Renovo Rope Cleaner

[laika]

Anyone tried it? If so how did it go? PBO seemed to like it: How well does Renovo Marine Rope Cleaner work? - Practical Boat Owner

However my first attempt has been distinctly unimpressive. water got grubby over 48 hours but line didn't end up anywhere near "like new". Two things I can think of how my test may have been different from PBO's
* My ropes started off wet: I only decided to try the rope cleaner after the washing machine had failed to make much of an impression on the algae (rope chained and stuffed into a mesh washing bag, washed with liquid soap on gentle cycle with no spin). Maybe they need to start dry to soak up the liquid?
* I filled the bucket far more with rope than PBO did. In the PBO article it looks like they have a little short rope. I was trying to do my topping lift in a bucket (although I was only putting the dirty part in, less than half of it)

I wondered if a post immersion wash would do the trick but even after a second go round the washing machine my topping lift still looks green in the bits which run over the decks (although fine elsewhere, which is why I don't want to replace it)

For complicated reasons I do have a second bottle so I might try again with more rope, but starting dry this time

Oh and it absolutely reeks of something like peppermint....

 

[MoodySabre]

Soak it in a bucket with some Vanish for a few days. Washing machine 30c some spin but not in a bag. Untangle and hang up to dry. If there is some ironwork attached then I tie a thick sock around it. Always worked for me.

 

[ashtead]

That’s what marina washing machines are for I’m told

 

[Stemar]

Some of my mooring lines were getting stiff, so they went into the washing machine with some ordinary detergent and a generous dose of fabric softener. They came out clean and pliable. I just put them in loose, thinking that they'd need to be able to swirl around, and I was pleasantly surprised how little time it took to sort them out.

 

[Boathook]

I've never had a rope as bad as shown in the PBO article.
My ropes go in the washing machine loose and if required an old sock cable tied over metal thimbles. Tiny bit of non bio detergent, cool wash and a 600 spin.

Some ropes when I put in are possibly end of life and if they get a hernia (inner core pokes through outer) I replace the rope. The old rope gets the damage cut out and another handy spare rope ....

 

[Minerva]

That’s what marina washing machines are for I’m told

I've noticed a number of public washing machines popping up in petrol stations / car parks and the likes. Could be a good place to wash them!

 

[Refueler]

An old trick for algae ..... stream the rope out astern of you while sailing ... a few hours like that - then a good wash in a bucket and rinse.

 

[TiggerToo]

I use the domestic washing machine always checking that the weight is below the max allowed.

I loop them up and tie the loops with TWO cable ties. Using the "sock method" for any metal bits (as described by MoodySailor), tied (again) with a cable tie.

 

[Refueler]

I use the domestic washing machine always checking that the weight is below the max allowed.

I loop them up and tie the loops with TWO cable ties. Using the "sock method" for any metal bits (as described by MoodySailor), tied (again) with a cable tie.

Ditto - BUT I never cut the cable tie short as the jaggy end causes 'hernias' etc of the rope if it catches. I leave the cable tie as is

 

[MoodySabre]

I wait until my wife is out for the day….

 

[Momac]

I have found soaking a rope in biological laundry liquid and water quite successful if left for some time eg a few days and and given a bit of agitation occasionally and a light scrub with a small stiff brush.
Maybe not the quickest method but does the job . Warm water may help but not really essential.
I have also be used biological laundry liquid/water for cleaning canvas canopies and found this to be effective.

 

[Blue Seas]

Soak it in a bucket with some Vanish for a few days. Washing machine 30c some spin but not in a bag. Untangle and hang up to dry. If there is some ironwork attached then I tie a thick sock around it. Always worked for me.

I puzzled over your proposed solution until I re-read your post and realised that you said Vanish not Varnish! You very nearly had me there

 

[TiggerToo]

Ditto - BUT I never cut the cable tie short as the jaggy end causes 'hernias' etc of the rope if it catches. I leave the cable tie as is

neither do I. It is actually very helpful to leave them as they are

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I've noticed a number of public washing machines popping up in petrol stations / car parks and the likes. Could be a good place to wash them!

Indeed, I have washed spray hoods and boom covers in the self service devices as you describe. Usually 1 x very large tub and 2 smaller, but still large tubs and a couple of dryers. Very cost effective compared to a sailmaker.

 

[TiggerToo]

I wait until my wife is out for the day….

rope washing week cannot be hidden away... although I do get complaints about leaving them to dry on the radiators....

 

[laika]

Has anyone else tried Renovo rope clearer or is it only me and PBO? It’s heinously expensive which I’m guessing puts most people off, but it might be worth it if it worked as well as PBO claimed. For me though it didn’t…

 

[Daydream believer]

Rather than let ones ropes etc get to that state there are simpler soutions. At the end of the season remove all removeable sheets control lines etc & take them home for storage. Then using some cheap blue line hoist the end of the halyards etc up to the top of the mast. Coil the lines netly & place in black plastic bags tied to the mast inverted so water does not run down into the bags.
Reef lines in the boom get similar treatment . Sails get taken home. Lazy jacks get removed & each set gets a winter mousing line so they can be easily re hoisted the following year. I use the same mouse lines & they all have small loops whipped in them to match the loops in the ends of the lazyjacks. Sailcovers & canvas goes home. None of my ropes except the spinnaker halyardwhich has a golf ball sewn in to prevent it being pulled up too far in the melee has any sign of mould.
If they did I would not bother trying to bodge. My hands matter most. Just change for new.

 

[Goldie]

I cover any hard ends with a bit of pipe insulation, held in place with wire ties - keeps the noise down and protects the machine too.

 

[laika]

Update. I had a second go with the second bottle. Started with less rope, initially dry. Agitated a bit then soaked for 48 hours. Yes the water went murky but the ropes remained green (maybe a bit less green). Tried a scrubbing brush on some patches but no better effect than if I’d just washed them. Tried putting them in the washing machine (30 degrees, 400 rpm, 50 minute cycle intended for “shoes” which I hadn’t used before). Still not noticeably less green than what I’d expect from washing alone.

This is a very expensive product at 30 quid a bucket. If it made your ropes like new as PBO seemed to demonstrate then it’d be worth it but for me it’s been a waste of time and money (and left the house with an unpleasant minty smell…)

 

[alahol2]

The best way to get rid of the green algae is with a bucket of Patio Magic (boracol). Make sure it soaks into the rope then hang the rope to dry. It can take up to a week for the green to disappear but be patient...