waxing the lines

[Francis]

I was talking to my cousin yesterday and he told me that I should wax all my lines to help keep them from roting out from the weather. Does anyone do this, or has anyone ever heard of this? Could this cause any disadvantage, or do you think this is a good thing, or necessary thing to do to your lines and sheets?

[Morimaro]

I have never heard waxing lines (assume you mean sheets, halyards etc?) and I wouild have thought this the last thing you would want to be doing to them. All the lines supplied are Marine Grade and do not not rot even in salt water areas. The only thing that I have heard some people doing is to remove and wash the lines at the end of season but I have never done this as good old rainwater is quite good for rinsing off any salt deposits.

[Catigale]

I havent heard of waxing halyards...waxing sheets would quickly move to the Pub though...

[tangentair]

Never heard of waxing lines, but I do seem to remember when I was a kid - helping a old man who would take a candle and run it over the bolt rope as it was feed into the mast at the begining of the season, he rubbed the candle and I pulled on the halyard - but that probable was an old tradition before spray lub was around. I rather imaging the first hot day it created more sticking problems than it solved.

[NiceAft]

Francis,

Did your cousin suggest exactly how you go about doing this?


Ray

[Mikebe]

Maybe back in the day when lines were made from plant fibers (manila rope) it would have helped prevent mildew. But with today's polyester, nylon and polypropelene you don't have to worry about it.

[NiceAft]

Plant fibers

You mean Hemp based fibers. Maybe they waxed the lines to stop the crew from smoking them

Ray

[Mikebe]

Exactly what I was thinking...

[kmclemore]

Don't smoke that rope,
You'll be a dope!
So says the DEA card...

But Shakespeare had,
And it wasn't bad,
He made a spendid bard!




(Sorry... I couldn't resist waxing poetic. )

[Francis]

thanks for the replies.
I thought it was a little strange too. My cousin just said that there was a special wax for it, but I have never heard of it myself. He doesn't sail or have a boat, but I think he is talking about others that have boats. I think he is thinking of hemp rope and that our lines our regular rope. But talking to him is like talking to a wall at times.\
Thanks.

[Catigale]

From First Leutenant Abigail

Q What was Shakespeares favourite bird??

[Alex]

Nightingale ?

[Mikebe]

Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
Her heart inform her tongue,--the swan's
down-feather,
That stands upon the swell at full of tide,
And neither way inclines.

[kmclemore]

Correct... the Swan.

With this, we charged again: but, out, alas!
We bodged again; as I have seen a swan
With bootless labour swim against the tide
And spend her strength with over-matching waves.

Thinks I,
of an underpowered Mac,
an apt description makes.

[NiceAft]

I see we're into Shakespeare now The old bard had much to say about Mac ownership

On Mac ownership:
"So far as my coin would stretch; and where it would not, I have used my credit." [Henry IV, Part I, I/ii]

On thinking about your next boat:
"True, I talk of dreams" [Romeo and Juliet, I/iv]

On those dreaming of a Mac:
"Happy thou are not; for what thou hast not, still thou striv'st to get, and what thou hast, forget'st. [Measure for Measure, III/i]

On finally going out for your first sail:
"I am giddy, expectation whirls me round. The imaginary relish is so sweet that it enchants my sense." [Troilus and Cressida, III/ii]

On putting your Mac away for the season and winterizing it:
"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." [Romeo and Juliet, II/ii]

Thanks guys, this was fun.


Ray