Money for Old Rope

[Chris Waite]

It’s been a while since I have had to buy any new rope as I have this bag full of bits, salvaged over a lifetime, which is getting to be a longer one – like less and less of the rope.  In fact, it has reached the stage where ‘Polly Wee’ will require bits that I cannot furnish from my hoard, so I went into the chandlers the other day to take stock.

(Like Animal Husbandry, it’s OK unless they catch you at it)

What happened to all the real stuff?  There seems to be some skinny, wiry, slippery cord, so abysmally garish that is reminiscent of a snake after a really bad trip on acid, or a linear extrusion of an ITV2 promotion.  Or there is something woven that looks slightly less hand-harsh and eye-scorching, but still unpleasantly skimpy and cheap, or what appears to be a polypropylene version of an imitation hemp.  Oh, and there’s some suspect looking wound, nylony stuff in white, or not quite navy blue that I just know would unravel before you could take the first tuck in a splice.

I'm sure you could haul a house up with any of it, but what's the use if it severs your fingers in the process, or slips through your dilapidated grasp?  Where’s the lovely friendly, fuzzy, matt line in decent plain colours that was good to hold, or the proper wound terylene – sometimes prestretched, that could be spliced within an inch of its life?

I go out there to be at one with nature (sort of thingish), not have my senses assaulted by my equipment.

I ask you, what’s an old goat to do?

Cee Dubbaya  

[BrianP]

these ropes from Classic Marine are easy on the eye, not sure about the pocket!

http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/boatstore/prodtype.asp?strParents=0,76&CAT_ID=173&numRecordPosition=1

Brian

[Chris Partridge]

I'm sure Wayne could spin you some.....

[Wayne Oliver]

Strangely enough Chris & Chris,
It just so happens that I have procured some three strand buff polyester from said Classic Marine in 4, 8 and 12mm (Yes, it was painful).
I hope to run trials at Cobnor to see (or sea) if it will out perform me happy hemp, sorry hardy hemp!
It will hopefully prove to be less stretchy and fluffy but still have a traditional look. So if you want to examine said rope there it will be, and if you are still in a bind I’m sure I will have a mile or two of the fluffy stuff kicking around!

Wayne

[David Bewick]

I used these ropes from Classic Marine to rig Aberrare and they seem absolutely fine to me.

David.

[Chris Waite]

Thanks for the information guys

I'll do some of that that then

CW