate action on your biners.

And triple check your harness!

Have a blast out there, nothing better than climbing.

[nynor]

~shrug~ if you say so. IIRC, water and UV damages climbing ropes. among other things. i would never wash my rope and use it again. if it was that dirty, it needs replacing. then again, when i was climbing, i was paranoid. YMMV.

[porsche4life]

Petzl, in the info that comes with ropes, says its ok to wash the ropes in water, no soap....

Its not the water that causes me concern, its the salt. I'm of the opinion this rope is done...

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by chocolatelab

Sidney

I wouldn't sweat a wet rope.

As James noted thats how you clean them. You should be inspecting your rope and cleaning occasionally for sure. Think about all the rock and grit that gets on it while you are belaying your partner.

A climbing rope is pretty durable. Particularly that 9.8. We always visually inspect ours for fraying. If the sheath starts to look a little hairy that when we swap them out. If you are taking lots of swingers on it it may be time to swap it also.

I generally only keep a rope for a season or two, but everyone is different.

Each time you head out climbing you should give your gear a quick inspection. Make sure the cams are working properly, check quickdraws for damage, double check the gate action on your biners.

And triple check your harness!

Have a blast out there, nothing better than climbing.

I'm pretty paranoid about gear, and my friend that has this rope is to some extent, but he's on the fence about this rope... He has others, I will suggest we take those.....

[RoninLB]

fwiw... I was taught that emergency crew "rescue" rope is quality checked many more times than civilian climbing rope for rated strength

[Tishabet]

Do you know the answers to my earlier questions? Salt water is no big deal for a rope, people (myself included) climb at the beach all over the world. But your description of "going for a swim" is pretty vague, and as others have pointed out the rope should have been rinsed off. Did this happen, or do you not know?

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by RoninLB

fwiw... I was taught that emergency crew "rescue" rope is quality checked many more times than civilian climbing rope for rated strength

Also, rescue rope is one time use. Once it is used in a rescue, it has to be taken out of service. Or used as utility rope. Rescue rope is "static" ( no stretch) climbing rope is "dynamic" (stretches).

Sid, Ive always washed my climbing ropes. Personally, I dont think a saltwater dunk will harm it as long as it was washed afterwards but just double che4ck with the Man. My ice and alpine ropes, have been through hell and back. many cycles of freezing But I only use them for 2 or 3 seasons at the mos,t depending on how much use they get.