Lacing the spray dodgers

[Billows]

What is the best method of lacing these to the guard wires and so dispensing with unsightly tie wraps?

 

[Bobc]

I use black cable ties. I can't be bothered with all that mucking about with string

 

[Seashoreman]

I use black cable ties. I can't be bothered with all that mucking about with string

Me too.

 

[pmyatt]

What is the best method of lacing these to the guard wires and so dispensing with unsightly tie wraps?

Using a single long piece of 4 mm; from inboard, go through the hole, up over guard wire and, from outboard, back down through the same hole. That way there is no line showing on the outside of the dodger.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

If you don't want to use the easy solution of cable ties but want to avoid the tedious lacing you could consider using split plastic links through the eyelets and around the top wire.

 

[ctva]

I've just done it at the weekend. I use 2mm white cord, very cheap. Cut in to lengths, about 5", and each one tied in a reef knot. To stop them untying, i tale a gas soldering iron and touch it in the centre of the joint. Not noticeable but stops it coming apart. Very neat, no damage to the dodgers which cable ties can do and easy on the hands. Each dodger uses about 6' of cord each year as I just cut it away at the end of the season.

 

[sailorman]

bear in mind if water is liable to wash down the deck when sailing a length of bungee will give elasticity that cord wont & the eyelets wont tear out

 

[Hydrozoan]

I use a combination of cable ties and lacing with nylon cord. The latter lasts less well than the former at the bottom of the dodgers where the tie passes through holes in the aluminium toe rail, which have sharp edges.

 

[Mandarin331]

Using a single long piece of 4 mm; from inboard, go through the hole, up over guard wire and, from outboard, back down through the same hole. That way there is no line showing on the outside of the dodger.

+1

 

[Slycat]

I find cable ties are very hard on dodgers when the wind gets up. Any time I've damaged dodgers its because of inflexible cable ties.
Spotted two boats in the marina at the end of winter with dodgers hanging on by the last few cable ties, the flex of the elastic line helps ease everything.

 

[Malish]

I use black cable ties. I can't be bothered with all that mucking about with string

Each to their own, I always feel that ties and clips look naff when compared to neat lacing, it only takes half an hour per side at the start of the season....
A little elastication at the bottom is a good idea too