Line Bags

[DougM]

I used the same type of line hooks that Greg uses. They are really much more usable than the bags.
When the lines are coiled, when released, they drop to the cockpit floor and flake out without tangling. My experience with the bags, was frequently ending up with a rats nest when the lines were pulled out.

 

[Tedd]

Why not just learnb how to coil a line and stick a hitch at the top and hang it on itself.

That's what I've always done. But it won't be a great option with the new boat because of how the lines are led aft. Too many lines too close together. Hence my interest in other options.

 

[JBP-PA]

SailRite sells a kit with all the bits and bobs you need to make your own in whatever size you want. You can choose any sunbrella color.

 

[Stu Jackson]

That's what I've always done. But it won't be a great option with the new boat because of how the lines are led aft. Too many lines too close together. Hence my interest in other options.

@Tedd
Here are pictures of my dodger. The photos were large, so scroll them over to see the starboard side of the lines coming off my cabintop. The centermost large blue flecked line is my mainsheet, shown simply tied up and hung over a cleat that was there when they built the boat. The next red traced line is my traveler control line, simply coiled up and hung on itself. You coil it, then just reach thru, pull some line thru and loop it over itself. Other lines are, in these pictures, just bunched up and laid on the cabintop. The lines I have coming aft are multiple: mainsheet, two traveler control lines, lazy jacks, boom vang and four reefing lines, I have double line reefing. Sometimes I coil and hang all the lines, but these pictures were taken after I had sailed to that anchorage. All done without sail bags. The next post on that thread shows someone with sail bags. Your boat, your choice.

Dodger Height with Flix - Page 2

Dodger Height with Flix - Page 2

c34.org

 

[thinwater]

In fact, line boxes seem to be a coming thing. Some are on top of the deck. (Annapolis Sailboat Show today).

 

[Tedd]

Hi @thinwater ,

Yes, the boat I'm planning to buy has a line box molded into the deck. It's a nice idea, but it's small and has only one pocket. It may be that it's actually meant for the winch handle, not for lines. Either way, I suspect it's not going to be adequate.

 

[MikeHoncho]

I made bags for all my lines using trampoline fabric. The fabric let’s almost no light through, ventilates well and is stiff enabling quick in and out. I first mounted them with 3m adhesive pad snaps and switched over to Pull Dot fasteners.

 

[Ward H]

Currently I "figure 8" coil my lines and hang them from the cabin top winches. When sailing I lay the coils of line on the cabin top between the dodger and line clutches.
I've sailed on @Scott T-Bird s C320 which has sail bags. I liked them and plan to make my own using supplies from SailRite as shown in @JBP-PA s photo.

@MikeHoncho Curious as to the need to switch from the 3M adhesive pad snaps to the Pull Dot fasteners. Did you use the YKK SNAD pad snaps and did they fail?

 

[thinwater]

Many are stiffened to stay open. A fiberglass batten?

I've used hooks, bags, and boxes, and find the right answer depends on the geometry and the boat. No hard rules. I've been sailing this one 4 years, and I think it is calling for two bags for halyard and furler tails.

[We refer to rope as "line" in most applications, but when it's generic like this, it feels grammatically like a "rope bag" to me. Or the specific purpose such as halyard tails. Line can mean things other than rope (straight line, lay line, pick-up line), but rope means rope.]

 

[MikeHoncho]

Currently I "figure 8" coil my lines and hang them from the cabin top winches. When sailing I lay the coils of line on the cabin top between the dodger and line clutches.
I've sailed on @Scott T-Bird s C320 which has sail bags. I liked them and plan to make my own using supplies from SailRite as shown in @JBP-PA s photo.

@MikeHoncho Curious as to the need to switch from the 3M adhesive pad snaps to the Pull Dot fasteners. Did you use the YKK SNAD pad snaps and did they fail?

They were and failed after about 2 years. They didn’t have enough shear strength for the weight

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Currently I "figure 8" coil my lines and hang them from the cabin top winches. When sailing I lay the coils of line on the cabin top between the dodger and line clutches.
I've sailed on @Scott T-Bird s C320 which has sail bags. I liked them and plan to make my own using supplies from SailRite as shown in @JBP-PA s photo.

The thing is, though, I removed the bags. They were filthy and wet weather (not even direct rain) caused the filth to get all over the seats and cushions. Plus, they were much too deep and interfered with the cushions. I didn't like the mesh material ... I think it is ugly but that is probably because they were so filthy. The mesh also hardened and was too rough. Overall, I'm not sure I like the bags.

I think they look great when they are new and fresh. Expose them in the weather for awhile and I think they can get really ugly.

 

[tfox2069]

In fact, line boxes seem to be a coming thing. Some are on top of the deck. (Annapolis Sailboat Show today).

They've been around for awhile. My 2008 Hunter 36 has them, as I think a lot of Hunters do (can't speak for other boats). I LOVE THEM. They drain out the bottom, and will hold three substantial lines in them if you put them in carefully. Admittedly I mostly use them for storage when not actively sailing, but for that purpose they are awesome, and really clean up the cockpit. Plus the fact that they're under a dodger means the lines aren't really put away wet anyway, or the most part. Have never seen any mold or signs of holding moisture for any length of time, and the lines are always stored there (photo is not mine - grabbed it off of Yachtworld). They're easy to clean out too - not that they really need it.