brians
Well-Known Member
My 14mm 3 strand nylon mooring ropes have become virtually rigid. Only 3 years old! Is there any way of bringing them back to life?
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Stiff ropes
- Thread starter brians
- Start date
mikeb
Member
I have washed mine (inside a pillow case) and as well as getting rid of the salt and making them clean they do come out softer
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MIKE_MCKIE
Well-Known Member
When I bought my boat, all the ropes were almost wire stiff. I "borrowed" a large nylon mesh bag from SWMBO (usually used for machine washing of tights, woolens etc) and slung some of the ropes into that, used the marina washing machine & lo, we have new ropes!! Not only look clean, but feel better, run through the blocks better & are actually flexible!
Washing will do them no harm, both polyester & nylon are stable up to at least 100 deg C, & I am damn sure that a marina w/machine even on HOT will not reach above 60 deg.
By washing all the salt & dirt out of the fibres, you not only make the rope softer, but greatly reduce the wear that is caused by salt crystals & dirt embedded betweeen the fibres, so the quid in the machine will prolong the life of your ropes, make them far nicer to handle and also make it look as tho' you have money to burn on new ones!! A minor side benefit is also reduced wear on all bearing surfaces & bearings of blocks, sheaves etc.
Hope this helps
Mike
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Washing will do them no harm, both polyester & nylon are stable up to at least 100 deg C, & I am damn sure that a marina w/machine even on HOT will not reach above 60 deg.
By washing all the salt & dirt out of the fibres, you not only make the rope softer, but greatly reduce the wear that is caused by salt crystals & dirt embedded betweeen the fibres, so the quid in the machine will prolong the life of your ropes, make them far nicer to handle and also make it look as tho' you have money to burn on new ones!! A minor side benefit is also reduced wear on all bearing surfaces & bearings of blocks, sheaves etc.
Hope this helps
Mike
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Bodach na mara
Well-Known Member
Smart idea using the marina machine. SWMBO objects when I use "hers" even tho it is me that spends hours repairing it (new bearings most years and lots of leaky thinks etc.) Maybe it will need repaired less often if I stop washing all the ropes, fender sox etc.
<hr width=100% size=1>Ken Johnson
<hr width=100% size=1>Ken Johnson
boatmad2
Well-Known Member
Dont use fabric conditioner I belive it damages the rope.
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Blue_Blazes
Well-Known Member
If they are very mucky a small amount of bleach in the pre-wash does no harm and brings them up sparkling. The tip about using marina machine or laundrette is a good one, don't want to let on to SWMBO that you know how to use the washing machine
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Blue_Blazes on 06/05/2003 20:12 (server time).</FONT></P>
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Blue_Blazes on 06/05/2003 20:12 (server time).</FONT></P>