How to color white lines
- Thread starter SFS
- Start date
Why not leave the dock lines attached to the dock? I have a separate travel set.
When I visit a new place, who's to say what length is right? But if they are coiled the same way, it's pretty obvious which are long and which are short.
So I don't see how color helps. Ind if they stain the deck you are going to be mad!
When I visit a new place, who's to say what length is right? But if they are coiled the same way, it's pretty obvious which are long and which are short.
So I don't see how color helps. Ind if they stain the deck you are going to be mad!
When I need to mark a three strand rope that shows how much anchor rode is out I use a bright colored nylon line wrapped through one strand of the rope. So, one wrap equals 30 feet, two wraps equals 60 feet, etc. The strand locks the line and prevents it from working out. See Picture that follows:
The dock lines all stay at the dock. Don't know how I created the impression that they do not. The nature of the slip is such that we don't sidetie the boat to the only finger pier, which is very short. Rather, we center the boat in the slip, which is more than twice as wide as the boat, 50% longer than the boat, and delineated mainly by pilings. So, the working end of each of our lines, when cast off, is a relatively long way from the standing lines they are (hopefully) draped across at departure. We use the drape method so that coming back into the slip, you can grab any given line from anywhere along its length. This allows some flexibility in positioning the boat and crew, rather than having to put a crew member exactly abeam of a single point where a given line is hanging.
Because we center the boat between the pilings, we have a total of 10 (white) lines to the boat. 2 bow lines. 2 stern lines. 2 spring lines on aft pilings that run forward. 2 spring lines on the main dock that run aft. (This dock runs perpendicular to the long axis of the boat.) 2 breast lines, one starboard, one port, each running to a piling. Each of these lines remains in the slip when we depart. We do our best to hang them upon departure, as I HATE lines in the water, but that is difficult to do, given the distances involved. The two bow lines and two aft-running springs can get tossed back onto the main dock at departure, but the other 6 lines get draped across more white lines that I have run for just that purpose. So I have a bunch of long white lines hanging from long white lines. Hence my question about color differentiation. I can certainly invest in 10 different colors of line, but I have all the (white) line I could possibly need available to me for no charge. I believe I have considered (and tried) all of the available methods by which lines are "stored" at the slip while we are away.
I would slip the boat differently if I had something to which I could side tie that ran more than 20% of the length of the boat. That would let me eliminate all of the lines on one side of the boat. If another slip were available, I would take it, as it would "fit" the boat better. However, this is a very small private marina, and this is the only currently available slip long enough for my boat. Turnover is non-existent due to the very low rates. At this point, I think I will weave some yarn into the lines, or buy colored line. Thanks for the suggestions.
Because we center the boat between the pilings, we have a total of 10 (white) lines to the boat. 2 bow lines. 2 stern lines. 2 spring lines on aft pilings that run forward. 2 spring lines on the main dock that run aft. (This dock runs perpendicular to the long axis of the boat.) 2 breast lines, one starboard, one port, each running to a piling. Each of these lines remains in the slip when we depart. We do our best to hang them upon departure, as I HATE lines in the water, but that is difficult to do, given the distances involved. The two bow lines and two aft-running springs can get tossed back onto the main dock at departure, but the other 6 lines get draped across more white lines that I have run for just that purpose. So I have a bunch of long white lines hanging from long white lines. Hence my question about color differentiation. I can certainly invest in 10 different colors of line, but I have all the (white) line I could possibly need available to me for no charge. I believe I have considered (and tried) all of the available methods by which lines are "stored" at the slip while we are away.
I would slip the boat differently if I had something to which I could side tie that ran more than 20% of the length of the boat. That would let me eliminate all of the lines on one side of the boat. If another slip were available, I would take it, as it would "fit" the boat better. However, this is a very small private marina, and this is the only currently available slip long enough for my boat. Turnover is non-existent due to the very low rates. At this point, I think I will weave some yarn into the lines, or buy colored line. Thanks for the suggestions.
Here is another different dea. Put hooks or long nails on the pilings to leave the lines on when you leave the slip. A hook on either side of the piling running for and aft so you can not catch it with a shroud. The line running forward goes on that side of the piling the line running aft goes on the other. When you leave the slip just push the boat to one side then the other to hang the lines and use the boat hook when you return to retrieve them. You could also put one line above the other to delineate more than one line going forward or aft, long one high short one lower kinda thing.
I have used the long nails sold to nail landscape timbers on many pilings they are plenty long enough and are galvanized so they do not rust.
I have used the long nails sold to nail landscape timbers on many pilings they are plenty long enough and are galvanized so they do not rust.
If I understand your situation properly, there is one key line that must be secured before the others are secured. That is my situation, so I bought enough rope of a different color for that one line. All my other docking lines are white. My critical line is a spring line. Once the colored spring line is secure, the main dock lines are easy to identify and secure, then the rest can be done relatively leisurely and the order is not critical. So my recommendation is that you use your white rope for all the dock lines except that first one that you need to grab. Bite the bullet and get a different colored rope for that one line. The cost of one line is negligible compared to the stress-relief on your wife.
I have not tried clothing dye on rope. I do know that it will dye nylon, as it is used by some people for nylon fabric skin on frame kayaks. This is standard RIT acid fast dye. It uses vinegar to set the dye. I expect it would work to some extent or other on nylon dock lines, but I couldn't speak to the color's longevity in sunshine all day every day.
