Why oh why

Delezynski · Aug 31, 2015

All U,

About once a year or so, we clean our lines in a large Rubbermade tub with mild soap. Then rinse them VERY well. THEN, put them back in the tub and soak them over night (or more) in water with a lot of fabric softener added. No more squeaky cleats!

By the way, sun eats sails fast, but not the lines.

Greg

keys please · Aug 31, 2015

Get those lines wet in salt water then let them dry out, repeat many times…. All the evaporation leaves the salt behind and you get hard lines…. A Better application of all that salt would be with a good pickle and or chips & dip to go along with that cold six….
Fair winds, brian

CloudDiver · Aug 31, 2015

I have way more experience with climbing ropes than with running rigging line. They are basically exactly the same thing in physical construction (braided sheath over kermantle core), and also made by the same rope makers like New England Ropes for example. the big difference is that sailing ropes are static, you do not want stretch in them where climbing ropes are dynamic, you want them to be somewhat elastic and stretch to absorb the energy of a fall.
Anyway, the care for them is roughly the same and the things that effect them/harm them are similar. When you are mountaineering or rock climbing ropes get dirty, but rarely ever see salt and get much less UV than running rigging. UV damages everything! I believe UV contributes to stiffness just like UV makes unprotected plastics brittle, but as pointed out above salt is the biggest factor. Salt in running rigging on boats and dirt/sand in climbing ropes do the same thing that can get you killed or injured; salt crystals or dirt/sand particles that work their way into the sheath and core basically become a abrasive 'saw' that will begin cutting fibers internally. Left unchecked for long periods the line will fail.
So the advice mentioned above is best, wash in the bath tub or a big bucket with a mild soap or detergent, let air dry. When you can't always do this with running rigging a good fresh water wash down as often as possible is a good idea. There are some products in the climbing/mountaineering world that you soak lines in to give them better water/dirt resistance and UV protection without effecting grip, kind of like scotch guard for ropes. I haven't seen the stuff used on running rigging so I can't speak to its effectiveness, but it has worked well on my climbing ropes that did not have a factory water treatment.

scotmcpherson · Sep 2, 2015

Fabric softener is the ticket. Put your lines in a laundry bag, and put them in a washing machine with fabric softener.

That's honestly what you are looking for.

Ken Cross · Sep 2, 2015

scotmcpherson said:
Fabric softener is the ticket. Put your lines in a laundry bag, and put them in a washing machine with fabric softener.

That's honestly what you are looking for.

I heard that a washing machine can bunch up the outside or the core, contributing to rapid failure. Having said that I have not had ours in a washer so I have no real experience.

Ken

wflowe2 · Sep 3, 2015

I use laundry bag in washer with Woolite

woodster · Sep 3, 2015

wouldn't baking soda help soften them up and also dissipate the salt

pateco · Sep 3, 2015

I have heard that Fabric softener weakens the lines. when I got our boat there was a locker full of old running rigging. All of it was a mess with dirt, some of it frayed or parted. I took the best pieces, and soaked them overnight in a tub with Tide Ultra HE and water, and then washed them in the machine tied up in individual old pillow cases. Some of them came out great, while others were still dirty and faded. Make sure you knot the end of any line that is not whipped, or the core and cover will shift on you.

Brian S · Sep 3, 2015

I use a 5 gallon bucket and a toilet plunger purchased especially for line cleaning, and ONLY line cleaning.

I messed up some laid (3 strand) nylon dock lines in a mesh bag in the washing machine once. My new washing machine does such a good job of twisting up my clothes into a bunch, and wrinkling them all to hell, I would not put lines in it

Ken Cross said:
I heard that a washing machine can bunch up the outside or the core, contributing to rapid failure. Having said that I have not had ours in a washer so I have no real experience.

Ken

woodster · Sep 3, 2015

Tabo78 said:
Hello Im pretending to buy a Hunter 30 and sail it from Florida to Chile (south America) i want to know about The performance of The Hunter 30 offshore

You have posed this question on 4 different threads now you will get better results by posting it on its own thread

scotmcpherson · Sep 3, 2015

Ken Cross said:
I heard that a washing machine can bunch up the outside or the core, contributing to rapid failure. Having said that I have not had ours in a washer so I have no real experience. Ken

That's the purpose of the laundry bag, it prevents wind knots and tugging of the sheath over the core.

scotmcpherson · Sep 3, 2015

pateco said:
I have heard that Fabric softener weakens the lines. when I got our boat there was a locker full of old running rigging. All of it was a mess with dirt, some of it frayed or parted. I took the best pieces, and soaked them overnight in a tub with Tide Ultra HE and water, and then washed them in the machine tied up in individual old pillow cases. Some of them came out great, while others were still dirty and faded. Make sure you knot the end of any line that is not whipped, or the core and cover will shift on you.

Letting the lines get crusty and stiff will wear out your lines faster than anything else except a knife

scotmcpherson · Sep 3, 2015

He probably doesn't realize he is posting "replies" and is wondering where his posts are going.

capta · Sep 3, 2015

Our lines do not seem to get stiff. We've never washed them, used fabric softener on them or done anything to preserve them, other than turn most of them end for end each year.
It's said that the tropical waters are saltier than temperate ones, so one would think that our lines would get stiffer, more often than you northerners' lines. I'm guessing that whatever you are getting on your lines that makes them stiff, is from the civilization you all live around, not the sailing you do.
Easiest solution I can suggest is to just chuck that life and "come on down" as one game show host used to say.

pateco · Sep 3, 2015

capta said:
Our lines do not seem to get stiff. We've never washed them, used fabric softener on them or done anything to preserve them, other than turn most of them end for end each year.
It's said that the tropical waters are saltier than temperate ones, so one would think that our lines would get stiffer, more often than you northerners' lines. I'm guessing that whatever you are getting on your lines that makes them stiff, is from the civilization you all live around, not the sailing you do.
Easiest solution I can suggest is to just chuck that life and "come on down" as one game show host used to say.

Capta,

I just checked out your website, and I think you use your lines regularly enough to keep them supple. They don't get stiff if used daily. only if left to dry out and bake in the sun.

VF84Sluggo · Sep 4, 2015

Delezynski said:
By the way, sun eats sails fast, ...

Damn that life-giving star!!

Don Lucas · Sep 4, 2015

Washing your lines

Never heard of such a crazy thing.