How much strength is lost when a nylon rope is wet?

• A. 5%
• B. 25%
• C. 40%
• D. 15%

Answer: (D)

Nylon rope loses a noticeable portion of its strength when wet, with about a 15% reduction in tensile strength compared to dry rope. Water acts as a plasticizer for nylon, allowing polymer chains to move more easily and slightly swelling the fibers, which lowers the load the rope can safely bear. This 15% figure is the standard estimate used in rope rescue training, making the other options (5%, 25%, 40%) too low or too high for typical nylon behavior. In wet conditions, this means you should account for a lower effective strength when selecting ropes and calculating loads.