The lines on this old boat are well-aged. Left coiled on the deck for some years by POs, they have taken on a beautiful shade of dark olive. (At first I thought if I could get mold in a complementary rust-red color I could code the port and starboard jib sheets-- well, never mind.) But they are Sampson Yacht Braid and show few signs of fraying or abuse-- they'll will still work for lesser control lines and maybe even the mainsheet. Has anyone had success resurrecting cordage from this kind of neglect? I have laid them in the sun after hand-washing them in laundry soap-- I started with bleach but remembered you should never use it on acrylics! This got most of the slime off but there are still black-green stains. (I figure if I ever go duck hunting at least the running rigging will be camouflagued--) I'd be interested to hear other people's (successful) solutions. JC
Cleaning mildewed lines
- Thread starter jcherubini
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D
Don Alexander
T
Tom Fuller
Cleaning Lines
Throw them in the washing machine if they'll fit in. Coil up the line and tie off with plastic ties. That will keep the line coming out of the washing machine in numerous knots. Use your favorite detergent. When done put them in the dryer with a fabric softner. They'll come out looking great.
Throw them in the washing machine if they'll fit in. Coil up the line and tie off with plastic ties. That will keep the line coming out of the washing machine in numerous knots. Use your favorite detergent. When done put them in the dryer with a fabric softner. They'll come out looking great.
T
Tim McCarty
two words!!
Oxy Clean!! Put the lines in a solution of Oxy Clean and water in a 5 gallon pail. Leave for 24 to 36 hours, and you are golden. Oxy Clean can be purchased at Bed, Bath and Beyond (if available to you).
Oxy Clean!! Put the lines in a solution of Oxy Clean and water in a 5 gallon pail. Leave for 24 to 36 hours, and you are golden. Oxy Clean can be purchased at Bed, Bath and Beyond (if available to you).
Combination of all these suggestions.
John: I usually use a nozzle on the hose and blast them to get most of the crap out of the lines. I think that the washing machine is really the best way to go. I prefer to put mine in an old pillow case and tie off the end. Use some detergent and oxy clean. A little Downey in the rinse cycle makes them nice and soft. You can usually just hang them up and let them dry.
John: I usually use a nozzle on the hose and blast them to get most of the crap out of the lines. I think that the washing machine is really the best way to go. I prefer to put mine in an old pillow case and tie off the end. Use some detergent and oxy clean. A little Downey in the rinse cycle makes them nice and soft. You can usually just hang them up and let them dry.
Good ideas.
I will try the washing-machine approach. But it was not a major chore to hand-wash them. I had already blasted them first with the garden hose and soaked them for 5 minutes or so. They came out stained but very clean (and snuggly soft!). But maybe a more thorough washing will finish the rest of it. Thanks for useable suggestions. JC
I will try the washing-machine approach. But it was not a major chore to hand-wash them. I had already blasted them first with the garden hose and soaked them for 5 minutes or so. They came out stained but very clean (and snuggly soft!). But maybe a more thorough washing will finish the rest of it. Thanks for useable suggestions. JC
G
Gord May
A Handy Tool
A handy tool for pressure washing lines /w a garden hose: Assemble a "TEE" from plastic pipe. The horizontal (top) of the T will be large enough to easiliy pull the rope through. The vertical (leg) of the T will have a garden hose adaptor (/w optional shut-off valve). Garden hose connected to adaptor, water running, pull rope, back & forth if neccesary, through horizontal top sleeve. Regards, Gord
A handy tool for pressure washing lines /w a garden hose: Assemble a "TEE" from plastic pipe. The horizontal (top) of the T will be large enough to easiliy pull the rope through. The vertical (leg) of the T will have a garden hose adaptor (/w optional shut-off valve). Garden hose connected to adaptor, water running, pull rope, back & forth if neccesary, through horizontal top sleeve. Regards, Gord
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