Have you noticed the way nylon line goes stiff after a couple of seasons in the sun and rain? It seems to me that this was not always the case, and in fact the Cape Dory 31 that we bought a year ago came with two old three-strand nylon dock lines that are still wonderfully flexible. On the other hand, the new dock lines that we bought this spring are stiffening up already.
Has there been a change in the formula for nylon line? Is the old formula still available? Any clever ideas about softening up stiff lines?
David Brownlee
Cape Dory 31 "Windrush"
Havre de Grace, MD
dbrownle@sas.upenn.edu
Nylon line
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Bob Loewenstein
Re: Nylon line
As a matter of fact I have. The older line on the fenders is still reasonably supple, but lines I bought 1 year ago are now stiff. However the 5/8 3 strand dock lines (not pre spliced) are still supple afterDavid Brownlee wrote: Have you noticed the way nylon line goes stiff after a couple of seasons in the sun and rain?
3 years.
I once bought some of the cheapo dock lines (I'm not sure what they're made of) and they feel the same as the fender lines which were advertised as nylon.
Bob
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Jerry J Commisso
Re: Nylon line
Hi David,
You can soak the lines in a bucket of water with a lot of fabric softener added. The length of time depends on how stiff they are. You can also put them in a washing machine also with softener. If you use the machine, make sure you seal them up inside a pillow case so they do not get all unraveled. Good luck.
Jerry J Commisso
CD30c CHELSEA ROSE
liasboat@aol.com
You can soak the lines in a bucket of water with a lot of fabric softener added. The length of time depends on how stiff they are. You can also put them in a washing machine also with softener. If you use the machine, make sure you seal them up inside a pillow case so they do not get all unraveled. Good luck.
Jerry J Commisso
CD30c CHELSEA ROSE
David Brownlee wrote: Have you noticed the way nylon line goes stiff after a couple of seasons in the sun and rain? It seems to me that this was not always the case, and in fact the Cape Dory 31 that we bought a year ago came with two old three-strand nylon dock lines that are still wonderfully flexible. On the other hand, the new dock lines that we bought this spring are stiffening up already.
Has there been a change in the formula for nylon line? Is the old formula still available? Any clever ideas about softening up stiff lines?
David Brownlee
Cape Dory 31 "Windrush"
Havre de Grace, MD
liasboat@aol.com