Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

Actually, the first time I tried to wash lines in a regular washing machine
they ended up tightly wrapped around the agitator, and several strands
got pulled under the agitator and jammed. Once I got it all cleared out,
the lines were chafed due to the friction. Started braiding them and using
a front loading machine after that.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Keith" wrote in message
...
Nah, just throw them in. They will come out all in a bunch, but it just
takes a little while to untangle them. It's easier if you use fabric
softner. No abnormal stress or wear on the machine, of course don't
overload
it.

--


Keith
__
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.
-New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers
"MMC" wrote in message
om...
Keith,
Does this cause a lot of wear and tear on the washing machine? Do you
put
the lines in a net bag or toss them in as is?
Merlin.
"Keith" wrote in message
...
I've used braided dock lines forever. Now I have floating docks, so I
just
keep them all tight, no problem. I also use nothing but black, since
it's
the most UV stable color, and doesn't show dirt. I wash them once a
year
or
so in the washing machine on gentle cycle, warm water, with Woolite
(or
cheap Wal-Mart substitute) and use fabric softner. DON'T dry in the
dryer,
just hang out or put back in use.

--


Keith
__
Drive defensively. Buy a tank.
"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 08 Mar 2004 14:45:34 -0800, "Lloyd Sumpter"

said:

Spring Cleaning time for Far Cove! I usually replace the lines, but
this year money's a bit tight.

Good lord, talk about conspicuous consumption. I don't think I
replaced
the
dock lines on my old Islander 24 in the entire 15 years I owned her.
Of
course admittedly they didn't get much of a chance to chafe, since a
good
part of the time was spent on a mooring rather than at a dock.

Does bring up a question, however. I see that the marine stores seem
to
sell
braided nylon lines for tying up to a dock. I've never thought that
made
much sense, since my impression is that braided has considerably
less
stretch than 3 strand of the same diameter, and I'd prefer to have
that
stretch to take up shock and to some extent allow for extraordinary
low
tides (not to mention the fact that it's a lot easier to throw an
eye
splice
in 3 strand).. What do you folks think?

Dave

Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

Once again, back in my caving days, there was a device that was
routinely used to wash ropes (yes, in the caving world they are called
ropes). It was (is?) connected to a garden hose and the rope is pulled
through it by hand. Cleaned out the grit. Probably would remove
green as well.

Doug
s/v Callista

"DSK" wrote in message
...
timwh wrote:
I have had good luck using a consumer grade pressure washer to clean
the green off my lines. I had some lines that looked aweful and came
up beautifully after pressure washing.

I'd worry about the pressure washer causing abrasion to the lines as it
was cleaning them.

DSK

Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

Once again, back in my caving days, there was a device that was
routinely used to wash ropes (yes, in the caving world they are called
ropes). It was (is?) connected to a garden hose and the rope is pulled
through it by hand. Cleaned out the grit. Probably would remove
green as well.

Doug
s/v Callista

"DSK" wrote in message
...
timwh wrote:
I have had good luck using a consumer grade pressure washer to clean
the green off my lines. I had some lines that looked aweful and came
up beautifully after pressure washing.

I'd worry about the pressure washer causing abrasion to the lines as it
was cleaning them.

DSK

Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

Sticking a slimy
green line into the Maytag may require a spouse with
reasonably tolerant standards.

That's why we took our muddy ropes to the laundramat :)

Doug
s/v Callista

Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

Sticking a slimy
green line into the Maytag may require a spouse with
reasonably tolerant standards.

That's why we took our muddy ropes to the laundramat :)

Doug
s/v Callista

Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 15:16:09 +0000, MMC wrote:

Keith,
Does this cause a lot of wear and tear on the washing machine? Do you put the
lines in a net bag or toss them in as is? Merlin.
"Keith" wrote in message
...
I've used braided dock lines forever. Now I have floating docks, so I just
keep them all tight, no problem. I also use nothing but black, since it's the
most UV stable color, and doesn't show dirt. I wash them once a year
or
so in the washing machine on gentle cycle, warm water, with Woolite (or cheap
Wal-Mart substitute) and use fabric softner. DON'T dry in the dryer, just hang
out or put back in use.


We just got a brand-new front-loading washing machine, that tumbles back and
forth rather than "agitating". Sounds like money well spent (as long as my Lady
doesn't catch me throwing slimy old lines into "her" brand-new machine!) ;)

Lloyd

Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 15:16:09 +0000, MMC wrote:

Keith,
Does this cause a lot of wear and tear on the washing machine? Do you put the
lines in a net bag or toss them in as is? Merlin.
"Keith" wrote in message
...
I've used braided dock lines forever. Now I have floating docks, so I just
keep them all tight, no problem. I also use nothing but black, since it's the
most UV stable color, and doesn't show dirt. I wash them once a year
or
so in the washing machine on gentle cycle, warm water, with Woolite (or cheap
Wal-Mart substitute) and use fabric softner. DON'T dry in the dryer, just hang
out or put back in use.


We just got a brand-new front-loading washing machine, that tumbles back and
forth rather than "agitating". Sounds like money well spent (as long as my Lady
doesn't catch me throwing slimy old lines into "her" brand-new machine!) ;)

Lloyd

Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 20:57:08 +0000, Gould 0738 wrote:

When I get a particularly groady looking line, I just toss it into the 5-gallon
bucket of boatwash while I'm scrub brushing the boat.

By the time the boat has been soaped down, there has been enough "agitation" in
the bucket to clean the line up a lot.

Spread the soapy line on the deck and rinse it off when rinsing the last section
of the boat.

Not as fancy as using a front-loading washer, but it doesn't involve schlepping
lines off to the laundromat or home to the family machine. Sticking a slimy
green line into the Maytag may require a spouse with reasonably tolerant
standards.

Geez - JUST finished posting my reply saying exactly the same thing! (and ours
is actually a Maytag). Still, I think after the "cruise" this weekend I'll bring
them home with me to wash and bring back next time I'm going out.

Lloyd

Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 20:57:08 +0000, Gould 0738 wrote:

When I get a particularly groady looking line, I just toss it into the 5-gallon
bucket of boatwash while I'm scrub brushing the boat.

By the time the boat has been soaped down, there has been enough "agitation" in
the bucket to clean the line up a lot.

Spread the soapy line on the deck and rinse it off when rinsing the last section
of the boat.

Not as fancy as using a front-loading washer, but it doesn't involve schlepping
lines off to the laundromat or home to the family machine. Sticking a slimy
green line into the Maytag may require a spouse with reasonably tolerant
standards.

Geez - JUST finished posting my reply saying exactly the same thing! (and ours
is actually a Maytag). Still, I think after the "cruise" this weekend I'll bring
them home with me to wash and bring back next time I'm going out.

Lloyd

Cleaning lines (ropes to the lubbers!)
 

On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 20:11:48 +0000, Doug Dotson wrote:

Once again, back in my caving days, there was a device that was routinely used
to wash ropes (yes, in the caving world they are called ropes). It was (is?)
connected to a garden hose and the rope is pulled through it by hand. Cleaned
out the grit. Probably would remove green as well.


Woaw - brings back memories! When I was fighting forest fires to pay my way
through university, there was a "hose-washer". 50-ft hoses were dragged back and
forth a few times (the rythm was: fwd, back, fwd, back, fwd, fwd, back...). We
had to take turns being the "downstream" guy because the job was SO wet and dirty,
especially the "weeping" hoses used near a fire - MAN did they get muddy!

One guy had a cut on his finger, and almost lost it when it go infected from all
the crap spraying off the hoses.

You can tell when there's been a fire in the region from the dozens of hoses
dangling out to dry.

Lloyd