Nylon line when wet loses what percent of its strength?

• A. 10%
• B. 25%
• C. 5%
• D. 15%

Answer: (D)

Moisture weakens nylon line because it absorbs water, which softens the polymer and reduces its tensile strength. Water molecules penetrate between the polymer chains, allowing them to move more under load, so the line will fail at a lower stress when wet. The practical effect is a de-rating of about 15 percent for nylon line when it is wet. This means you should plan for roughly one-sixth less strength than the dry rating in wet conditions. The other percentages don’t align with how nylon behaves in moisture, so 15% is the standard figure used in practice. Keep this in mind when rigging or towing with nylon in wet environments.