Plastic cable ties: Anyone else daft enough...

Sgeir

Sgeir

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... to hang your dodgers with plastic cable ties?

If you are, I'd suggest you change them for proper clips or a bit of line. I say this after a visit to the boat today. Thought something looked different, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then I realised; the dodgers were missing.

Not in the best of condition, they obviously hadn'd been knocked, so I assumed they'd blown away. As it happens, one of the marina staff stowed them in the locker after seeing them flapping away in the gale, held to the wire by the last one or two cable ties.

I'd guess that the low temperatures had made them brittle, and the gales had done the rest.
 
UV degradation...

I bought a selection of cable ties from Maplins earlier this year and they have gone brittle. Those I bought from B&Q have remained flexible.

Steve Cronin
 
Mine are still fine after a season, I hope.

Was getting fed up of re-tying the dodgers every six months as the string rotted. Though I did use washing line quality, could not bring myself to use decent cordage.

I have used pretty heavy duty ties, so time will tell I guess.
 
If ytou leave them slack and with a bit of length - then they will fail as regular as clockwork ... I replace the bottom ones on my dodgers every few months for that reason .... but the top ones that are closed up to maximum and literally just go round the safety line along the top of the dodger are fine after at least 3 years ...

One trick that I used to do - that this post remionds me of ..... so must remember next time in UK and on boat ... at ends and corners - I used to use a lashing as well in case ties gave way ....

Of course you could always use wire trace from a fishing shop ... nylon covered with ferrules - then they should be safe for donkeys years !!!!
 
I think it depends a bit on whether they are black or transparent. In any case, if out in the open, they should probably be renewed every year.
 
Re: Plastic cable ties: Anyone else daft enough...

Be sure to use weather and UV resistant ones or they won't last long.
 
Ochone, ochone. I ken fine. It's chust a wee shame eh?

050430Tobermory1.jpg
 
Re: Plastic cable ties: Anyone else daft enough...

Also suggest you tie the bottoms with bungee .. I shredded mine after being hit by a couple of waves when there awas no give at the bottom
 
[ QUOTE ]
Perhaps best cable ties are only used for tying cables as name implies! I am an electrician.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice to see you using your training well then /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I originally fixed my dodgers with cable ties. Then when I had new dodgers made they came with a length of nylon cord. I realised that if I wanted to remove the guard rails to retrieve a MOB I would, if I fitted cable ties, have to cut a fair number of nylon ties before being able to drop the safety 'rails'. However if I used the nylon cord then one cut would do the job.

I have now used cord instead of the cable ties. The other advantage is that I don't get cable ties sticking me in the back!
 
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As it happens, one of the marina staff stowed them in the locker after seeing them flapping away in the gale, held to the wire by the last one or two cable ties.


[/ QUOTE ]

Wonder what would have happened if the boatwas on a swinging mooring or similar...
 
The cheaper swinging mooring would offset the cost of new dodgers.

I found cable ties as mousing on shackles to be rubbish. I use proper mousing wire (although I wonder if that has galvanic implications) and peen over the shackle pin threads. - Just to deviate a bit.
 
Re: Plastic cable ties: Anyone else daft enough...

Just a thought..........................

On a swinging mooring, the boat would constantly point into the weather and so there would be less load on the dodgers.


(methinks at least)
Cameron
 
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