Ive got an older Yale lite(I think) rope that has been around, but has good hand feel and is the right dimension for my Mainsheet, but...its a little stiff and rough. Is there a way to soften it a little without losing its grip?

It seems I have heard of washing machine tricks, but I know nothing about permanent press, its all Cotton/Sturdy for stuff...

put it in a mesh bag and wersh it in the machine.

drag behind car on a gravel road, warsh wit fabric softner, hang in tree to dry....

or call Mike and get a new one....

I've found that just gettng a 5 gallon bucket and soaking the ropes in water for a day or two does it. If the ropes are dirty, maybe throw in some soap.

D.Ho
TheMightyHobie18 1067

Ol'Trick

"Baking Soda" .... take the ropes put them in a bucket, add (clean) water, soap and Baking Soda ... let soak for several days ... change water/soap/baking soda

Baking Soda removes the salts that build up in the rope/line that make it stiff, and acts to "soften/condition" the water. Washing machines can "beat" the rope/line up.

And moms/girlfriends/wives do not take kindly to you putting old dirty ropes in their clean washing machine ... I would advise doing that when they are away!!!! The word conniption comes to my mind .... (Personal Experience)

Harry

Ya ought to see what happens when ya put auto parts in the dishwasher, even if "they were hardly dirty at all".

I SWEAR she thought about putting a padlock on the dang thing every time she left me home alone for more than an hour

I got the same kind of response when I used the kitchen oven to warm up a piece of 12 inch PVC pipe to mold hull cradles. You'd think I'd committed a crime or something. Wow...women. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Most of the crispy texture is just salts and maybe algae growth. Throw the line in a big bucket and use laundry soap. Churn it with your hands, soak over night, churn it some more. Rinse and drain. The water will be astonishingly filthy. Why not try a baking soda rinse as well. I finish up with a Downy fabric softener rinse and several fresh water rinses. The Downy really does a great job and my mainsheet smells daisy-fresh! Actually, this works great and you get to fondle your mainsheet up close and personal. Imagine, stroking it makes is softer! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Fabric softener can and will make your control lines slippery. It can be dangerous.

GARY

THATS why Dave has dish pan hands!

line is soaking in fabric softener and soap right now, and youre right, the water is cloudy(maybe salty). Its my Laser main, so it has seen some saltwater before I bought it, so maybe thats the issue. We will see tomorrow if it runs better.

Well, once burned, twice shy, ( pun intended ) having learned my lesson with the dishwasher, when it came time to use the oven to warm up 12"PVC for molding hull cradels, ( an idea that came to me thru our own Harry Murphy ) I decided to do that on a day when she was out shopping with her sister. and as long as she never starts reading these forum's ... I got away with that one scot free. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Stephen

I have to disagree with you on this one, Gary. My hobby is rebuilding abandoned boats and I've used Downey with countless disgusting old lines that smarter sailors would have thrown out. I have never had a line feel slippery. Do your clothes feel slippery when you use fabric softener?

I urge you to try it on any old line you have. You'll like the results.

soft as a babys bottom and still good feel. man was the water nasty

I too haqve used fabric softner with good results, and I just throw the lines in the washer and have never noticed any damage or wear.

Dave

you just need to rinse it more...

Fabric Softener works great, it also adds a level of water repellency.

Cooley and Mumm in the same thread, I must have hit on something big! Whats up boyz?

Perhaps the fellow that used Downey on the sheets that were dangerously too slippery either used too much or he didn't rinse enough, but it was indeed dangerous in my experience.

And.. yes my clothes do feel slippery when I use Downey. Isn't that why it is used?

GARY