Ropey Ends

[Plan_B]

How many times have you guys walked down the pontoon or harbour wall and noticed hairy or taped up ends on boat mooring ropes, home-made splices (sometimes quite good), spoiled by tails sticking out with tape around them, and thought, 'I wish he'd tidy that up'? The old salts amongst you will have received strict training on boat husbandry and know what I mean. My own ropes - good little me - have spliced eyes with the tails wasted out into the lay and any tiny bits left sticking out have been melted in with a lighter (burnt fingers and hot lighter). Other rope ends are whipped and have the same lighter treatment. I've often thought of purchasing a 'hot gun' like the swindleries use to cut a piece of rope off the drum, and this does a much better job of melting the ends, but I think they cost over a hundred quid and for the few times each year its needed I can't justify the outlay. Now if I bought a hot gun I could tidy up my berthing neigbours tackle for a small consideration, and maybe recoup some of the initial cost + plus supply a useful service. There is also the option of using the 'whippy end' liquid stuff that you dip your ropes into - but I've never tried it.

What do you guys think?

Dave D

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[claymore]

Glen Rosa

Was that the name of the boat you've been looking at with the hairy ends? We've been trying to get him to do something about it for years now but to no avail.
I don't think you'll have much luck persuading him to buy you a hot gun - although the gas powered ones are quite a bit cheaper than the one you are considering.
Someone is almost certain to give you a roughy toughie response about being out in all weathers and that being their priority,their raison d'etre, not sitting in harbour whittling away at their hairy ends. The only response you'll need to be wary of is from the Acerbic-On-Fridays Twisted Ken. He sometimes forgets his medication with all the excitment of the weekend coming up.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[Jacket]

I've got a lighter fluid powered soldering iron that comes with a hot knife attachment that does a good job of tidying up ends. It cost around £25 from Screwfix, and has seen a lot of use in the 4 years I've had it.

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[tcm]

Re: Hot knife

I strongly urge you to buy a hot gun or knife whatever it's called. Santa might bring one. I have one and it is extremely boaty in a sort of advanced and, I am afraid to say, a very smug way indeed. I can tell that you would have almost as much fun with it as sailing. Or perhaps even more.

The correct way to use it is to tape the area where you plan to cut very tightly with praps some fuse tape or sellotape. They with the hot knifey thing plugged in, cut through the middle of the tape, resulting in beautifully ended ropes ally exxackerly the right length with no need for whipping at all.

Oh, and i almost forgot to say that my hot knife thing has a little tiny torchlight that illuminates the rope being cut if you are cutting the rope in total darkness.

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[vyv_cox]

I've had mine for years and it was an antique when acquired. It's basically a transformer on a handle with a single length of replaceable copper wire as the secondary winding. Used for soldering, splice trimming, sailcloth cutting and anything else that needs concentrated heat.

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[Plan_B]

Re: Glen Rosa

Definately not Glen Rosa - she is one vessels name I certainly would not forget!

Several boats seen, pretty even mix between mobos and yachts I guess. Some of then not very old.

DD

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[Plan_B]

Not allowed Screwfix. SWMBO thinks its a dating agency!

I'll try and get a sneak preview of my collegues catalogue. Thanks for the tip.

DD

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[AlanPound]

Re: Hot knife

"tape the area where you plan to cut very tightly with praps some fuse tape or sellotape. They with the hot knifey thing plugged in, cut through the middle of the tape, resulting in beautifully ended ropes"

... always did it like that - only difference was an old rigging knife, and the gas stove...

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[Talbot]

cant find it in the latest catalogue - any clues?

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[Jacket]

Maybe it was one of the other mail order setups. I'm off to the pub now, but on Monday I'll dig through the catalogues in the Lab and see if I can find it. Remind me if I forget!

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[LadyInBed]

An old kitchen knife laid on the Gas stove for a bit does a job.

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[BrendanS]

I like the frayed ends, they look quite artistic after a few seasons, and they go well with my dirty knackered looking fenders, and give the boat an air of 'used' regularly

<ducking>

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[Ohdrat]

Re: Project Manager ehh?

I find it slightly worrying that a Project Manager has a username Plan_B... s'pose at least you have a Plan_B mind you I expect you have a Plan Z too/forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[Guest]

Butane gas torch at 29.99 nm

*

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

Considering some of \'em

The hairy rope ends are not the worry - its the B&Q garden string that is tieing 'em up !!!! I class blue poly caravan rope in that vein ........ yes I use it - but only for non-essential - non safety related uses !!

Amazing what boats are tied up with cr*p !!! Thousands of pounds relying on pennys !!!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Plan_B]

Re: Project Manager ehh?

Theres a long story behind Plan-B - Its to do with Plan-A failing - I won't go in to it.


DD


Fail to Plan - Plan to Fail


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[Plan_B]

Re: Dirty Knackered fenders

Hi Brendan,

Now, what I've done there is .............

DD

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[Mirelle]

Bell, Book and Candle = Palm, Needle and Twine...

Palm and needle whipping, length of whipping equal to diameter of rope, ending half a diameter from the end of the rope, second palm and needle whipping one rope diameter further in, please.

On every rope, warp, sheet, halyard and line in the boat.

Splices are a more involved subject; the received wisdom is that a splice in man made fibre rope should not be tapered unless it is also parcelled and served, as it may draw. One recommended procedure is to halve the ends after five tucks and whip the ends together. Likewise a conventional thimble inserted into nylon rope will trip out udner heavy load due to the elasticity of the rope; it should be seized in either side of the splice. The sort of cheap pressed metal thimble found in swindleries will also collapse under very heavy load; round ones are best, but look unusual.

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