Treatment of green algae on, and in, cordage;

Krusty

Krusty

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The growth of algae on and within my permanently-rigged cordage seems to be worse than ever. The usual end-of-season washing in detergent (in the inflatable) seems ineffective this year.
Has anyone else had the same experience? And what is a good safe solution, please?

No, not the flame-gun again!
 
Piotaskipper said:
The growth of algae on and within my permanently-rigged cordage seems to be worse than ever. The usual end-of-season washing in detergent (in the inflatable) seems ineffective this year.
Has anyone else had the same experience? And what is a good safe solution, please?

No, not the flame-gun again!
Click to expand...

Brinton Products MMC

http://www.brintonproducts.co.uk/framedset.htm

check the site for your nearest stockist

about £20 per 5lts dilutes up to x 9 so good value. also good on spray hoods ect + paths @ home
 
When I was power-washing the bottom the other week, using the marina's extra powerful diesel pressure washer, I also pressure washered my mooring lines, some of which were very crudddy, esp. the long outside spring which gets lots of growth on it. Came up lovely. Not sure whether it would get the green stuff out but worth a try?
 
I sympathise Piotaskipper...it's a big problem down here in Cornwall, and it does seem worse this year after a particularly wet summer. I normally do the dinghy wash with sugar soap and find after a good soak and rinse the running rigging cleans up well. BUT! this year I find myself in the same situation as you, so I'm in the same boat as it were and am looking for a good cleaning product that's not to harsh on the rigging.
 
Take them home. Place in a pillow case. Open washing machine. Put pillowcase and ropes inside. Add biological powder. Dial cool wash. Ask SWMBO permission and press start button. Wait for buzzer to indicate stop. Open door. Remove. Hang up to dry. Job done. May need two goes if really bad.
 
saxonpirate said:
I sympathise Piotaskipper...it's a big problem down here in Cornwall, and it does seem worse this year after a particularly wet summer. I normally do the dinghy wash with sugar soap and find after a good soak and rinse the running rigging cleans up well. BUT! this year I find myself in the same situation as you, so I'm in the same boat as it were and am looking for a good cleaning product that's not to harsh on the rigging.
Click to expand...

You need MMC :rolleyes:
 
What I do with my dirty rope is pressure wash the big lumps off first (this is a pain as the process requires more than one pass and the rope has to be held down because the water jet "plays" the string) then finish off in the washing machine if required. Three hundered feet of 12mm is about the limit for my domestic machine. My rope has "endure" a hot wash with lots of powder. The tip about sticking it all in a bag is a good one, keeps the inevitable "knot" under control !

Oh, and if there are longer lengths than a domestic machine can handle, try the launderarmor. By ther time you get your bag of rope in and the machine working it will be too late for the jobsworth lady to object. Make sure you have all the change the machines need for your wash and look as though you know how to work the machine .

73s de
Johnth
 
Tranona said:
Take them home. Place in a pillow case. Open washing machine. Put pillowcase and ropes inside. Add biological powder. Dial cool wash. Ask SWMBO permission and press start button. Wait for buzzer to indicate stop. Open door. Remove. Hang up to dry. Job done. May need two goes if really bad.
Click to expand...
I don't even bother with the pillowcase and the knots are never that bad. Anyway, its quite therapeutic to sort the lines out and coil them up again when they are all clean and soft to the touch.
 
sailorman said:
Brinton Products MMC

http://www.brintonproducts.co.uk/framedset.htm

check the site for your nearest stockist

about £20 per 5lts dilutes up to x 9 so good value. also good on spray hoods ect + paths @ home
Click to expand...

I second this one. It seems that once you have done it the effetcs stay with you for at least 2 years. I use it to keep teak decks clean - once a year, spray on - thats it , no other maintenance until following spring when decks are still clean!

4 to 1 mix with water should do you, soak, remove, don't rinse for a week at least. It does m=not act instantly, but takes some time to eat up the green which comes off as a brown powder
 
I think a lot of mould-killers would do the job, and probably patio sprays too. I use Polycell 3:1 for cordage as well as decks because it is widely available and comes in handy sizes. A friend of ours uses a T-shaped attachment to a power spray and passes rope through it. The last time I tried to pressure-spray rope it nearly fell apart due to UV degradation, which was probably a good thing in the end.
 
Green Algae in Ropes

My thanks to all who took the trouble to respond.
I do not believe I am over-cautious by nature but I do not favour the 'Try-it-and-find-out' approach when the outcome might well be costly, potentially dangerous or both.
Having seen a power washer disintegrate brick, I rule that one out.
The washing machine and detergent seems OK: all straight detergents remove the solid lubricants, introduced into the rope during manufacture, which make it more supple when new. Many 'laundry liquids' contain similar compounds to impart the same suppleness (and some stain-resistance). I have found that haliards run more freely after soaking in a laundry liquid. The trouble is, my total cordage fills two standard-size dustbins so it is not the most practical option for me!
The usual tramping in the inflatable, but with Brinton's, is attractive; so I e-mailed them:
(Summarised):
'' I have been advised to use your product on yacht ropes, but I see that your advertising makes no mention of any application other than for ''hard surfaces''.
Perhaps you can help clarify its suitability or otherwise for cleaning green algae from synthetic fibre ropes: Polyamide (Nylon); Polyesters (Terylene); or Polypropylene ?
Reply:
''Patio Magic is PH-neutral and non-corrosive, and it will not damage synthetic fibres.
Like most detergents, however, it will often wash out any waterproofing agents that soft surfaces (such as canvas awnings) have been treated with; in these cases a ware-proofing agent will need to be re-applied.''
 
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