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Bryan Irons photos
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Bryan Irons photos
Gemstone Winch Line
We love the tight weave of the Diamonder series line to keep dirt where it belongs… on the trail!
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Bryan Irons photos
Gemstone Winch Line
With a “Brand X” line we had at home we could easily pull the fibers apart, this is where gravel and grime will settle and start tearing a standard line apart.
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Bryan Irons photos
Gemstone Winch Line
The outer jacket also makes the line much stiffer compared to other synthetics, which makes handling the line in the woods much easier.
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Bryan Irons photos
Gemstone Winch Line
Wet noodle “Brand X.”
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Bryan Irons photos
Gemstone Winch Line
For the few extra bucks, a new billet fairlead is a smart choice to go along with a new line.
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Bryan Irons photos
Gemstone Winch Line
If you convert to a soft winch line, try a soft shackle as well.
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Bryan Irons photos
Gemstone Winch Line
A tracer wire tightens the loop to hold the knot.
Story & photos by Bryan Irons
The synthetic vs. steel winch line debate has gone on for many years, and we really don’t see it slowing down. New materials and construction techniques, as well as falling prices for space age technologies, have done nothing but muddied the waters when it comes time to change out that trail beaten cable wound around your winch.
There’s no denying synthetic’s advantages; lightweight, ease of use, and the ability to splice without tools if problems arise are just a few. But it’s the disadvantages that have the naysayer camp spewing “told ya so” anecdotes. Winching over sharp objects and jagged edges can cut and weaken the line, dirt and sand can deteriorate and fray the strands from the inside out, weather and UV rays can also take their toll. As a result, many manufacturers recommend line replacement every 12 months, and that’s an expensive annual suppository.
In the interest of remaining unbiased, we’ve tried a few synthetic lines in the past while on the trail, and gave the plastic fantastic lines a solid “Meh” overall. Let us explain before you go get your pitchfork; we whole-heartedly agree that having a light and easy to handle line is a huge advantage on the trail. In the same breath, we have inflicted mortal wounds on a few of our ropes by dragging them over rocks, and have had them look like a wool sweater from unclean, outdoor conditions. Armed with our past results, we normally opt for steel when we go to order a new winch, and it becomes a tough call as to what direction to turn when the time comes to replace the line.
Gemstone Offroad made the choice much easier as of late with their aptly named Diamond Series of lines. We got to see them up close and personal before we made the decision to pack them with us. Shayne Boulter of Gemstone dropped a rope in our hands and gave us the low-down on the new Diamond pull string. The 12 strand internal core is made of Spectra Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers and is woven like many other ropes on the market. The Spectra line is almost ten times stronger then steel by weight and is naturally abrasion resistant. Short of laboratory grade acids, the line is exceedingly chemical resistant as well as UV resistant.
The Spectra line is the foundation of the rope but it’s the tightly woven outer cover that runs the entire length of the cable that made us grin with approval. With wheeling conditions as they are in Canada, the mud and dirt resistant outer shield means that after some hard use, the line will not look as though a llama has been caught in our winch drum. The outer shell does not carry any of the load, which allows it to work and move around the inner core to protect it from other anomalies.
Handling the line is a dream as it has no memory like steel, but is still stiff enough to easily loop around snatch blocks without looking like you’re playing pool with a wet noodle. It’s also less likely to “cut in” to the mass of cables on a winch spool when under high loads. This is normally when damage to a steel cable occurs and where the limp structure of a typical synthetic line becomes a pain to unspool the next time you have to use it.
All Gemstone lines come complete with a moveable abrasion sleeve if you have no choice but to winch over rocks, plus the first 3.7 m (12 ft) of line has a heat resistant covering to keep the inner core safe from a hot winch drum. Diamond series lines come complete with a lug to attach the line to a winch drum, unlike most others on the market with a simple loop, as well as a proper tube thimble with attached hook.
Our 3/8-in diameter line came in a 27.4 m (90 ft) length and an 8980 kg (19,800 lb) breaking strength. Very impressive considering it’s less than $250, and that’s Canadian dollars from a Canadian company! Shayne also went over the decision to stay with a roller fairlead or switch for one of their billet aluminum units. If in good shape, you can keep your roller unit with the diamond line, but for another $35, it just seemed counterproductive to stay with the rusty rollers and risk abrading the new line. We also picked up a Soft Shackle to make hooking up to odd shaped mounting points a whole lot easier, Editor Irons can hardly get his midget hands around some of the new age tow hooks mounted on factory rigs these days.
Our old “Stick with Steel” winch line mantra served us in the days of yore, but with synthetics advancing faster then Editor Stanley’s hairline recedes, our tune has changed. Gemstone Offroad’s Diamond series is the first lightweight winch line that we feel is up to the rigors of life in Canada’s wilderness and we expect it to last for years. In previous generations, making the jump to a synthetic line was a questionable investment; it’s nice to see those times have past.
Soft Shackle
We’ve used a few different “Soft Shackles” and have learned to like them more and more for their ease of use and conformity to odd shapes. Simply loop them around whatever you need to pull from, and then slip the knotted end through the self-closing loop. Gemstone includes a small tracer wire that you pull on to open the loop when you need to take the shackle off. And for those concerned, these units have a 14,500 kg (32,000 lb) breaking strength… REALLY!!! Our only gripe is the black colour because we know we’re gonna leave one in the woods!
Gemstone Offroad - Phone: 1-250-863-7255 - www.gemstoneoffroad.com