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Hello Fellow Cavers. I was woundering what ya'll would do in my situation. I have a Blue Water 11mm Static Caving rope that hasn't been used. Usually when I go caving it was with my grotto. So we used there ropes, not mine. I have had this rope for 5 years that has been proporly stored in my gear closet. Blue Water Recomends if properly stored and not used, 5 years is the life of the rope. I have heard and was always tought 10 years is the life of nylon. I surely don't want to put mine or anyones life in danger, But would hate to trow away a unused rope. But if it is what I have to do :( I gues I have to. Just wanted to get some opinion on it.

Thanks

I was woundering what ya'll would do in my situation

Use your rope! Or better yet, just send it to me.

See http://www.caves.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=834#834

Cheryl

How long is the rope? If you send me the rope, I will gladly test it in real world situations. It may take some time to test it in every scenario, but once completed, I will send a written evaluation of my findings.

Thanks for your reply. I would feel safe on it. I pull my equiptment out once a month and check every thing out all the time. ( Boredom is my case ) But I have rappelled on ropes that have been well used and never felt unsafe. I always double and triple check the rope and its ancor points but this was just a question I had. Thanks I will I just moved to a place where I have some good rappelling places in my Back yard. (about 3 miles from my house). well thanks for you time and advice

A few cavers have done cave rope testing which, added to anecdotal evidence, suggests that BW is amongst the toughest ropes out there, and is probably safe regardless of age as long as it has been well treated, stored properly, and is periodically inspected for frays or core damage. More than one ff1 drop-test has given up trying to break a used, 20-year-old BW because the tester became exhausted.

A five year old, unused BW? No problem.