The minimum distance is not less than how many times the line diameter?

• A. 4 times
• B. 6 times
• C. 12 times
• D. 8 times

Answer: (D)

Bend radius matters for rope health. When a line is wrapped around a pulley, fairlead, or any curved path, the fibers on the inside of the bend are crushed and stressed more than the outer fibers. If the bend is too tight, those inner fibers take most of the load, which can cut strength, cause kinking, and accelerate wear and fatigue.

Using a minimum bend radius of eight times the line diameter keeps the rope bending gradually. This distributes the load across many fibers, reduces internal compression, minimizes heat from friction, and preserves overall strength and life of the line. For a given line diameter, eight times provides a safe, generally applicable rule of thumb, though some manufacturers may specify tighter or looser radii for specific materials. In practice, eight times the diameter is the standard guideline to follow.