nylon thimbles
 

Are Nylon thimbles unsuitable for eyes in high-load lines (I'm thinking 3/8 Vectran running backstays here) or do they take the load OK?
thanks,
Ben

There are some thimbles of various plastics that are solid center except for the pilot hole for drilling to the exact pin size, like the bronze thimbles for a spliced wire eye. Hard to find. Could work.

I'd not trust any of the open white plastic thimbles I've ever seen. They often have guide loops at each side of the throat as they are often sold for use on an anchor rode where streach in the eye is an issue. I've seen them collaps after serious (but not storm) use on an anchor.

It'll be interesting if any other readers know of improvements in the plastic units. There are some dead-eye bullets for synthetic rigging, but these are more akin to the solid center I mentioned first. Perhaps someone has a good unit.

If you're going with an open thimble, I've had satisfaction from SS, this on staysail schooner mast with a main up around 750 feet and opposing the maybe 300 foot main staysail.

G'luck

I use deadeye (terminators) from Colligo and lashed it to my tackle that I use to take up on my running backstays. It works great. You might be able to use the little deadeye's that Colligo has now for life lines and small boats. They have two lashing holes as opposed to the bigger fittings that have 4. If you follow the thread "Synthetic Searunner" from a week or so ago, you can see a photo there.

http://www.colligomarine.com/

Thanks: I like the closed top of the nylon ones--it's hard to find that feature in stainless thimbles of a large enough size, and the open top and associated edges right at the throat of my splice make me uneasy, especially using rope instead of wire. I like the idea of solid ones with pilot holes, where are those found?
Has anyone tested whether nylon ones deform at lower loads than stainless? I can't imagine the squeezing force imposed by the eye trying to flatten out is that great.
Ben

nylon thimbles
 

I have had steel anchor rode thimbles deform under non-storm conditions. I have seen nylon thimbles deform when used to terminate topping lifts which are not under huge loads. No way could a nylon thimble be as strong as a reasonably sized steel thimble, S/S or otherwise.

Ostensibly a solid nylon reinforced plastic (like Marelon) could be strong enough yet I have not seen such a product.