Re-purposing used halyards

Dave Groshong · Nov 20, 2015

In Hunter speak, BBE means Burn Both Ends, the sheets may be Samson LS, could be XLS too, XLS will work just fine for sheets.

DianaOfBurlington · Nov 23, 2015

Years ago a woman wrote a funny article or editorial for one of the regional boating rags that claimed that men are pathologically incapable of throwing away a piece of rope. Sweaters, tools, boots, magazines, gifts: yes. Any old tatty length of line: no.

When I look at the laundry basket, full of used halyards and sheets, in my attic, I have to consider that she may be right.

BTW I agree with Sampson XLS, both stronger and with less stretch than Sta-Set X. Also, it was original equipment on our older Hunters. WM do not carry it (as Randy Repass, founder of WM, had first founded NER); but Defender and others do. The old-fashioned blue-and-red fleck is a yachting classic.

'BBE' may be meant to indicate that the sheets are not spliced nor fitted to any hardware; they're just cut lengths to be tied where they are used. I always burn both ends and I've never used the term myself.

Scott T-Bird · Nov 23, 2015

DianaOfBurlington said:
Years ago a woman wrote a funny article or editorial for one of the regional boating rags that claimed that men are pathologically incapable of throwing away a piece of rope. Sweaters, tools, boots, magazines, gifts: yes. Any old tatty length of line: no.

And I thought it was just me ... now I feel better! I'm almost as bad with romex. Sue keeps badgering me to get rid of the stash that I've accumulated since I wired our basement re-model

bawlmer · Nov 23, 2015

Guilty

Bad Obsession · Nov 23, 2015

Yep....I try to re-purpose all old sheets, halyards, etc. I have used old halyards as guides in my slip, etc, etc.

Joe Blizzard · Nov 24, 2015

DianaOfBurlington said:
men are pathologically incapable of throwing away a piece of rope

There's a box in my attic labeled "Pieces Of String Too Short To Save"...

Brian S · Nov 24, 2015

In our club's shed, there is a pile of crappy laid (3 strand) ropes. I don't even know where they came from or what they are there for. Now that I'm Commode-or, you can be sure we're throwing that crap out. But don't dare touch my home pile of 5' to 10' long sections of bits of cast off rope! Sometimes, it might just come in handy. Like that time I was crewing on a Thistle, but the tack fitting had blown up, and I just happened to have a length of 3/16" double braid laying in the back of the car. Tied it up, and we went on to 3 bullets and winning the regatta on corrected time as well. Mind you, I don't have a problem with laid rope. It's what I use for anchor warp, and my custom spliced dock lines. But when it's all grey and hard and jumbled up like the Flying Spaghetti Monster, it has to go...

Ted · Nov 24, 2015

The condition, strength and length of a piece of line aren't the only factors to determine if it is suitable for it's next life. Some ropes have great characteristics for a given purpose but are totally unsuitable for another. For example, a line that will be running through multiple blocks may hockle and prevent the line from running freely. I've had genoa sheets that would always get a hockle at the turning block, and screwing up a tack unless it was watched/helped through that block the entire time. Needless to say they didn't last long as genoa sheets.

Brian D · Nov 24, 2015

I used my old halyards as spring lines. Just because some of the halyard was always exposed to the environment I decided not to use them as sheets. My boat is already tied with 4 regular dock lines. The spring lines are there just for added security. They have snubbers on them.

dlochner · Nov 24, 2015

Old halyards and sheets also make good fender whips. Also use them to bundle winter covers, tie the inflatable the deck. Lots of good uses. And when there is chafe, just cut that section off and save the rest.

A soldering gun with a rope cutting tip works well for sealing the ends while cutting the rope. Only about $30 for a gun and tip.

Ron20324 · Nov 24, 2015

My sailing club has seminars to teach newbies knot tying. We give them a piece of line to take home to practice with.

DougM · Nov 24, 2015

Never ever throw a piece of line away, no matter how short, As soon as you do, you will find a use for it!

thinwater · Nov 24, 2015

Brian D said:
I used my old halyards as spring lines. Just because some of the halyard was always exposed to the environment I decided not to use them as sheets. My boat is already tied with 4 regular dock lines. The spring lines are there just for added security. They have snubbers on them.

This is an interesting point. On one hand, springs need stretch (yes, you have snubbers) just like bow and stern lines. In fact, most boats surge fore/aft a lot more than side to side (something about having a keel). On the other hand, if a spring is expected to provide redundancy (keep the boat in the slip if a bow line breaks), then stretch has to be fairly limited. I wonder if nylon DB is a good compromise.

The one place I purposely use polyester for springs is the spring when I am tied to a bulkhead. The last thing I want is side-to-side movement that will allow the fender to shift. A 30' 3-strand spring can easily stretch 2-3 feet, added to the shift you get from changes in tide height, and even a fender board can be out of position. At least in my experience, waves don't come from the bow or stern when alongside, so why would I need stretch?

----

How to recycle old halyards? Depends on size.
* Sheets. But mine would be too short for me. I have used retired big boat halyards.
* Fender lines.
* Mats. Christmas is coming. traditional-looking lines work best.
* Rope ladder.
* Assorted lashings.

I keep em' in a bushel basket at home (OFF THE BOAT!). When it over flows, they go.

DianaOfBurlington · Nov 25, 2015

Joe Blizzard said:
There's a box in my attic labeled "Pieces Of String Too Short To Save"...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

You and I should start a club. We'll get shirts made.

DianaOfBurlington · Nov 25, 2015

Brian S said:
In our club's shed, there is a pile of crappy laid (3 strand) ropes. I don't even know where they came from or what they are there for. Now that I'm Commode-or, you can be sure we're throwing that crap out.

I finally managed to get my little 1982 Rhodes Robin home from the club I used to belong to. In cleaning out the poor thing, I saved every piece of line but one tatty, moldy, crinkled piece of 1/8" braid about 21" long that was used to tie some gear in the boat. And I felt weird dropping it into the trash.

In other news, I soaked all my boat's moldy, dirty, original (1974) Sampson line in a 5-gallon bucket with laundry detergent (with fabric softener!). The soap bottle distinctly said 'Not for use with acrylic.' Oops. After a few hours, with a little scrubbing, they all came about 90% clean.

They're in the To-Be-Repurposed basket in the attic right now. I need help.

Brian D · Nov 25, 2015

DianaOfBurlington said:
I finally managed to get my little 1982 Rhodes Robin home from the club I used to belong to. In cleaning out the poor thing, I saved every piece of line but one tatty, moldy, crinkled piece of 1/8" braid about 21" long that was used to tie some gear in the boat. And I felt weird dropping it into the trash.

In other news, I soaked all my boat's moldy, dirty, original (1974) Sampson line in a 5-gallon bucket with laundry detergent (with fabric softener!). The soap bottle distinctly said 'Not for use with acrylic.' Oops. After a few hours, with a little scrubbing, they all came about 90% clean.

They're in the To-Be-Repurposed basket in the attic right now. I need help.

I made the mistake of throwing my in the washer. The parts of the halyard that was exposed to the sun started to fuzz out and became soft. Had to cut them loose and let them retire in the recycle bin.

but the rest of the halyard was long enough to cut into spring lines.

Ken Cross · Nov 25, 2015

Tie downs for stuff in a pickup.
Tie down that tarp over the drift boat.
let kids play with it.
flag halyard
jump rope
keep that tree falling the right direction when you cut it down.
a purpose for that nail In your garage
Plenty more.

Tom G P-21 · Nov 25, 2015

I replaced my halyards this spring and of course saved them because I knew there must be something I could do with them. Then I came across this simple way of making floor mats. This will be one of my winters project.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-doormat-out-of-ROPE/

DianaOfBurlington · Nov 27, 2015

Brian D said:
I made the mistake of throwing my in the washer. The parts of the halyard that was exposed to the sun started to fuzz out and became soft. Had to cut them loose and let them retire in the recycle bin. but the rest of the halyard was long enough to cut into spring lines.

I think that's why maybe mine turned out all right. I just soaked them, hand-squeezed them clear, rinsed them and left them on the (house's) deck to dry. They're a bit worn and discolored but otherwise useful.

Re-purposing used halyards

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