With a loud crack the ring on the starboard cable broke. The Akron rolled to port like a porpoise. As the ship lurched, 100 sailors in the port ground crew dragged with all their might.

Synthetic Rope. Synthetic rope came on the scene in the mid-'90s, when it was introduced as an alternative to steel cable. The original synthetic winch ropes were based on the durable synthetic ...

The cable ring pictured here is $2 and available from the supplier listed below. For more suppliers and variations of the ring—including one with coated wire—check out the article at CoolTools.

Synthetic Rope: Stronger and Safer. If you insist on using steel cable, you might as well embrace the 100-plus-year-old technology and replace your electric winch motor with a steam-driven unit.

This is because the saddle has teeth to grip the cable, and protects it from crimping and damage over time. [HowNot2] tests a number of different wire rope clamps – including improper installation.