I purchased a 1977 Hunter 25 that has been on the hard for about 7 years. It is cleaning up somewhat nicely, but all the lines that came with the boat are very dry and fairly stiff - not necessarily damaged, but dry. I am trying to minimize costs in all aspects of the rennovation and wonder if there is a way to soak the lines to give them new life and limpness. The boat was sailed on Lake Erie. Thanks!
Can you restore lines?
- Thread starter deeman7777
- Start date
- Status
New Life to Lines
You can soak them in fabric softner in your home laundry washing machine, rinse as usual and spin dry.
You can soak them in fabric softner in your home laundry washing machine, rinse as usual and spin dry.
Washing rope
I have many times washed all the various lines on my boats in my home washing machine. Wash them just like you would wash really dirty clothes, and use liquid fabric softener if you have it. Rope is almost always polyester (dacron) and can stand a lot of detergent and some amount of bleach. The only real problem is the tangled mess the lines tie themselves into. This can be avoided by using mesh bags made for baby items or other "delicates". Dry them in the dryer, or just let them air dry, they dry fast.
I have many times washed all the various lines on my boats in my home washing machine. Wash them just like you would wash really dirty clothes, and use liquid fabric softener if you have it. Rope is almost always polyester (dacron) and can stand a lot of detergent and some amount of bleach. The only real problem is the tangled mess the lines tie themselves into. This can be avoided by using mesh bags made for baby items or other "delicates". Dry them in the dryer, or just let them air dry, they dry fast.
Those Green Lines
Deeman, Up here in the grim, dank north lines appreciate being washed in Spring in a net bag in any king of washing machine with a little fabric softener and a little dish liquid. We suffer from green algae after our long damp winters and lines like this treatment. Try this or replace them with some properly sized lines that work with the rest of the color scheme on your boat. Peter
Deeman, Up here in the grim, dank north lines appreciate being washed in Spring in a net bag in any king of washing machine with a little fabric softener and a little dish liquid. We suffer from green algae after our long damp winters and lines like this treatment. Try this or replace them with some properly sized lines that work with the rest of the color scheme on your boat. Peter
Cleaning lines
Put the lines in an old pillow case and use safety pins to close it up. Then throw in the wash. Might take a couple of wash cycles, but the lines won't get tangled. Leave the lines in the pillow case for drying (don't use the hot setting), but remove them before they are completely dry. Hang them in the basement or garage to finish drying. DON'T USE CHLORINE BLEACH. But its OK to use regualr detergent. I've done OK with Oxyclean.
Put the lines in an old pillow case and use safety pins to close it up. Then throw in the wash. Might take a couple of wash cycles, but the lines won't get tangled. Leave the lines in the pillow case for drying (don't use the hot setting), but remove them before they are completely dry. Hang them in the basement or garage to finish drying. DON'T USE CHLORINE BLEACH. But its OK to use regualr detergent. I've done OK with Oxyclean.
fabric softener
Excerpted from “Strength of Knots” at: http://cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1885 “... About Fabric Softeners & Rope: Tests conducted in a study by Smith (1988) indicate that treatment with concentrated fabric softener reduced the strength of a new rope. Frank (1989) showed that certain ropes treated with dilute softener (per manufacturer’s recommendations) were stronger than the same rope without softening, after aging and washing. Frank reported that the likely mechanism at work explaining these results, is that the fiber lubricants contained in new rope are lost with age, allowing the fibers to cut one another. Fabric softener replaces some of the lubricants. Excess softening leaves the rope effectively wet, with the corresponding loss in strength ...” HTH, Gord May
Excerpted from “Strength of Knots” at: http://cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1885 “... About Fabric Softeners & Rope: Tests conducted in a study by Smith (1988) indicate that treatment with concentrated fabric softener reduced the strength of a new rope. Frank (1989) showed that certain ropes treated with dilute softener (per manufacturer’s recommendations) were stronger than the same rope without softening, after aging and washing. Frank reported that the likely mechanism at work explaining these results, is that the fiber lubricants contained in new rope are lost with age, allowing the fibers to cut one another. Fabric softener replaces some of the lubricants. Excess softening leaves the rope effectively wet, with the corresponding loss in strength ...” HTH, Gord May
Line
The Hunter 25 is a nice boat. It is also one without an excessive number of lines. My advice would be to replace all your old running rigging (which probably date from 1977, too) with new ones. Lines for your boat are not expensive and you'll have great piece of mind after you do it. Use the old lines for tying up fenders, making baggy-wrinkles, and practicing your splicing technique. FWIT, I helped a friend deliver an old boat a few years ago. We only had to sail about 7 hours, but the winds were gusty. A few hours into the sail, we were close hauled, with the lee rail down. Then the mainsheet (original equipment) parted. We had a few white knuckled moments regaining control of the boat and attaching a makeshift new mainsheet. My friend should have replaced all the lines as soon as he bought the boat.... Although you didn't mention it, you should also give some thought to the standing rigging, which is also probably the original and also getting to, or is at, the end of its useful life.
The Hunter 25 is a nice boat. It is also one without an excessive number of lines. My advice would be to replace all your old running rigging (which probably date from 1977, too) with new ones. Lines for your boat are not expensive and you'll have great piece of mind after you do it. Use the old lines for tying up fenders, making baggy-wrinkles, and practicing your splicing technique. FWIT, I helped a friend deliver an old boat a few years ago. We only had to sail about 7 hours, but the winds were gusty. A few hours into the sail, we were close hauled, with the lee rail down. Then the mainsheet (original equipment) parted. We had a few white knuckled moments regaining control of the boat and attaching a makeshift new mainsheet. My friend should have replaced all the lines as soon as he bought the boat.... Although you didn't mention it, you should also give some thought to the standing rigging, which is also probably the original and also getting to, or is at, the end of its useful life.
Standing rigging too?
I didn't think about replacing the standing rigging. Can steel cables stretch or become comprimised?
I didn't think about replacing the standing rigging. Can steel cables stretch or become comprimised?
Yes, Cables stretch, most say 10 years is
average life for standing rigging but much goes longer. You can inspect yourself with guidance or a rigger can perform a check for ~$150. Standing rigging also needs to be "tuned" or tensioned correctly. If the boat has been on the hard with mast stepped (on the boat) it would be prudent to assume at least some of the rigging will need repair & definitely tuned.
average life for standing rigging but much goes longer. You can inspect yourself with guidance or a rigger can perform a check for ~$150. Standing rigging also needs to be "tuned" or tensioned correctly. If the boat has been on the hard with mast stepped (on the boat) it would be prudent to assume at least some of the rigging will need repair & definitely tuned.
- Status