Pre-Cut 316 Stainless Steel Cable

The Pre-Cut 316 Stainless Steel Cable is a high-quality and durable aircraft cable designed specifically for boat lift applications. It is factory-cut to specific lengths, ensuring convenience and accuracy for boat lift installations. This cable is made from 316 stainless steel, which offers moderate corrosion resistance, making it ideal for saltwater environments.

Key Features:

1. Construction: The cable consists of a 7 x 19 strand configuration. This means it is made up of seven strands, with each strand containing 19 individual wires. This construction provides excellent flexibility and versatility, allowing the cable to be easily maneuvered and run over sheaves without compromising its strength.
2. Corrosion Resistance: The 316 stainless steel used in this cable offers moderate corrosion resistance. This makes it well-suited for saltwater applications, where exposure to moisture and corrosive elements is common. The stainless steel material helps prevent rusting and extends the lifespan of the cable, ensuring reliable performance over time.
3. Ductility: The cable retains its ductility over long periods, even when subjected to continuous movement and running over sheaves. This characteristic is crucial in boat lift applications where the cable is constantly under tension and needs to maintain its flexibility and strength.
4. Safety Factor and Rating Systems: The safe usage of this cable is based on the recommendations provided by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). It is essential to consider a safety factor of at least 5:1 when calculating the working loads for boat lifts. This ensures that the cable can safely support the intended load without exceeding its capacity.
5. Usage Guidelines: BH-USA, a reputable supplier, recommends the use of 7×19 aircraft cables for boat lifts. They also suggest a minimum of four drops (strands) for boat lift applications. It is important to note that the breaking strength of the cable should not be relied upon when rating its capacity. Instead, the Safe Working Load (SWL) should be used, considering the safety factor and potential factors that may affect the cable’s strength over time.
6. Compounding and Weight Recommendations: Compounding, or using multiple cables in parallel, is recommended for boats weighing over 6,000 lbs. This helps distribute the load and ensures enhanced safety. The cable is specifically designed for boat lifts, where it is commonly used due to its flexibility, strength, and corrosion resistance.
7. Inspection and Maintenance: Regular inspection of the cable is crucial to identify any signs of deterioration or damage that may affect its strength and safety. Proper lubrication of the cable is recommended to ensure smooth operation and prevent premature wear. It is important to avoid shock loads and follow normal safety standards during storage, use, and maintenance of the cable.

Please Note: This aircraft cable is not recommended for aircraft controls or lifting humans. Its application is specific to boat lifts, and using it for other purposes may compromise safety.

Conclusion: The Pre-Cut 316 Stainless Steel Cable is a reliable and versatile choice for boat lift applications. Its 7 x 19 strand configuration, moderate corrosion resistance, and long-term ductility make it well-suited for saltwater environments and continuous use over sheaves. By adhering to the recommended safety factors and guidelines, this cable provides a robust and durable solution for lifting and supporting boats in boat lift systems.

Aircraft Cable

The diameter of aircraft cable is determined by multiplying the number of wires in each strand by the number of strands. “7 x 19” means that there are seven 7 strands with each strand having 19 wires. This technology provides the most flexibility in aircraft cables.

In boat lift applications, BH-USA recommends 7×19 aircraft cables. Consider at least a 5:1 safety factor when calculating working loads. For boat lifts, use a minimum of 4 drops. Test certificates for all cables sold by BH-USA are available upon request.

It is not recommended to use 7 x 19 aircraft cable for aircraft controls. 7 x 19 aircraft cable should never be used for lifting humans.

Safe Working Load vs. Minimum Breaking Strength

When selecting wire rope, it is crucial to use the Safe Working Load (SWL) of the cable rather than the breaking strength. Breaking strength is just that, it’s the amount of force a newly woven wire rope can withstand under perfect conditions, where if you added one more pound, the rope would snap!

Why aren’t we using breaking strength?

Testing the breaking strength of wire rope was performed on a machine that isolates just the wire rope so that the end connections do not affect the breaking strength. As a system, wire ropes include the wire rope itself as well as the end connections that work together dynamically. Because they must bend around cables and sheaves, they can only be as strong as their weakest link. Minimum breaking strength refers to a wire rope’s maximum tension that it can sustain under ideal circumstances, without accounting for the other factors that compromise the system’s strength.

What is the reason behind the low rating?

The Safe Working Load includes a safety factor (SF) for all the things that can happen to wire rope during its useful life which may reduce its breaking strength. ASME recommends a safety factor for this type of equipment. This is so that the lift can still safely support the load if at least one or more factors working to break the wire rope are present. Wire ropes deteriorate over time, lowering their breaking strength as they lose their safety factor.