PROtect Chafe, PROtect Mask and PROtect Rope: chafe protection and rope sleeves

PROtect Tapes' largest line, PROtect Chafe, is supplied at 76, 125, 250 and 500 micron in clear and black, in widths from 25mm strip to 660mm bulk stock and in 3.0m or 16.5m rolls. Thickness and width should be matched to the contact point rather than bought on a single "best" spec: a thin, narrow tape conforms around a small-radius fitting such as a shackle pin or a lifeline eye, while a thicker, wider tape suits a flat run against a spreader tip or a genoa track. Independent comparative testing of anti-chafe tapes has shown that chafe resistance, friction and impact protection trade off against each other by material, so a tape chosen for low friction at a sheet lead is not automatically the right choice for pure abrasion resistance at a hardware contact point. PROtect Mask is a separate PTFE film with a silicone adhesive, intended for splices, strops and soft rigging connections where a residue-free, weather-resistant surface matters more than raw thickness. PROtect Rope is a braided cover sold by rope diameter (12.5, 19.0 and 25.4mm) rather than by tape width, for sleeving a line's own surface rather than a fitting.

PROtect Headfoil low-friction tape

PROtect Headfoil is applied to the headfoil groove or forestay area to reduce sheet friction as a genoa or jib is tacked or the sail is furled, rather than to resist abrasion directly.

PROtect Skid, PROtect Wrap and PROtect Duct tape

PROtect Tapes also makes PROtect Skid, a grit-coated grip tape (60 or 80 grit) supplied in narrow 51mm strip and in wide-format rolls up to 1219mm, intended for cockpit soles and companionway steps. A grippier surface underfoot is a direct trade-off against comfort kneeling or sitting on it, so the width and grit should match how much of the area is walked versus sat on. PROtect Wrap is a self-vulcanising tape that bonds to itself rather than to the substrate, the usual application for this tape type being a temporary seal on hose, pipe or cable rather than rigging protection. PROtect Duct is a general-purpose duct tape carried in a narrower size range.

PROtect OD one-design mast wear kits

PROtect Tapes' OD kits are pre-cut to the wear points of specific dinghy and skiff classes, including Laser/ILCA, 49er, 29er, J70, Nacra and Optimist, rather than sold as a sheet the sailor cuts to shape. This is because chafe on a one-design boat recurs at the same fittings on every hull of that class, most consistently at the gooseneck and vang area on a Laser/ILCA lower mast.

PROtect LoopX and PROtect SPK

PROtect LoopX is a soft-attachment loop offered as an alternative to a spliced soft shackle, fitted without splicing. PROtect SPK is a spinnaker packing system using grooved buttons and yarn along the luff, in place of wooling.

About PROtect Tapes

PROtect Tapes develops its chafe, rigging and deck tapes with input from polymer specialists, technical film and adhesive engineers, and racing sailors, rather than adapting a general industrial tape range for marine use. PROtect SPK was developed in collaboration with a former America's Cup rigger, reflecting the same racing-derived approach behind much of the PROtect Tapes range.

PROtect FAQ block

What is PROtect Tapes? 

PROtect Tapes is a manufacturer of chafe, rigging and deck protection tapes for sailing, developed with polymer, technical film and adhesive specialists alongside racing sailors. The range covers PROtect Chafe, PROtect Mask, PROtect Headfoil, PROtect Skid, PROtect Wrap, PROtect Duct and PROtect Rope tapes, plus PROtect OD one-design wear kits, PROtect LoopX rigging hardware and the PROtect SPK spinnaker packing system.

What thickness of PROtect chafe tape should I use? 

Match thickness to the contact point rather than defaulting to the thickest option. Thinner tape (76–125 micron) conforms around small-radius fittings and curved surfaces without lifting at the edges; thicker tape (250–500 micron) holds up longer against sustained, high-load contact but is stiffer and harder to lay down cleanly on a tight radius. Width follows the same logic — narrow strip for a fitting, wider stock for a flat run.

Should I choose clear or black chafe tape? 

This is a visibility and inspection choice as much as a cosmetic one. Clear tape lets you see the surface underneath, which matters if you want to check the rope or gelcoat beneath it for wear without removing the tape. Black is more common on rigging where the tape itself is expected to show wear first and simply gets replaced on a cycle.

How do I apply PROtect chafe tape correctly? 

Clean and dry the surface first — adhesion depends on a debris-free surface, and applying tape over a damp or dirty area is the most common cause of early lifting. Apply with the fitting or line in the position it normally sits under load, not slack, so the tape isn't stretched into place; work out air bubbles as you go rather than pressing down all at once.

What is PROtect Mask used for, and how is it different from PROtect Chafe? 

Mask is a PTFE film with a silicone adhesive, aimed at splices, strops and soft rigging connections rather than general abrasion points. The silicone adhesive is formulated to resist weather and water without leaving sticky residue on removal, which matters where the tape is expected to come off cleanly during re-splicing or seasonal maintenance — a different requirement from Chafe tape, which is generally left in place for the life of the wear point.

Does PROtect Headfoil tape actually reduce friction when tacking? 

Its function is specifically friction reduction at the headfoil groove or forestay, not abrasion resistance — the mechanism is a lower-friction surface for the sheet to run across as the sail passes through a tack or the headsail is furled, distinct from a chafe tape's job of resisting wear at a fixed contact point.

Do I need a PROtect OD mast wear kit for my one-design boat? 

If your class is covered — Laser/ILCA, 49er, 29er, J70, Nacra and Optimist are current PROtect OD kits — a class-specific kit is pre-cut to the wear points that recur on every hull of that class, which avoids the trial-and-error of cutting generic chafe tape to fit. For a class without a dedicated kit, a generic dinghy kit or general-purpose chafe tape cut to the actual wear point is the alternative.

How does PROtect LoopX compare to a spliced soft shackle? 

The stated difference is that LoopX is fitted without splicing, which removes the skill and time requirement of hand-splicing a soft shackle. Whether it suits a given application should be weighed against a spliced Dyneema soft shackle's own strength rating and cost, rather than assumed on the manufacturer's description alone — check the specific load rating for your intended use before substituting one for the other.

What is PROtect SPK and how does it replace wooling a spinnaker? 

SPK uses grooved buttons fixed along the sail's luff, with thread or yarn wound around the button and the packed sail rather than tied directly to the sail. The groove is designed to catch the thread as it breaks on hoist, so the packing material doesn't go over the side loose — the same underlying purpose as traditional wooling, with a different mechanism for controlling where the broken thread ends up.

Is PROtect Skid tape too aggressive to be comfortable on deck? 

Grip and comfort work against each other by design. A higher grit and full coverage improve footing in wet conditions but make kneeling or sitting on the same surface uncomfortable, which is why Skid comes in both narrow strip (for a walked path) and wide-format rolls (for full panel coverage) — the choice should reflect how the specific area is actually used, not just how much traction is wanted.

What's the difference between PROtect Wrap and PROtect Duct tape? 

Wrap is a self-vulcanising tape that bonds to itself rather than to the surface it's wrapped around, which is the standard construction for a temporary seal on a hose, pipe or cable rather than for rigging protection. Duct tape is a conventional adhesive-backed general-purpose tape. They solve different problems and shouldn't be treated as interchangeable general repair tape.