epic Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 My ropes on my narrow boat have started to become stiff making it harder to tie up, has anyone got any suggestions on making the ropes more supple or is it time to replace them thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 Put them through the washing machine with some fabric conditioner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boat&Bikes Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 A good wash in warm soapy water helps. Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 My ropes on my narrow boat have started to become stiff making it harder to tie up, has anyone got any suggestions on making the ropes more supple or is it time to replace them thanks What are they made of ? Polyprop Nylon Hemp ???? Try putting them in a washing machine on a 'warm wash', if they are Nylon it will soften them, if other material it should wash out some of the dust and 'crap'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 Put them through the washing machine with some fabric conditioner. I put mine in an old pillowcase and tie up the top. Helps stop the lines coming out in a huge tangle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 Put them through the washing machine with some fabric conditioner. I do that. They come out lovely and soft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scholar Gypsy Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 I change my ropes when I leave the boat in the marina - nice ropes stored inside, and grotty old ropes outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epic Posted September 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 Thanks i will give it ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmr Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 Hand wash in a bucket of warm water with some fabric conditioner but don't overdo or they might become so soft that the splicing starts to unsplice! ...............Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 We tend to stick ours in the washing machine once a year, usually at the beginning of the year just before the boat goes back in the water. Keeps them nice and soft and clean. Probably won't bother washing them this winter though as we have bought new ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenataomm Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 Put them through the washing machine with some fabric conditioner. I recommend you remove the boat before you do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 I recommend you remove the boat before you do this. If you forget, immediately put your narrowboat into a narrow lock with a boarding plank down each side. Otherwise it will swell with fluffiness and you'll never get it to fit a lock again Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted September 26, 2016 Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 My ropes on my narrow boat have started to become stiff making it harder to tie up, has anyone got any suggestions on making the ropes more supple or is it time to replace them thanks Time to buy a new boat, IMO... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan&sue Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 I change my ropes when I leave the boat in the marina - nice ropes stored inside, and grotty old ropes outside. We do this too We use Old ropes to moor up in marina & the good ropes when out cruising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 We do this too We use Old ropes to moor up in marina & the good ropes when out cruising. I am interested in the logic. Aren't you more likely to get vandalism and damage out cruising rather than in the marina? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 When we leave the boat in its home marina both bow and stern ropes are just the right length with an eye on each end to moor the boat. eye on boat T stud, through ring on walkway and back to T stud, same on the stern dolly. These ropes are made from old mooring ropes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scholar Gypsy Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 I am interested in the logic. Aren't you more likely to get vandalism and damage out cruising rather than in the marina? On occasions where that is a concern then I would use my old ropes for overnight mooring too. I suppose my main point is that you want good ropes - that work, don't snap, don't burn your hands, and can be used to control the boat eg when in a lock - when the boat is moving and in use. Outside those times, they are just getting degraded by the weather and other factors, for no good reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 On occasions where that is a concern then I would use my old ropes for overnight mooring too. I suppose my main point is that you want good ropes - that work, don't snap, don't burn your hands, and can be used to control the boat eg when in a lock - when the boat is moving and in use. Outside those times, they are just getting degraded by the weather and other factors, for no good reason. Thank you I was wondering about the logic. That makes perfect sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 The lines on my boat are 25 years old and still in perfectly good condition. I'm not sure how peeps get to have a 'good' set and and 'old' set. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 The lines on my boat are 25 years old and still in perfectly good condition. I'm not sure how peeps get to have a 'good' set and and 'old' set. Our last set were about 5 years old. The braiding had started to chaff and fray in a couple of places and they were looking well worn. When we are moored on the coast the boat is always moving so relying on the ropes to keep it secure. We don't fancy taking any risks with a fraying rope when it gets a bit bumpy in harbour so buy new ones. We don't have old sets and new sets we just have one set that does all jobs. The two 10m ropes on the port side wear quicker then the two 15m ropes we have on the starboard side as we pretty much always moor on the port side. The longer ropes really only get used on the coast or if we moor somewhere where it is advisable to moor with all four ropes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) The lines on my boat are 25 years old and still in perfectly good condition. I'm not sure how peeps get to have a 'good' set and and 'old' set. There's money in old rope I am lead to believe. Edited September 28, 2016 by Ray T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 There's money in old rope I am lead to believe. You just made me go and Google the origin of that phrase... apparently it's from caulking wooden boats - the old rope (oakum) was perfect for hammering into the gaps... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boat&Bikes Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 When we leave the boat in its home marina both bow and stern ropes are just the right length with an eye on each end to moor the boat. eye on boat T stud, through ring on walkway and back to T stud, same on the stern dolly. These ropes are made from old mooring ropes. Have you never had a problem with the water level changing and ropes becoming over tight with no means of adjustment? Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 Have you never had a problem with the water level changing and ropes becoming over tight with no means of adjustment? Ian. No, it would have to drop by about about 2 foot and then we would probably be on the bottom and I am not there to adjust them anyway so even if they were tied it would be the same. It was different when I moored on the Middle Level as that did worry me wit the level rising as I had to use the centre line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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