Line Management

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Paladin27

Paladin27

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Jul 26, 2010
140
Hunter 23 South Haven, MI
Ok, so I've been sailing a couple seasons now and I have some poor line management skills. Does anybody have any suggestions or better even, videos, of how to store lines, while in use and also stowed. I generally just do the loop-turn, loop-turn, loop-turn then wind around 2 or 3 times, twist the last wind and flip over method. It looks ok but it's not exactly quickly accessible.

I saw this photo on Flickr and it made me think about this topic. I like the way this looks, not sure how to do it, or if it's practical for quick access.

 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
You're spot-on about access. If you are sailing or on the hook, it would make a difference. If running rigging and under way, you would not tie up a line that may need to be released in a panic situation. At the dock or at anchor, sure, make it look pretty if for no other reason than to demonstrate proper coiling practices.
 
kappykaplan

kappykaplan

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May 1, 2011
5,474
Pearson 37 Lusby MD
If by loop-turn you mean you are twisting the line so it lays flat, you're spot on. What I do is then take a single loop around the top of the line, then pass a bight through the loops, then pass the bitter end of the line through that bight. This will give you a tail on the coiled line that can be used for hanging, etc. For quick access underway for the main halyard, I do the loop-turn, but no final single loop. Don't want to waste the 30 secs or so if I need to drop the main in a hurry.
 
Eric M

Eric M

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Sep 30, 2008
159
Island Packet 35 Jacksonville
The one thing that I really learned from our days on racing sailboats is to cut every line to only have the length you need. So many folks have 6'+ of tail longer than is needed. For example, our slack side jib sheet is 4' longer than is required to reach the winch and make two wraps. When we got our boat it was about 10' longer than this on both sides which was 20' more line in the cockpit than was ever used. Underway or at the dock all of our lines are coiled and hung around a cleat, winch, or any other easy access point.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
All it really takes is a few minutes on the internet or with a knot book to learn how to make coils and "hangers" with the line itself.
 
Paladin27

Paladin27

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Jul 26, 2010
140
Hunter 23 South Haven, MI
Thanks DannyS, I like that coil with a hanging loop method, looks easy to do and easy to undo.
 
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