What's that stuff called...?

[Greenheart]

It's some kind of weak, very lightweight thread, from the days before artificial fibres...

...as I recall, it was used to hold furled sails on their spars (or just in flaked rolls on the deck), so that the wind wouldn't catch in the cloth until required, when a firm pull on the halyard would snap the thread without any damage to the sail, which could be hoisted without the effort of unhooking or collecting lines or straps.

Very much one-use-only stuff, but quite a handy stand-by in the absence of roller-furling. Any idea what it was called?

 

[penfold]

I've read references to rotten cotton, but I don't know what that is or how you would make it(other than keeping cotton string in a damp environment so it rots!).

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Rubber bands were commonly used on spinnakers in my racing days but you'd obviously need to get hold of some long ones and cut them. What about wool? I know the stuff my Mum and Nan used to knit with came in varying strengths.

 

[onesea]

I've read references to rotten cotton, but I don't know what that is or how you would make it(other than keeping cotton string in a damp environment so it rots!).

+1 I tried googling it to see what it looks like, funny how somethings seem to have different meanings.

I also tried goggling caulking cotton which looks much more like the stuff. We also converted to elastic bands for such uses...

Edit:

Does this look like the stuff?

http://www.reliancemarine.com/Product/16765/Caulking-Cotton/View.aspx?gclid=CI7iqaugn7cCFcgb4godonAAqQ

IF you give Giff a call he will probably know what it is and have it in stock...

We used to roll the headsail up and secure with bungee but I guess you want to release from inside the boat?

 

[sarabande]

definitely rotten cotton. Used it prior to changing to "lacky bands" fed over the end of a tube through which the spi is pulled.

Perhaps hemp or sisal yarn might be the answer ?

http://www.thehempshop.co.uk/product-258.htm

and these people seem to have a good product range and may be able to source a weaker sisal twine.
http://www.ropesandtwines.com/products.asp?cat=16


But the purpose of the 'string' is to break under load, and I can't see why one might wish to put a weak link into a furling system. If you want a means of quickly tying down a main or genoa, then a length of rope about 3 ft long, with an eye or a bowline in one end, is the answer. Takes 5 seconds to swing it round trhe boom and hitch it.

 

[Fantasie 19]

What about wool? I know the stuff my Mum and Nan used to knit with came in varying strengths.

+1

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks for these thoughts. A moment on Google led me to this thread from another place, in particular an entry by a certain Jay Greer:

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?43140-Rotten-cotton

I'm not sure if deliberately disintegrating the stuff with acid, counts as 'rotten'? I'd be worried about the sailcloth too.

 

[Lakesailor]

Water.

Dinghy.

Put together.

Enjoy.

 

[Greenheart]

Weather.

Dismal.

Research on the sailing subject.

Happy hours awaiting the real thing.

(Actually I just returned my unused Glass Fibre Paste, and bought tape & resin instead. If it doesn't rain, I should be able to start fibreglassing and begin sailing, soon.)

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Candlewick was often recommended for using as tie for a sail to be broken out.

 

[penfold]

Candlewick was often recommended for using as tie for a sail to be broken out.

Bits of bedspread or actual candle wicks?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Bits of bedspread or actual candle wicks?

I think the material actually used as candle-wicks. But if you think of the bed-spreads, you can see that it is a soft, loosely spun kind of thread; they are names for the thread used to make the tufted stripes, I think.

 

[prv]

Weather.

Dismal.

Not at all, had a very pleasant day out on the boat today. Not much wind around lunch time, but a pleasant sail back home early afternoon. My dad was dousing himself in sun cream - pish to your dismal weather

(For stopping up the gaff topsail in Pelican we used ordinary knitting wool)

Pete

 

[Cardinal]

Was it not some kind of lightweight cod-line which was used?

 

[Greenheart]

Not sure about what type the rotten cotton was. I daresay candle-wick was actually camberwick? Parsley, sage, rosemary and basil salad?

Glad the weather was good for you today, Pete. I was using the light rain as my reason for avoiding tasks I'm unfamiliar with.

 

[Ansell]

we always used "nutcene" (spelling?) green garden twine. More turns as you work towards the clue and marline though the clue on a heavy big sail

Jonathan