Old Line

[jibes138]

Has anyone ever met a sailor that would actually just throw away old line, or do you keep it until the very end of its' useful life because you just know you will find a need for it some day? I seem to have short remnants of line, half chafed through dock lines, all kinds of bits and pieces. I never seem to not have a piece of line around when i need it. Way up in the back of my pick up truck where i am too creaky to crawl into i seem to have it all bunched up, old anchor rodes, you name it. How about the rest of you, what do you use old line for?

 

[Paul Brinkley]

I don't want to throw away something just because its old. I'M OLD, and I don't want anybody throwing me away!

I'm Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout troop, and we have a saying: "There are only two lengths of line, too long and too short." -Paul

 

[Rick D]

I have tons of (old) line. A few thrashed dock lines I have tossed. The only other line I ever got rid of I donated to the fire department. In fact, I have the three-strand gold jib sheet from my Thunderbird sloop, circa 1958. I use it as a spring line when I raft.

 

[Stu Jackson]

And small lengths of line, maybe two to ten feet, 1/4 to 1/2 are great to have in the cockpit coamings - ya just never know when they'll come in handy.

 

[Brian M H23]

I cut my lines where they are chafed. If a leftover half is shorter than me, i'll toss it.

 

[Ross]

I have a box labeled pieces of string too short to save. I was spliceing a couple of dock lines the other night and when I trimmed the tails I had quite a pile of fluff so I stuffed it into an onion bag and made a little ball. If you get enought bits and pieces you can build a monkey fist around them and make a good door stop.

 

[kenn]

I replaced halyards last year, and just yesterday I cut 3 pieces from one for lines for some new fenders. The rest will hopefully find employment as preventers, etc.

 

[Ctskip]

Nobody ever told me that I was to throw the line away. Just because it not good for the original purpose, doesn't mean it's not good for another.
I'm a patient guy, as long as I don't have to feed, educate or water it, it can stay over there. And it stays right where you put it. Seems nobody wants a piece of old line and if they did, it's right over there. I
I roll line up in lengths that show their length. long lines are two feet in length, shorter lines are one foot in length, and some are even 6 inches in length.

Now my question for y'all is how do y'all roll your line and how do you store it? I hang mine when I can

Keep it up,
Ctskip

 

[kloudie1]

I usually cut out the frayed parts, wash it with fabric softener, then coil it and store it in the garage.. Genny sheets and halyards are too stiff for hurricane mooring, so they get used around .. two years ago to control a tree that was partially knocked down by Hurricane Gustaf .. pulled it the rest of the way down with a truck.... used it to drag the tree where we could cut it.. The lines now are on a houseboat out in the swamp wherre it is used for mooring.. No shock loads there because of no wind ,in the deep thick swamp.

 

[zeehag]

i keep mine--some use for making fenders at some point--future project...kat toys, fender lines, dinghy lines, whatever----i keep them. i was taught to keep line as there is never enough --lol back when i learned to sail, the natural fiber lines were used to make baggywrinkles to prevent chafe....many uses fo r old lines....

 

[TimCup]

Ross, quit yanking our legs!

there are times when i disagree, times when I agree, and times like these, when I shake my head and wonder if you are that funny on purpose...

"I have a box labeled pieces of string too short to save"??

cup

 

[bffatcat]

I never seen anyone throw away any marine rope. You can always find a use for it. Ive got
a pegboard in my garage thats filled with coils of old line. In my many years of experience
Ive found that with the exception of docklines, nothing wears out that fast. In fact Im still using the original 7/16 Sampson yacht braid jib sheets on my 1975 boat

 

[Ross]

there are times when i disagree, times when I agree, and times like these, when I shake my head and wonder if you are that funny on purpose...

"I have a box labeled pieces of string too short to save"??

cup

Nancy will swear it is true. A two foot long piece of seine twine can be taken apart and you have three, two foot long strands that you can use for whipping the end of a line or sewing on a button.

 

[flynfol]

Guilty as charged. Too funny Paul.
<<old Eagle scout too

J

 

[Chris Burti]

I do...sort of...

After my Mother in law passed away and we had to sort through and dispose of the hoard that her Great Depression era frugality had caused her to accumulate, I made a promise to myself that I would do my best to spare my family a similar ordeal. This was no small thing as as her collection was inconsequential compared to my hoard of 'will surely come in handy some day' items which is only half the size of my 'might come in handy some day" treasures and we better not discuss the 'too good to throw away and somebody might find a use for it' collection.

I worked out a solution that works for me on our boat.

I keep a small collection of usable used line that I am actually likely to use (or give to someone in need when the occasion arises). Then, unless the potential discard replaces an inferior selection in my cache, it gets left on the dock for a sailor who can't throw a line away to store away. I keep my promise to myself and make some frugal saior's day at the same time.

 

[Hermit Scott]

there are times when i disagree, times when I agree, and times like these, when I shake my head and wonder if you are that funny on purpose...

"I have a box labeled pieces of string too short to save"??

cup

I read that and didn't realize what a gem it was until you pointed it out. I need a box labeled "things that are not worth keeping". or maybe a box with a label that says "things too dangerous to keep in a box".

 

[zeehag]

isnt that what the junk drawer is for??

 

[higgs]

I have two 3/4 inch braided dock line I happen to see a guy throw away because he just decided to buy new dock lines. I have been at this a long time, so I have plenty of old line so I now give it away to neighbors, etc.

 

[Benny]

Have never met a sailor who does not have at least one scroungy and seemingly worthless piece of line in their boats.

 

[Rick Webb]

Mine Goes to Our Junior Sailing Program for Knot Tying Lessons

Nothing could be more useful for old lines than that.

If I put them in a box my wife would throw them out.