Stiff Dock Lines

billandamy said:
I wont poke fun as I was going to thinking that it was for them to look clean and nice.
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Actually, that's the second reason I clean my lines. A dirty line is more likely to scratch the gel:smt001
 
I soak all lines, dock and anchor in a bucket with tide, bleach, and fabric softner, the brown water I am in stains the anchor lines so they look more or less brown so they get cleaned once a year and hung up to air dry in my gazeebo, they are both clean and soft again.
 
Wait...you clean your fenders?
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Doesn't everyone !?

Just got through cleaning 2 x 25' of yellow dockside power cables with acetone. Look brand spankin new!!
 
Lazy Daze said:
Actually, that's the second reason I clean my lines. A dirty line is more likely to scratch the gel:smt001
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Last year I had a sea gull, on a high fiber diet, that decided it liked my starboard spring line for some reason. Sometimes it's that you simply want to handle a clean line.
 
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Chris R said:
Last year I had a sea gull, on a high fiber diet, that decided it liked my starboard spring line for some reason. Sometimes it's that you simply want to handle a clean line.
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Or you change your "tie-up" routine so you're not the one handling that line :grin:
 
Wash them in a mesh bag on gentle cycle with a pre-soak and extra rinse cycle in there. Use Woolite or Dreft and fabric softener. Use a front load washer on regular spin cycle or even better, take them out before they spin. NO DRYER. Hang them somewhere to drip dry.

I shortcutted this procedure one year and trashed an entire set of lines. I hated that spring. My marine supplier loved me.
 
I guess one of the advantages of being on a lake in a covered slip is that your lines always seem soft and supple...now about that spider $hit...
 
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Ok guys, here's the update, in case anyone cares.

I decided to go commando and wash the lot of 6 lines in my top loader without a pillow case or mesh bag. I dumped in some detergent and fabric softener with a dash of chlorine bleach and ran it on GENTLE. WHen it finished agitating I stopped the cycle and let things soak for 24 hours. Then restarted the cycle and babysat the load during the spin cycles. At one point things did get a bit off-balance so I repositioned the clump and re-started the spin. Hung things out to dry in the basement for a day and all was well - soft, clean and a fine fresh scent! I had a bit of fraying at the tucked ends where the splice was on two of the lines - must have been those cheap ass WM lines ;-) - but it worked like a charm. Thanks to all for the tips. Yet another OCD thing to do at the end of every season.
 
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Thanks for the update! It's good to have clean lines, again, huh? Now that you've done it once, you'll probably feel more comfortable next year when you do it.
 
Yesterday, I threw four 35 foot 5/8 lines in my front load washer, along with detergent, some bleach and fabric softener. They came out GREAT! Nice and soft and clean. Don't know about the top loader machines, but I had no problem with the front loader. Well, the lines were a little tangled when I took them out, but they sure were nice and clean!
 
I am not so sure about using "chlorine" bleach on lines as it will weaken/destroy the fibers over time. Daisey chain the line, toss in front loading washing machine (no agitator hassles) use woolite detgerent and fabric softener, air dry. Works like a charm. If stiff lines are a problem, soak in a bucket of warm water with fabric softener, air dry.
 
Clorox is not the best for the lines - but if you use a couple of splashes (I put about the equivalent of 2 shot glasses) it won't accelerate their deterioration. You'll only get 3-4 seasons out of dock lines before it's time to replace anway.
 
Gotta try this. Our nylon lines are about 13 years old now and still in decent shape but just like us they got stiffer as they got older. They are black so I'm not expecting clean just some flexibility!
 
I was given a great tip which I have used forever, pillow cases with zippers to contain the lines, laundry detergent, fabric softener and a run to the laundromat to a front load machine. Have coffee, return to remove lines and hang in garage to dry. Great results.
 
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