Smartest options for securing weather cloths?

[Camo]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Cable ties are common but the worst thing , you get really nasty cuts from the cut ends

Dave

Use a pair of electronics or jewelry flush cut side cutters to cut the tail off and they will be as smooth as a baby's butt. No more scratches or cuts.

[chouliha]

We have seen yachts come in from a major SP storm with shredded spray cloths and on a couple of boats bent life lines. Why because they securely fastened the weather cloths down to the deck with strong lines. We want the weather cloth to let go from the lower attachment if a large wave hits it. We use plastic hooks that are used for bungees. We tie these on with line. They are flexible enough that under severe pressure will let go. Been using this method for the past 25 years and never an issue.

Safe sailing

Chuck
Jacaranda

[Time2Go]

As someone who has used maybe 50,000 tie wraps in the television and film studio industry I can say that you must
Use a "tie wrap gun" gun when installing tie wraps.
Not only will you get consistent tension but you will also
Never cut yourself up with the finished product.
This is because the gun pulls the end of the wrap out then cuts it
At which point the cut end recedes back into the termination.
Think of it like a twin bladed razor where the first blade pulls out the whisker
and the second blade cuts it.
If you use tie wraps You Need This Tool, End of Story

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Time2Go

As someone who has used maybe 50,000 tie wraps in the television and film studio industry I can say that you must
Use a "tie wrap gun" gun when installing tie wraps.
Not only will you get consistent tension but you will also
Never cut yourself up with the finished product.
This is because the gun pulls the end of the wrap out then cuts it
At which point the cut end recedes back into the termination.
Think of it like a twin bladed razor where the first blade pulls out the whisker
and the second blade cuts it.
If you use tie wraps You Need This Tool, End of Story

For many applications you are correct... but not for all. For instance, in the case of the weather cloth attachment, you do not want the tie (if used) to be drawn up tight, crushing the edge of the cloth against the rail or lifeline to which it is attached. A gap of an inch or two is better aesthetically and structurally.

If worried about the sharp cut end, a moments application of a cigarette lighter flame will turn the end into a smooth blob.

Cheers,

Jim

[leftbrainstuff]

White cable ties, which often have a stainless internal wedge and lock consistently, lack the UV resistance that black cable ties have. Cutting the tails off with a single edge pair of side cutters removes the annoying sharp dag. Nobody likes a dag.

I too have used thousands of cable ties in the Motorsport industry. Never overload them as when they stretch they will often fail at the joint or neck and therefore have less tensile strength. They are intended to restrain and not carry either a tensile or hoop load.

We use suitable cord laced through eyelets to lace our panels and adjust as necessary.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Blue Crab]

Free Worthless Book To Good Home

No rehoming fee whatsoever. Time and tide and plastic have rendered this legendary sailor's text deader than a doornail ... deader than a dead horse ... deader even than a dead duck. Ded Ded Ded. Comes carefully wrapped in a colorful yet unloved nautical chart with hand-written annotations. Is that quaint or wot? Wonderful gag gift for the modern young boat owner!

[Time2Go]

A trick we used often, especially behind racks was the fabrication of service
loops. These were tie wraps that were chained together but not tightly
cinched, the first and last ties were affixed, one to the rack the other to the cable bundle. This strain relieved the connections but allowed movement
Of the gear. We always used a tie wrap gun. Insert a tapered dowel in the tie wrap, cinch, remove dowel, and you have a wrap on that you know is properly
Set and won't slice your fingers up. You can use a pliers to tighten a bolt
But we all know a socket or open end wrench is the proper tool
Same with a tie wrap gun. Besides this makes it a one hand operation
and tensioning and terminating are combined in one step