Very true. I have seen Sythetic break too, but I have never seen and pray that I never see any wire winch line break. I have sen pictures and heard the stories. Each winchline has its advantages.
Sythetic Winch line has it pro's and cons:
Advantages:
- Safer - harmless if it breaks
- Safer - frayed steel cable will rip your hands
- Stronger (size for size)
- Lighter Weight than wire
- Easier to handle - makes complex rigging and re-rigging much quicker
- Doesn't damage itself when criss-crossed on the drum
- Can be spliced if it breaks
- Doesn't rust
Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- Vulnerable to cutting and abrasion - care needed when rigging and possible additions of gaurds
- Apparent softness makes users forget basic winch safety (gloves, hands clear etc.)
Obviously, there are circumstances under which steel is better, for example if you can't avoid chafing.
Unless it gets snagged, cut or melted, synthetic rope will take much more tension than steel cable of the same diameter, without breaking. More importantly, if it does break, there are no lethal ends flying around.
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