Wash those warps !

[Sultans_Kapitein]

So here is the question, do you wash your warps? I have read numerous comments about 'Just stick em in the washing machine, when SWMBO isn't looking' But is it harming the warps? What setting do you use and most important which washing powder? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
A serious enough search for the collected knowledge of the forum.
Mal

 

[Boathook]

This was done late last year, but a lot mentioned putting in old pillow case to keep apart etc. Personally I just put in machine with half the normal amount of powder and chose the wash with the lowest spin. This has worked well over the years. Any ropes that have damage seen to be made worse by the machine though.

 

[AIDY]

be careful, i always have problems with sheets and halyards, the braid can sometimes come out and leave a bump in the rope. the braid on a warp may come untwisted. suggest you try on an old bit first low spin in a pillow case tied off at the end.

suggest you send the Mrs shopping while you a doing it...

 

[Sultans_Kapitein]

[ QUOTE ]
suggest you send the Mrs shopping while you a doing it...

[/ QUOTE ]
I have you at a disadvantage there, no longer have a Mrs. , Mind not a cheap option, had to pay through the nose to some shyster of a solictor for the divorce /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TiggerToo]

On these pages someone suggested using cable ties as alternative to pillow cases. I did this this year: brilliant! No tangles, no snags, no kinking. Just well-washed lines. Normal cycle and conditions for synthetic materials, one additional pre-wash soak and an additional rinse, just for the sake of it. No spinning, just let the water drain out. SWMBO complained that the airing cupboard was occupied by milesof rope for a few days. Minor stuff really. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[jerryat]

>> On these pages someone suggested using cable ties as alternative to pillow cases. <<

Be VERY careful of this method. Depending on the type of rope you are machine washing, the cable ties can (and do!) cut into the rope and do irreparable damage. Friend of mine used this method following Forum advice and it cost him two new halyards.

Personally, I've been machine washing my boat string (for different boats) for oyer thirty years and am quite prepared to sort out the tangles rather than try to tie the stuff together. I do tie a small towel or similar over any shackles etc to prevent banging and damage to the washer drum, but that's it!

Never had a problem or any damage.

Just something you might want to think about.

 

[AIDY]

[ QUOTE ]
I do tie a small towel or similar over any shackles etc to prevent banging and damage to the washer drum, but that's it!

[/ QUOTE ]

A thick sock works well

 

[jeremyshaw]

In my view washing increases the life of the lines since it gets grit and salt out, which will degrade them.

But as others have said a gentle wash is best. I've done it for years and in my experience only poor quality ropes will suffer in the process.

 

[bobgoode]

Non Biological powder...always.

PS don't hang in the airing cupboard as SWIMBO will get very cross when her smalls get damp from your drying lines.

 

[fluffc]

I thought that non-conditioner powder was important, as opposed to non-bio??

 

[properjob]

Why non-bio ? Over the last 20 years have used both bio and non-bio - results seem to be much the same.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
On these pages someone suggested using cable ties as alternative to pillow cases. I did this this year: brilliant! No tangles, no snags, no kinking. Just well-washed lines. Normal cycle and conditions for synthetic materials, one additional pre-wash soak and an additional rinse, just for the sake of it. No spinning, just let the water drain out. SWMBO complained that the airing cupboard was occupied by milesof rope for a few days. Minor stuff really. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

WAS ME !!! I tried with a case first ... came untied and ropes were an absolute tangled mess. So next lot I experimented with coiling neatly ... then cable tieing .... I even cut the extra tails back to make as smooth as possible ... Brilliant - no tangles ... all washed fine.

I chose as others ... half the normal powder amount and 40C ... low speed 500 spin. I didn't pre-wash and didn't add softener !

I have never seen my ropes so good ! Only comment - any poor ropes ends will fray in the wash ... but that is soon remedied ... make sure they are well heat-sealed before putting in or cut of offending bit and heat-seal / whip after washing.

A tip that I picked up along the way ... Quick effective "finish of rope end" ... especially good for strands etc. in splicing etc. >

Wrap end with electrical tape to make neat and then drop few drops of Superglue onto end of rope inside the tape. It soaks in ... anchors the tape and seals the end. (I winced when first hearing this as a traditional rope-worker ... but it works !)

 

[Sultans_Kapitein]

Well thanks one and all, a good set of 'guide lines' for getting my line sorted. I shall follow up later when I have got results.
Thanks once again to one and all
Mal

 

[Danny Jo]

I have also had good results with cable ties.
But SWMBO's washing machine has a fairly gentle action, and it is prudent to use a lowish spin speed.

Mark

 

[Graham_Wright]

I've pressure washed one of mine . Very effective, quick and controllable but did it wash the grime in or out?

 

[bobgosling]

RE : Getting into a tangle. I have heard ( but not tried myself ) that tying the two ends together makes the untangling much easier because knots are less likely to form.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
I have also had good results with cable ties.
But SWMBO's washing machine has a fairly gentle action, and it is prudent to use a lowish spin speed.

Mark

[/ QUOTE ]

I make sure that .......... the actual joint bit of the tie is buried into the coil ... and the spare end sticking out is cut of flush to the block. These two points could cause damage if not suitably sorted before the wash. In fact if not cut flush - the end is probably best left uncut - as the short stub after cutting is extremely stiff and damaging to anything that hits it ...

 

[Cliveshep]

Anybody tried washing the anchor chain as well?

(quick duck and run..................)

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
Anybody tried washing the anchor chain as well?

(quick duck and run..................)

[/ QUOTE ]

No - but this may qualify ..... >

Thats my foot standing on the ice .... approx. 3" thick ..... above the chain.

I ranged chain to clean and mark when boat arrived over here ... and didn't restow before winter hit ... few days of rain and then freeze ... so now will be there for next 2 months.
At least I know no-one can steal any of it ..... just have to make sure I'm first at it when thaw happens. Luckily it is outside front door of house.

Here's the anchor stuck in about 2" ......

Will have to remember next winter !!

 

[Cliveshep]

And I moaned about frost on the car this morning!