Halyard Marking

[JimC]

My boat is reefed from the cockpit with rope clutches for the halyards and reefing lines. I like to mark my main halyard at positions corresponding to the reefing positions. That way I just have to let off the halyard to the mark and winch in the reefing line to know the sail is as it should be at luff and leach. I haven't so far found a durable method of marking the halyard, coloured tapes and paint wear off in the clutches. Any suggestions?

 

[prv]

Whipping with thin twine, and a few turns passed through the rope with a needle so that it can't slide.

Pete

 

[r_h]

Whipping with thin twine, and a few turns passed through the rope with a needle so that it can't slide.

Pete

+1

That's how the serious racing boats do it - with a decent whipping it lasts a long time

 

[VicS]

Permanent, black, magic marker pen, although it will fade in sunlight and need remarking at least every year. If you keep the pen on board its no problem to remark them before they fade completely

Laundry marker pen. I dont think that will fade.

 

[wklein]

Whipping with thin twine, and a few turns passed through the rope with a needle so that it can't slide.

Pete

+2 Whipping is the only log term solution, it the line is thin enough and you do it tight enough won't affect it through the clutches. If you want to be a bit flash you could do the whippings the same colour as the reefing lines. I made ours are traffic light coloured (R1 Green, R2 Yellow and R3 Red).

 

[JimC]

+2 Whipping is the only log term solution, it the line is thin enough and you do it tight enough won't affect it through the clutches. If you want to be a bit flash you could do the whippings the same colour as the reefing lines. I made ours are traffic light coloured (R1 Green, R2 Yellow and R3 Red).

That sounds great, but where can one buy coloured whipping twine?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Permanent, black, magic marker pen, although it will fade in sunlight and need remarking at least every year. If you keep the pen on board its no problem to remark them before they fade completely

Laundry marker pen. I dont think that will fade.

+1

 

[WilliamUK]

That sounds great, but where can one buy coloured whipping twine?

http://www.force4.co.uk/c/147/Rope-Accessories--Splicing---Rigging-Tools.html?fBrandname=Liros

Google is your friend.

 

[Skysail]

Where to buy .....

http://www.force4.co.uk/3798/Liros-Whipping-Twine--1-5mm---Red-.html

and many chandlers.

 

[wklein]

That sounds great, but where can one buy coloured whipping twine?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waxed-Whipping-twine-1-x-20m-spool-1-5mm-Coloured-/220960207461#vi-content

If that seems like a lot (always good to have a stash on board), could go to a riggers / sailmakers and buy a few meters of each.

 

[JimC]

Thanks to all.

 

[prv]

That sounds great, but where can one buy coloured whipping twine?

Force 4 shops usually have a rack of different kinds somewhere near the counter.

Pete