I,ve use the product on my lifelines but give it a couple weeks and the grunge sets up worse than before....The lines are only two years old and came new on the boat.... wondering if the cleaner is removing some protective coating the lines would have from the start.... Honestly I,m ready to put new ones on and forget the cleaner.....Randy windward@softcom.net
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Dick McKee
Randy..Try a small amount of..
acetone on a rag to wipe down the lines. They should come out snow white. Then put a paste wax on clean rag and go back over the lines. I've been using this method about 22 years and it keeps ours looking like new. I only need to clean them about twice a year. Dick McKee S/V Constellation
acetone on a rag to wipe down the lines. They should come out snow white. Then put a paste wax on clean rag and go back over the lines. I've been using this method about 22 years and it keeps ours looking like new. I only need to clean them about twice a year. Dick McKee S/V Constellation
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Mark Johnson
I'd use..
soft scrub. I've tried acetone in the past, it cleans them, but leaves them sticky. Soft scrub gets them clean and white again without the stickyness.
soft scrub. I've tried acetone in the past, it cleans them, but leaves them sticky. Soft scrub gets them clean and white again without the stickyness.
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Don Evans
Take Them Off
Every expert rigger I've read, recommends you never install the lifeline covers. We don't for our standing rigging (except for a few feet above the deck perhaps), so who developed this culture of "white" lifelines? You can't inspect what you can't see. Any water that creeps in just lays against your lines, in an oxygen poor environment. Sounds like a great place for crevice corrosion to begin. If you go bouncing off a lifeline and it fails because of the pretty white covers, was it worth the looks? Makes me wonder. Don
Every expert rigger I've read, recommends you never install the lifeline covers. We don't for our standing rigging (except for a few feet above the deck perhaps), so who developed this culture of "white" lifelines? You can't inspect what you can't see. Any water that creeps in just lays against your lines, in an oxygen poor environment. Sounds like a great place for crevice corrosion to begin. If you go bouncing off a lifeline and it fails because of the pretty white covers, was it worth the looks? Makes me wonder. Don
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Sean
Shiney Life Lines
Last year I tried to clean my lifeline covers also. I gave up and stripped them off. Took about an hour. I then buffed them out with liquid stainlees cleaner until they gleamed. I really think they look a lot better and have had many sailors on my dock consider doing the same. Safer and beautiful. Why not? Sean s/v Carnaby Street
Last year I tried to clean my lifeline covers also. I gave up and stripped them off. Took about an hour. I then buffed them out with liquid stainlees cleaner until they gleamed. I really think they look a lot better and have had many sailors on my dock consider doing the same. Safer and beautiful. Why not? Sean s/v Carnaby Street
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Ken Palmer
Don, I think you misunderstood
Lifelines come with a covering, much like electrical wire comes with insulation. Go to any marine catalog, and you will see that the lifelines are white, not bare wire like your standing rigging. I like the idea about wax coating after cleaning. Will try it on my new lifelines next spring. About the acetone. I have used it to clean my yellow AC cable that had become black and sticky with age. It cleaned right up, and was not sticky at all afterwards. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty http://www.LakeOntarioSailing.com
Lifelines come with a covering, much like electrical wire comes with insulation. Go to any marine catalog, and you will see that the lifelines are white, not bare wire like your standing rigging. I like the idea about wax coating after cleaning. Will try it on my new lifelines next spring. About the acetone. I have used it to clean my yellow AC cable that had become black and sticky with age. It cleaned right up, and was not sticky at all afterwards. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty http://www.LakeOntarioSailing.com
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Jim Willis
Acetone damages vinyl
Use of acetone on lifelines, fenders or any other vinyl item is risky. With new vinyl you might be able to get away with it onece with very quick use BUT VINYL IS DISSOLVED BY ACETONE!! What you are doing is removing surface sweated plasticizer but also the original compressed surface of the vinyl. This allows open pores throught which even more plasticizer exudes. This is a partial source of stickiness. The other is breakdown products of the vinyl that often get a brown/pink purplish color especially when covered. It is important to use someting mild and non-abrasive and ideally restores true whiteness. You then need to seal the surface with a new "skin" wax is less that ideal for this. On my boat I use SEA GLOW on vents, fenders and lifelines. Cleans off the grunge, makes (and keeps) them snowy white and will make most discoloration disappear as long as the vinyl gets to see daylight (whitening effect is UV powered). Any surface stickiness is neutralized by application of one or two coats of SILKENSEAL. This has a cross-linking plymer that forms a "plastic skin" that keeps return of stickiness from coming back quicly and makes the lines easy to wipe over. Being doing this on my boat for 5 years!. One last thing- white vinyl goes brittle as it dries out due to degration of polymer and loss of plasticier. SEA GLOW also has plasticier additive anti-oxidant/free radical scavenger and (fo those of you in damp climates) a mildew inhibitor. However- when my lifeline covers finally go I might try the suggestion of bare wires or else padded covers. Thanks Jim W
Use of acetone on lifelines, fenders or any other vinyl item is risky. With new vinyl you might be able to get away with it onece with very quick use BUT VINYL IS DISSOLVED BY ACETONE!! What you are doing is removing surface sweated plasticizer but also the original compressed surface of the vinyl. This allows open pores throught which even more plasticizer exudes. This is a partial source of stickiness. The other is breakdown products of the vinyl that often get a brown/pink purplish color especially when covered. It is important to use someting mild and non-abrasive and ideally restores true whiteness. You then need to seal the surface with a new "skin" wax is less that ideal for this. On my boat I use SEA GLOW on vents, fenders and lifelines. Cleans off the grunge, makes (and keeps) them snowy white and will make most discoloration disappear as long as the vinyl gets to see daylight (whitening effect is UV powered). Any surface stickiness is neutralized by application of one or two coats of SILKENSEAL. This has a cross-linking plymer that forms a "plastic skin" that keeps return of stickiness from coming back quicly and makes the lines easy to wipe over. Being doing this on my boat for 5 years!. One last thing- white vinyl goes brittle as it dries out due to degration of polymer and loss of plasticier. SEA GLOW also has plasticier additive anti-oxidant/free radical scavenger and (fo those of you in damp climates) a mildew inhibitor. However- when my lifeline covers finally go I might try the suggestion of bare wires or else padded covers. Thanks Jim W
I like the plastic covering too.
I was on a Santa Cruz 52 sailing home from Hawaii this summer. The boat had just cable life lines instead of the white plastic covered ones. I must agree that cable is must more functional but 'I' personally do not like the look (but probably better than dirty white!). The other problem is the chance of getting a fray in the cable (fish hooks), is a little hard on the hands and legs. I have used acetone on mine in the past but once they get too old it may be just time to replace and keep them clean and conditioned with a product like Island Girl or some other quality products. I seems that it is easier to keep something nice and clean rather than clean it up after it is grungy.
I was on a Santa Cruz 52 sailing home from Hawaii this summer. The boat had just cable life lines instead of the white plastic covered ones. I must agree that cable is must more functional but 'I' personally do not like the look (but probably better than dirty white!). The other problem is the chance of getting a fray in the cable (fish hooks), is a little hard on the hands and legs. I have used acetone on mine in the past but once they get too old it may be just time to replace and keep them clean and conditioned with a product like Island Girl or some other quality products. I seems that it is easier to keep something nice and clean rather than clean it up after it is grungy.
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david lewis
Lifeline Cleaning
One problem with acetone is it evaporates incredibly quickly so you have to use a lot of it. On the other had it is not considered a VOC (volitile organic compound) so it is less hazardous to the environment than many other chemicals. Has anyone ever tried soap and water for this? Just curious, I haven't and wonder if it is so simple a solution we all overlook it. I have used boat stove alcohol for general cleaning with pretty good results and i wonder if that is also damaging to the vinyl on lifelines? dave
One problem with acetone is it evaporates incredibly quickly so you have to use a lot of it. On the other had it is not considered a VOC (volitile organic compound) so it is less hazardous to the environment than many other chemicals. Has anyone ever tried soap and water for this? Just curious, I haven't and wonder if it is so simple a solution we all overlook it. I have used boat stove alcohol for general cleaning with pretty good results and i wonder if that is also damaging to the vinyl on lifelines? dave
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Don Evans
Ken, I Didn't Express Myself Clearly
Your right, when you order lifelines they traditionally come with vinyl covers. I meant to say order lifelines without covers. In other words, regular standing rigging. Its also about 20% cheaper than vinyl covered wire. You can also slit them lengthwise to remove the covers if you want to take them off yourself. They come off very easily. Don
Your right, when you order lifelines they traditionally come with vinyl covers. I meant to say order lifelines without covers. In other words, regular standing rigging. Its also about 20% cheaper than vinyl covered wire. You can also slit them lengthwise to remove the covers if you want to take them off yourself. They come off very easily. Don
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Bil Thomas
Whitewall Cleaner
I have found that using Welsley automobile Whitewall cleaner works to keep the life lines clean and bright. It is designed to clean and protect vynals and rubber. Besides it does double duty.
I have found that using Welsley automobile Whitewall cleaner works to keep the life lines clean and bright. It is designed to clean and protect vynals and rubber. Besides it does double duty.
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Jim Willis
SEA GLOW restores white walls too!
I have used SEA GLOW on my whitewalls and also the white vinyl top of a Cadillac convertible (photos soon on web site). 4 Oz size is econimical for this but if you have it for you boat anyway- give it a try. The fluorescent mkeeps the whitewall white for a long time. Seal with Silkenseal or any tire dressing. Jim W
I have used SEA GLOW on my whitewalls and also the white vinyl top of a Cadillac convertible (photos soon on web site). 4 Oz size is econimical for this but if you have it for you boat anyway- give it a try. The fluorescent mkeeps the whitewall white for a long time. Seal with Silkenseal or any tire dressing. Jim W
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