Green line conditioner

[Quoddy]

We got some commercial grade nylon line (it was better handling than premium when new) and after 1 year it has weather stiffened.Ive heard fabric softener will improve it. Is this so?

Is there a Greener way of improving weather hardened nylon? I’d rather not have to buy and use commercial plastic softening chemicals.

 

[Ross]

Pull it over a sheeve under load several times. The nylon hasn't stiffened the trash in the rope has tried to glue it all together.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I've had fairly good luck in laying out stiffened and cruddy nylon line in long loops in my drive way and power washing them. As Ross states, it's the trash/salt/algae in the line that causes the problems.

 

[Billbeard]

Coil it into the Washing machine might work

 

[catsailor]

Coil it into the Washing machine might work

I wouldn't do a coil--major knots generally result.

Daisy chain. I do this with climbing ropes annually when waterproofing them for winter climbing--no troubles.

 

[kloudie1]

Washing machine with bleach, detergent, and fabric softener.. It takes a while to untangle after that exercise.. but the ropes are great afterwards. Make sure the tips of the line are stopped with knots, or whipping, or melted or securely taped because the machine WILL reduce the line to fibers if not.. The fibers are difficult to get out of the washer.. and Susan didn't appreciate the nylon/dacron fuzzy in her uuhhhh "things"

 

[Stu Jackson]

I've had success in the washing machine. The trick I used was to put the line in a pillow case. Some say it would unbalance the machine, didn't happen. Just plain cold water, no detergent or softener. Worked fine on our jib sheets and mainsheet.

 

[Ross]

If you coil the line then put stops on the coil at several places with small stuff and it will stay neat. The ends should be whipped with a sewn on whipping anyway. A butane backsplice is just too lubberly for my taste and tape is not allowed in my sight.

 

[Billbeard]

I have to say I like the Idea of daisy chain we used to do this with the old flat style electrical extension cords just make a loop reach thru and grab the running portion pull it thru and repeat .Now all you have to do is pull from finish end to uncoil if you try from the starting end you’ll have a mess.

 

[KMm]

I have always used a 5 gal bucket with soap water and 1 cup bleach leave it over night and then rinse line and bucket and fill with water and fabric softener, leave over night and hang to dry. Soft and clean like a baby's bottom.

 

[Joe]

Mr Nitpicker, here. The line loaded up on the ST winch isn't nylon. The original question is about the care and cleaning of nylon line....

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.co...-3-4-diameter-16-700lb-breaking-strength.htmlhttp://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.co...line-4700lb-breaking-strength-white-gold.html
Am I a pill, or what? heh, heh

 

[rgranger]

I've done the washing machine thing also. I purchased a badly neglected boat last spring. The PO told me the line was only a year old and never used. BUT it had sat out for 18 months under a pile of oak leaves. It was green and brown from tannins and algae and it was stiff and hard. I coiled it, and used 4 plastic zip strips at quarter turns around the coil to keep the coil from going crazy in the wash (the kind used to hold computer cables together). I put the loop over the agitator, set it on gentle and used the setting with a soak cycle so I could catch it before it went to spin. Added Woolite and some bleach. They look good. Not new, but not bad either.

 

[Union36]

Washer/not pressure )

After buying our Santana 20 from the San Diego area, the lines were really stiff & inflexible. We were debating whether to just bite the bullet & buy new but I thought if they are full of salty weather etc. why not run them through the washing machine. Using very little detergent & two rinse cycles, the lines now are much better & we won't have to buy new ones for awhile.

Lisa

 

[Union36]

you are right oh wise one~

 

[zeehag]

i keep mine rinsed with fresh water....

 

[Joe]

The best way to maintain your sheets and halyards is to stow them out of the elements when not being used. Leaving a valuable set of genoa sheets wrapped around your furled sail all year round will do way more damage than 30 days of sailing. Why not detach the sheets and keep them inside, replacing them with a sacrificial line when you roll up the sail for the end of your weekend. Same with the halyards.... attach a messenger line to the shackle end, pull the halyard back into the mast, coil the working end and stow it in a canvas deck bag.... or remove it entirely, leaving the messenger line in its place. You can do this in way less time that it takes to detach everything bundle it up an take to the laundry. Just a thought.

Now.. that said.. I will admit that I leave my halyards rigged all the time now.. but I do stow my sheets away when not sailing.

 

[Scott NIelsen]

I would caution with the bleach as it tends to destroy the fibers. However, it sure does clean them up and I've never had a line fail on any sailboat I ever owned, even when they should have. I've seen a line part twice on while in the Navy but, those loads are tremendous. Like a tug pulling a submarine from the pier and a tug pulling a 650 ft ship from a pier. A bit more strain than you will ever see on a sailboat. I just soak mine for a couple of days in a tub with fabric softener. Rinse well and it will remoce all the nasties from nature, like dirt, salt and bird you know what.

 

[Ross]

The last time I looked bleach was sold in plastic bottles. I don't think that bleach will harm plastic rope.

 

[Plumper II]

The last time I looked bleach was sold in plastic bottles. I don't think that bleach will harm plastic rope.

Try putting a synthetic shirt in bleach. It hurts. There is plastic and there is plastic. Don't use bleach. It is not necessary.

 

[Architure]

Linseed oil