Do you replace all your lines?

[Hudson Force]

My only home and space was my boat. Where am I going to stash a big spool?

When I use line to lash down my kayaks on the foredeck or lines stabilizing my dinghy hanging on my davits, I recognize then as pieces from my former mizzen halyard. When I purchase a new 200' anchor line for my non-chain rode, I cut the old one into new dock lines.

Some of my end of use line has been tossed in a dumpster; some has been passed on to an artist who produces some exceptional fiber pieces and some has been left in the Bahamas with many who still see some use for my older line.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

I was joking. Our neighbors did that and can never find the right line. Doesn’t work well with fresh racing crews “grab the blue line!”

Not just racers! I drives me crazy when folks spend $1-$2mil for a new (insert French boat name) and all the @!& lines are black. Imagine it is dark, and you need to trim a sail- with all or many lines that same color, what line do you grab??

Spending a few dollars more for different color lines is just smarter and safer.

[sail sfbay]

Ditto thinwater.... replace them when I purchase a new to me used sailboat and when they start to look tired.

[JasonS]

For the first time, we are in the process of replacing "almost" every line with new! Why??? 1) Quite a few lines are ready for replacement
2) Upgrading all lines from Sta-Set to New England Viper or Sampson MLX3
3) Plans to leave US for winter season, so cost/benefit to replacing here makes sense

Exceptions and Use of Old lines include
1) Our main halyard will become the spare halyard/topping lift and our spinnaker control lines, which are stored inside are not being replaced
2) Sections of reefing lines in good shape will become new dinghy lift lines which need replacement
3) Remainder will be used around the boat for tie downs, spares, etc.

[jim King]

If it ain't broke don't fix it!

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

I was joking. Our neighbors did that and can never find the right line. Doesn’t work well with fresh racing crews “grab the blue line!”

... I took it as a joke TP. Having all the lines look the same sounds like a bad idea to me. We have a colour coding based on sail: Main, Stay, Jib, Gennaker/Drifer.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by Wckoek

Obviously we all have to replace chaffed lines on the rigging, more often I see people replacing one or a few at a time, does anyone replace everything say up to a certain number of years?

No. However, I replaced all three halyards on my new-to-me boat 14 years ago and set the previous owners lines aside as a backup. I also bought a spool of Stay Set that first year and go into it when needed for sheets.

When I removed the boom and reconfigured the staysail I used some sheet line that came off my prior boat halyards because it was the correct size nine years ago; still working well.

All the line is white and I have the line names affixed to the clutches.

Don't replace it if it still works.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[Greatest Lakes]

The time to replace a line is before it fails. If it has mildew, significant discoloration, chafing, or exposed core; it's time to retire the line to useful lengths, other uses, or disposal.

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by Greatest Lakes

The time to replace a line is before it fails. If it has mildew, significant discoloration, chafing, or exposed core; it's time to retire the line to useful lengths, other uses, or disposal.

I would add to the replacement conditions if it is rough to the touch, stiff, or holds twist.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

Did you use all one color from one big spool to save money?

I found a really good price on a 600 foot spool of 3/4 inch double braid. It has made a couple halyards and a Genoa sheet. Still a bit of it left. We don’t obsess about color.

It’s big. Stored on deck. Peaking out behind the dinghy next to the spare OB

[BoatBumm]

I’ve occasionally thought about the old days of “wooden ships sailed by iron men” when all the myriad lines, sheets, halyards, braces, etc. were all manila. Makes the old phrase of “knowing the ropes” have some extra meaning.

[Bill_Giles]

Most lines on board are way stronger than necessary simply through comfort of handling. The racing fraternity are something else though.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Bill_Giles

Most lines on board are way stronger than necessary simply through comfort of handling. The racing fraternity are something else though.

No, I wouldn't say that.

Sometimes cruisers think that racers do crazy or stupid things in pursuit winning. Mostly that is used to paint racers in bad light, stated by cruisers who never have raced.

But racers want the crew to be able to hand the lines efficently and quickly. Too small and you can't grip it well. Too big and you get a lot of friction in the blocks.

It is not uncommon to add covers, fillers or tails just to improve the crew's ability to handle the lines. I've even, after a rash of complaints about some lines I made up, offered some choices to the crew, "Do you like this one, or this one?" and added their choice of soft tails to some hard sheets to help the tailers get them started.

Our Dyneema halyards are thin, 6mm, uncovered, except where the mast man has to grab them to jump the halyard and the cover extends to where the sheet stopper grips them, then the soft tail after that.

So comfort of handling, as well as speed and efficiency, are even more important to racers tham most cruisers even think about.

[Escape Plan]

I usually swap ends and/or cut 1-2 ft off an end to move any chafe/stress areas.