I checked out the floating dinghy painter someone mentioned at West
Marine. It looks like great stuff but currently only comes in
diameters suitable for towing maybe a 16 - 18 foot Whaler or similar
"dinghy". The clerk said New England ropes is thinking of producing
it in smaller sizes.

Help their "thinking" along by sending an inquiry or encouragement to:



--

Roger Long

Having backed over my painter more than once I'd be interested. I
couldn't find it at West marine or New England ropes- do you have a
URL?

The clerk says West Marine doesn't carry it officially but someone
thought it was such a good idea that they would risk the wrath of the
corporate bone heads (actually, he didn't put it quite that way).

New England Ropes doesn't have it on their web site either. It may be
a test product or left overs from a special order. I think they
should be encouraged to make it more widely available. Email them and
ask. If they get a lot of requests, maybe they'll produce it.

--

Roger Long



"Hans" wrote in message
ps.com...
Having backed over my painter more than once I'd be interested. I
couldn't find it at West marine or New England ropes- do you have a
URL?

On Wed, 18 Jan 2006 18:44:13 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

Email them and
ask. If they get a lot of requests, maybe they'll produce it.

=================

I can just see the wheels turning at WM Corporate Legal, thinking
about what happens if the so called "Floating Dinghy Painter"
mysteriously gets wrapped around the prop, pulls the shaft out of the
boat, and creates a sinking sensation.

Whoops.

I was thinking later today that the legal department of both WM and NE
Ropes might be behind the poor availability of this product but for a
different reason.

In order to be less dense and float, the rope probably isn't as strong
for it's diameter as other yacht rope. If someone used if for rigging
and it broke, the fact that they should have read the label and
calculated accordingly would mean nothing in this incredibly stupid
society we live in.

--

Roger Long

Might as well flail this one to death as well.. I know polypropalene
floats but it doesn't have the spring of nylon. It also has this great
habit of breaking down in sunlight. Not the best choice for your
favourite dinghy. I was curious what the approach of this floating
painter might be. Now I guess the engineers and chemists can get in on
the beef with the lawyers and managers.

Hans