When trying to organize, move and store numerous lines, I was constantly tangling my dock lines, anchor lines and extra lines on the Widget. Although there are more "Nautical" ways of wrapping lines so that they do not tangle, I wanted an easy way to hang my lines, secure them to hooks in my cabin and carry multiple lines at a time without tangling them. This is when I came up with my "Line Ties".
To start, I purchased about 20 feet of thin shock (bungee) cord from a local "Outdoors Store" (REI in my case) which is 1/8 of an inch in diameter. Since this cord is readily available at camping and outdoor stores, it is easy to find. Then, with a soldering gun (or hot knife) I cut the cord into 12" lengths. The reason I used the soldering gun, is so that the ends do not "fray" when cut.
I then took a ¾ inch dowel and cut it to provide 3 inch handles. I then drilled a 3/8 inch diameter hole in the middle of the handle. To make it easier on the hands I sanded the ends of the 3 inch dowels to knock off the sharp edges on each end.
I doubled the 12" shock cord to give me a length of 6" and tied a knot on the two open ends. I threaded the loop part through the 3/8 inch hole. Now, when I want to store my lines, I coil them as before and loop the bungee cord around the coiled line. Then I put the handle though the open loop and let gravity tighten it around the coiled line. I can now store my lines by just grabbing the handles and taking them into the cabin.
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These "Line Ties" have many uses. I can loop them around my lines and carry numerous lines around at once without tangling them just by grabbing multiple handles. When I want to store them either on the boat or in my garage, I pull the knotted end up from the handle and loop it on a hook in my boat or in my garage for storage (picture on the left). I have numerous hooks installed in my cabin to hang my lines from. Also, when I need to carry multiple lines to the deck for docking and spring lines, I just carry them by grabbing multiple handles. This makes it easier to carry multiple lines without tangling them. |
When I want to be ready to anchor, I can use the "Line Ties" to contain my anchor rode on the bow. I do not have an anchor locker, so when I anchor, I have to take the anchor line to the bow of the boat. I have already looped the "Line Tie" around the anchor rode and carry it to the bow of the boat. Now, by looping the cord with the handle around my bow pulpit and slipping the handle between the two cords (right picture), I can store my anchor rode on the bow. This method allows me to sail with the anchor rode on the bow without having to worry about it going overboard. When I am ready to anchor, the anchor rode is at the bow so I am now ready to deploy the anchor whenever I need to.
On a friend's boat, the Luna Sea, we mounted a board in the starboard lazerette with about 10 hooks. We then used the "Line Ties" around each of the docking and spring lines and hung them on the hooks. In rough weather, this kept them organized and even if they came off of the hooks, they did not tangle.
Depending on the size of the line and the length of the line, you can make the shock cord longer to handle larger lines or long lengths of line. Sometimes, I have put two knots in the end spaced about an inch apart to provide a loop to hang the line without having to pull the shock cord up. These "Line Ties" are also useful for hanging non boating equipment, like garden hoses, extention cords, etc. in your garage.
