: I am considering using Nick Shade's ruddder control system that calls for
: parachute chords. I have no idea where to get parachute chords or what
: size I should get if there are different sizes.

: Also any comments about how well this rudder control system works in practice
: would be appreciated.

Look for 1/8th inch braided nylon rope. Available at most hardware stores. A more expensive, and MUCH sronger material would be a 3mm rope from a climbing store. these are made of various high strength materials such as Nylon, Perlon, and Spectra. the more exotic the fiber, or the stronger it is claimed to be the more you'll pay - but you'll pay by the foot, so if your needs are modest even the most expensive should be affordable. Campmor has their 3mm "power rope" in their climbing supplies for $0.15 a foot (15 cents a foot) and it has a 350 pound breaking strength. It is pictured below. If that is not strong enough, the same stuff in 4mm has a static breaking strength of 790 pounds and is just $.025 a foot.

Bent gate mountaineering,

http://store.yahoo.com/bentgatemountaineering/3mmperaccor.html

has 3mm perlon for $0.15 a foot this material has a breaking strength of 594 pounds.

e-mail: bentgate@bentgate.com
or
Call Toll-Free (877)BENT-GATE
which is (877)236-8428

If you are in Australia, you can get Spectra in 3mm from ropeonline.com at a fairly inexpensive price. 100 m (well over 300 feet) of this is AUS $77.97, In US dollars that would be about US $45 I think. Spectra is about as strong as steel in the same size, and stretches about as much as steel, but weighs 1/12th of steel.

http://www.ropeonline.com/cache/header-15public__0-0.html?cache=no

For more information on the material used in Spectra (Dyneema), try:
http://www3.dsm.com/hpf/ or www.spectrafiber.com

hope this helps.

PGJ