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Wckoek · 11-09-2021, 14:07

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?

thinwater · 11-09-2021, 14:20

Not me. Only if I bought a new-to-me boat with all bad lines.

**hpeer** · 11-09-2021, 14:51

Inhave heard that some folks do this. But I don’t associate with rich folks so I dont know hem personally.

wingssail · 11-09-2021, 14:53

Quote:

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?

I would like to but they:

Hard to get exactly what I want
Bloody expensive

I replace something that is chafed or degraded, and I try to put on something else new each year so gradually the are all refreshed. Halyards have been a big expense since I went to tapered dyneema.

**tkeithlu** · 11-09-2021, 16:29

The US Navy used to (maybe still does) bring a ship into port, replace everything, and throw the old rope in the Atlantic. My Boy Scout troop collected enough free rope to build a 240 ft. monkey bridge over 26 ft. towers. One piece was 1200 feet long, and quite a job to untangle.

But then, they are supported by our tax dollars....

Mike OReilly · 11-09-2021, 16:45

I did this once when we bought our current new (old) boat. All the lines were pretty rough, and the colour scheme didn't work for us.

But since then I replace as needed. Not all lines wear at the same rates, so it seems silly to replace them all at the same time.

Rucksta · 11-09-2021, 17:52

Some lines can be recycled for other uses.
Old halyard becomes new topping lift.
Old mainsheet - boom vang.
So no not all lines get replaced at once not even on a new to me old boat

psk125 · 11-09-2021, 18:20

No. Some lines, like jib sheets, get used a lot and need replacing because they are worn or chafed. Others, like internal spinnaker halyards, don't get used as much and, even when they are, don't see the high degree of wear & tear that jib sheets get. It would be silly to replace all the lines at any given interval-- they simply don't all need replacing. It would be like deciding to replace all the windows of your house because an errant baseball broke one of them.

Tetepare · 11-09-2021, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I did this once when we bought our current new (old) boat. All the lines were pretty rough, and the colour scheme didn't work for us.

But since then I replace as needed. Not all lines wear at the same rates, so it seems silly to replace them all at the same time.

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

LoudMusic · 11-09-2021, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinwater

Not me. Only if I bought a new-to-me boat with all bad lines.

We suffered with bad lines on a new-to-us boat for a couple years. Worst part was ALL the lines were either solid red or solid black.

Middle of last year we replaced EVERYTHING but the reefing lines. Every line is unique now.

Main halyard - Blue speckle
Main sheet - Blue with white fleck
Main traveler line port - White with red fleck
Main traveler line starboard - White with green fleck

Genoa halyard - Gray speckle
Genoa sheet port - Red with white fleck
Genoa sheet starboard - Green with white fleck
Genoa furler - Black

I can look at any line and know what it does. I can instruct someone else to adjust a line by describing its appearance.

If it's a "sided" line I think it should be either red or green.

If it's a centerline line I think it should be a non-red or non-green color such as yellow, blue, black, gray, orange, purple ...

Then if there are multiples you can mix in options of solid, solid color with white fleck, solid white with color fleck, multi-shade speckle, etc etc etc ...

No two lines should have the same appearance, unless they are so physically separated that they will never cross, which I think is highly unlikely.

Mike OReilly · 11-09-2021, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tetepare

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

Sounds like a good idea, but no.

**Jim Cate** · 11-09-2021, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tetepare

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

Can't speak for Mike, but we not only want different colors but different sizes ad different fibers for different applications. However when replacing a lot of lines, if you put together a want list and ask for a quote, many vendors will give you spool prices on the whole shebang. Has worked for me in the past.

Jim

Rucksta · 12-09-2021, 01:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tetepare

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

If I milk the tails I can get two halyards out of a spool.
Buying full spools is a no brainer for me.

**hpeer** · 12-09-2021, 05:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

The US Navy used to (maybe still does) bring a ship into port, replace everything, and throw the old rope in the Atlantic. My Boy Scout troop collected enough free rope to build a 240 ft. monkey bridge over 26 ft. towers. One piece was 1200 feet long, and quite a job to untangle.

But then, they are supported by our tax dollars....

A fellow involved with one of the East Carib rallies donates some stuff to Dominica. One year he brought down a bunch of ild Navy tow line. It was 12 strand dyneema. Each strand was 1-1/4”. We cruisers unbraided it and made new mooring lines, which was badly needed.

Apparently the Navy requires the tow rope to be replaced every 3 years no matter what. This line had some chaffed spots but much was in excellent shape. Especially when we were using only individual braids.