Tidy Ropes

[differentroads]

A very neat & simple tip Quandry showed me was hang a wee loop of 3mm cord over every halyard cleat etc, when you coil the tail up, just bring the cord loop through the coil, back up over the top front and hook over the top horn of the cleat. Works well.

Cheers for the tip. I am so going to do this!
And for storing the tails of sheets, mooring lines, etc in my cockpit I ditched the idea of using halyard and sheet bags in favour of loops of light line tied to the top guardrail with a plastic hook tied on the tail of the line to hook the loop over in a similar manner to the cleat loop. Simple, cheap and quick to use.
Oh, and +1 for folding braided lines, not coiling them. I only learned this technique recently. No more twists and kinks.

 

[Stemar]

And have a look at folding the braided ropes rather than coiling. - As post #28!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-SCttWZChc

Yes, it's a much better way.

Excellent video. Thanks.

Likewise. I learned something new today. Not the way I learned on my Day Skipper course, but now I know why, in spite of my best efforts, my lines get in a twist. They won't any more - I hope

 

[asteven221]

Great video link DJE. Definitely going to try that. Folding seems so much better than coiling and makes perfect sense.

Geez, makes me wonder how on earth I have not managed to see that before today.

Better late than never I suppose.

Thanks!!!

 

[DJE]

Great video link DJE. Definitely going to try that. Folding seems so much better than coiling and makes perfect sense.

Geez, makes me wonder how on earth I have not managed to see that before today.

Better late than never I suppose.

Thanks!!!

Not my find - it's been on here before but there's no way I can find the original thread.

 

[johnalison]

I think that I will have to practice the long rope fold in the privacy of my home before exposing myself to the possible ridicule of my pontoon neighbours though. I've not been on the habit of folding, though I tend to let the line flake rather than coil. I'll give it a go though.

 

[rogerthebodger]

A technique I was taught was when coiling rope alternate the direction of the coil loop then you don't get tangles when uncoiling.

You can also coil up the free end of a halyard without ending up with a twist at the halyard mast exit.

If you start with a twisted rope you can adjust the alternate directions to remove the twists as you go.

 

[TLouth7]

A technique I was taught was when coiling rope alternate the direction of the coil loop then you don't get tangles when uncoiling.

Be careful with this technique; if you accidentally pass the free end through the coil before uncoiling then you will end up with an overhand knot in the rope for each coil.

You can also coil up the free end of a halyard without ending up with a twist at the halyard mast exit.

If you always coil from the fixed end then this is not a problem.

As an alternative to the loop of accessory cord on cleats you can leave a foot of rope between the cleat and the start of the coil. Once ready, pull this bight through the coil, twist it a couple of times and hang the resulting loop over the cleat (like so):

 

[johnalison]

As an alternative to the loop of accessory cord on cleats you can leave a foot of rope between the cleat and the start of the coil. Once ready, pull this bight through the coil, twist it a couple of times and hang the resulting loop over the cleat ]

I use the same technique for the only long tail I have at the mast, which is the spinnaker uphaul. Unfortunately, the end is secured by being tied to the cleat, and over time I have to release the odd twist that develops.

 

[differentroads]

Four that are one and a half the length of your boat. It's a bit of of a 'how long is a piece of string question, but start with that and you'll never pick up a bow line instead of a spring. 3 strand nylon or polyester or multiplait for a bit of stretch. I bought multiplait to be a bit posh but now think 3 strand would have been better. And a lot cheaper
Buy two rubber mooring compensators for when things get lively (stainless mooring springs are much more durable on fixed moorings but much much less adaptable if you are out and about on your travels.
And line loops plus plastic hooks to store the loose ends on your guard rails, as above.
Don't use old double braid sheets, like I did last winter, living aboard. No stretch. The snatching is terrifying in any serious weather and caused me to cut up my lovely and expensive 50m multiplait shore line into three mooring lines one wild afternoon.

 

[differentroads]

Sorry, this is in reply to Gareth 633 'I’m the ultimate inexperienced newbie.... what length mooring lines should I have on my 27’ sailing yacht?
Thanks in advance.'
Phone keyboard incompetence, the last two inches of my bottle of Caol Isla and the surprising sexual attentions of the missus distracted me for a moment.

 

[colind3782]

Sorry, this is in reply to Gareth 633 'I’m the ultimate inexperienced newbie.... what length mooring lines should I have on my 27’ sailing yacht?
Thanks in advance.'
Phone keyboard incompetence, the last two inches of my bottle of Caol Isla and the surprising sexual attentions of the missus distracted me for a moment.

:encouragement: