Getting The Girl Ready for the Dance

Hello LPBYC Members;

Launch season is quickly approaching and we will all be very busy getting our ladies ready for the big day. Now is a good time to do some work that can be done at home prior to launch day. Bring home items that can easily be removed for cleaning and/or repair. One of the things most taken for granted is our various on board lines and running rigging.

Each weekend all summer we arrive at the dock and our first function is to wash down the boat to get off that previous weeks accumulation of dirt and bird deposit that we know will be abrasive to our decks and hulls. However, we usually neglect our lines and running rigging in the cleaning process. This is understandable as they are not shiny and difficult to clean. The problem is that all that dirt and grim that you diligently remove from your vessel weekly can have a major affect on the interior integrity of the lines through internal chaffing if not removed. Now is the time to bring those lines home and wash them in the washing machine. When completed the lines are free of most of the abrasive dirt and grime, look almost new and feel almost new as well when handled.

This is what I suggest. Check your lines to be sure that the ends are secure and not frayed. A frayed line indicates the core is separated from the protective sheath exterior. To prevent this, the ends should be whipped, heat sealed (melted) or heat sealed and then dipped in a whipping compound such as Starbrite Dip-it Whip-it liquid vinyl. Failure to do this can cause the core to exit through the sheath along the lines length during the washing process, similar to the steps used when splicing an eye in the line.

Coil the lines to be washed and put them individually into a mesh laundry bag. I found mine at the local dollar store complete with zipper enclosures. If you use bags with tied enclosures be sure you tie them well, (Something in the washing machine knows how to untie the knots). By using the bags you will keep the lines from coiling around each other and creating a headache straightening every thing out when they removed from the machine. The bags we have are about 12” x 15” and work for most situations. The coils will still get tangled in the bag but at least you are only dealing with one line. If you want to combine some smaller lines in one bag, I suggest the lines be of different diameters for easier separation. Remove any hardware attached to the lines or cover them with material so that the machine will not be damaged.

Only insert enough bags to cover the bottom of the wash machine tub so as not to over load the machine. Set the level for the lowest setting and longest wash cycle with hot water wash and warm water rinse. DO NOT USE BLEACH! Add wash detergent suitable for your machine and start the machine. After the cycle is complete including the spin process, rewash again if necessary or remove them from the bags, recoil them and let them air dry. DO NOT USE THE DRYER! You will find that the lines will be like new and will provide many more years of service.

Exterior sheath chaffing is often experienced at the fairleads on dock lines. I have seen many boaters use a piece of hose slid over the line at the fairlead location to provide protection. This works, but can slide out of place when the boat moves at the dock. I use clear shrink tube that is available from most electrical suppliers. Simply cut it to length, slide it over the line to where you need it and shrink it into place with a hair dryer. If you currently have a dock line with a minor sheath abrasion the shrink tube works well to cover this spot and prevent further damage. If you want a thicker coating, slide a second piece of shrink tube, slightly longer than the first (minimum ½” overlap each end) over the first and shrink it into place. Remember most of the line strength is in the core, the sheath is provided to protect the core and your hands from abrasion. There could be lots of life left in that old line yet.



Bob Rankin
LPBYC
Cruising Director