A forum for discussing boat or trailer repairs or modifications that you have made or are considering.
dlandersson
Admiral
Posts: 4960 Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Michigan City
Post
by dlandersson » Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:01 pm
Ok, the West Marine in Michigan City has closed it's doors.
Used to get all my ropes "burned" there so they wouldn't fray/unravel.
I know about liquid rope end thingys.
Is there a cigarette lighter something that I can use?
Tomfoolery
Admiral
Posts: 6135 Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:42 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Rochester, NY '99X BF50 'Tomfoolery'
Post
by Tomfoolery » Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:08 pm
Do you have a soldering iron? The large, gun type? You can just use one of the shanks, or make a 'knife' from a length of 8 or 10 gauge copper wire (solid), and hammer it thin for a cutting edge.
kurz
Admiral
Posts: 1307 Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:07 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Zürich, Switzerland, Europe
Post
by kurz » Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:14 pm
For the bigger ropes I use my alcohol stove
sailboatmike
Admiral
Posts: 1597 Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:17 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Australia
Post
by sailboatmike » Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:23 pm
Yep stove in the boat does a good job, just be careful of the fumes, burn with the hatch open or in a well ventilated area, I use a slightly damp microfiber cloth for extinguishing and moulding the end of the rope to a nice rounded shape while its still hot
cptron
Captain
Posts: 515 Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:08 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Hattiesburg MS. "Storm Walker" 2011 26m with ETech 60
Post
by cptron » Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:27 pm
Bic lighter works wonders.
kadet
Admiral
Posts: 1030 Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:51 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Brisbane, Australia. 2008M "Wicked Wave" Yamaha T60
Post
by kadet » Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:39 pm
Be a real sailor, whip it
Or if you are lazy like me, my butane soldering iron has a hot knife attachment
Herschel
Admiral
Posts: 1494 Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:22 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Orlando, Florida
Contact:
Post
by Herschel » Thu Jun 08, 2017 8:54 pm
Bic lighter works wonders
That is what I use. You can clean off/shape the end of the rope with the end of the Bic lighter when the rope end is still hot, and it makes a nice round end.
JohnCT
Chief Steward
Posts: 64 Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 12:13 am
Sailboat: Venture 21
Post
by JohnCT » Thu Jun 08, 2017 9:03 pm
Sailors have skills that separate them from ordinary "boaters"
Learn how to whip your line ends
reastmure
Chief Steward
Posts: 92 Joined: Tue May 10, 2011 2:26 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Whitehorse, Yukon
Post
by reastmure » Thu Jun 08, 2017 9:45 pm
I love my splicing fids and try to use those for everything (that is double braid anyway) rope end butt splices included. Sure makes a nicer more hand friendly finish. Looks good too!
Highlander
Admiral
Posts: 5995 Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:25 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Maccutter26M 2008 75HP Merc. 4/S Victoria BC. Can. ' An Hileanto'ir III '
Contact:
Post
by Highlander » Thu Jun 08, 2017 10:03 pm
cptron wrote: Bic lighter works wonders.
or one of those long nose bic BBQ lighter,s
J
extreem
Chief Steward
Posts: 56 Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:04 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Lake Thurmond, GA "Blew By You" 2001 X..50Hp Honda
Post
by extreem » Fri Jun 09, 2017 4:23 am
kadet wrote: my butane soldering iron has a hot knife attachment
This is what I use also...Works great
dlandersson
Admiral
Posts: 4960 Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Michigan City
Post
by dlandersson » Fri Jun 09, 2017 4:35 am
Yeah, that might be what West marine used....guess I'll go the lighter route.
extreem wrote: kadet wrote: my butane soldering iron has a hot knife attachment
This is what I use also...Works great
dlandersson
Admiral
Posts: 4960 Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Michigan City
Post
by dlandersson » Sat Jun 10, 2017 10:59 am
Found this - looks promising
https://smile.amazon.com/Novelty-WaresT ... hter&psc=1
dlandersson wrote: Yeah, that might be what West marine used....guess I'll go the lighter route.
extreem wrote: kadet wrote: my butane soldering iron has a hot knife attachment
This is what I use also...Works great
vizwhiz
Admiral
Posts: 1388 Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:48 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
Location: Central Florida
Post
by vizwhiz » Sat Jun 10, 2017 1:37 pm
I usually use my little butane heat gun. It uses a refillable lighter cartridge (a lighter without the flint). Small and controllable melting without actually burning.
Same thing i use for heat shrink tubing and electrical conns.
K9Kampers
Admiral
Posts: 2441 Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:32 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: NH, former 26X owner
Post
by K9Kampers » Sat Jun 10, 2017 2:18 pm
Ancient sailors proverb:
He who burns rope at both ends must be careful not to make ash of self.