Old Running Rigging

[Andy1237]

What do you do with your old lines and sheets? They don't stretch enough to use as dock lines and usually the sheets are worn in the middle; cutting them up makes them too short for use in most applications. For example, overall I think my jib sheets have a lot of life but the outer cover is frayed and doesn't look real ship-shape. The lines would be too heavy on a small boat. Any suggestions?

 

[kczach]

I'm such a pack-rat that I hate to throw out old lines and such. I keep some extra lines on board in case someone in the marina needs them for some reason. Good for lending out so you won't miss them if they aren't returned. Most of the time that sort of stuff ends up in the garage never-never land.

 

[Ross]

I have a locker full of such. they are handy when I tie up to a foreign dock for fuel or a pump out.. When someone lays alongside I pass them an end that can be made fast.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I took a set of old halyards and used them as lines that go from my dock to the pile ons at the end of my slip. They are handy to grab so I can fend the boat or walk it in by hand at times.

 

[KandD]

I've kept some for the same purpose, temp dock lines if we run over to the pump out, or if I need to untie my regular lines for some reason or another. I've also used them to wrap our compression post, which acts like a scratching post for our kitties. Most I tossed after trying to clean them, I let them soak for too long when we started our move aboard.

 

[kloudie1]

Temp mooring lines and such.. but if ya throw 'em in the washing machine first with a little bleach and detergent, they will be great looking.. Then put some liquid fabric softener in the rinse and they'll feel like new lines.. Take off the shackels and hard stuff first!

 

[Ross]

They ain't too shabby as tow lines in your car. or swing ropes for the tree in the yard for the kids.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Hi Andy, knowing where your boat is makes the tow line in the car and swings in the trees the right answer. Unless you have plans for getting off Beaver Lake that is.

Mine were all hanging in a locker until I got to Florida. Then like someone mentioned they became grab lines between the pilings.

 

[sailormanbigd]

then you could always refer to Ross's recent post " what to do when bored and snowed in and use then to adorn whiskey and rum bottles? Hve to protect yer valuable bootey.

 

[Ken Prichard]

We make our sail ties out of old line. Wash them like Claude suggested then de-core the line. Discard the core and cut to length. It's easy to splice a loop in one end. They're strong, soft to handle and a lot cheaper than the ones you buy ( and it's not a big deal if you loose one overboard ).
Actually, you'll find a lot of use for de-cored line.

 

[Ross]

We make our sail ties out of old line. Wash them like Claude suggested then de-core the line. Discard the core and cut to length. It's easy to splice a loop in one end. They're strong, soft to handle and a lot cheaper than the ones you buy ( and it's not a big deal if you loose one overboard ).
Actually, you'll find a lot of use for de-cored line.

If the line is double braid then the core is also useable for ties. if the core is not braided then stuff the core into a sock very firmly and twist and fold the top of the sock back over the ball of core and use the ball as the core of a monkey fist.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Some other uses: make baggy-wrinkles, lovers knot rope mats, ties for your fenders, slip separators between pilings. Or a Jacob's Ladder (http://www.ehow.com/how_4495075_make-jacobs-ladder-rope.html) The list goes on...

 

[BobM]

How about weaving some storage nets or incorporate them into some lee cloths.

 

[Grasshopp]

Old lines

I had a friend that owned horses and loved old lines for lead and other things for his horses.

 

[Ross]

Re: Old lines

Farmers never have enough rope.
It has just started snowing again.

 

[All U Get]

Farmers never have enough rope.
It has just started snowing again.

That's the trouble with farmers, they don't know if they found a rope or lost a cow. Come to think about it, I never saw a rope that was too old in Maine.
All U Get

 

[Ron20324]

Donate it to the Boy Scouts or Sea Scouts. Better yet, show them how to do your handywork.

 

[Rick9671]

Save it. You will be suprised at how many uses you will find for those old, but not completly worn out, lines. I have never had enough.

Rick in Utah

 

[Nik]

They are good for your fenders, extra lines when rafting off, tying down tarps, the list goes on; as you have read already.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

I move them to my pick-up. They are great for tying down loads.