How to soften hard dock or anchor lines?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Captain Rick Rescott on April 26, 2010 at 9:31am

Soak them in fabric softener. We used to put all the running gear from our sailboat in the washer at least two times a season. Use fabric softener instead of soap and run it though 2 times. If your washer has an extra rinse cycle use that as well. They will come out nice and soft. Make sure all the ends are hot knifed and properly whipped or they will be all unraveled.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Randy Wilhite on April 28, 2010 at 8:51am

Rick is right. I use a five gallon bucket and put in 6 ounce of liquid fabric softener, then one gallon of water. Put all the lines into the bucket then top off the bucket with fresh water and let everything soak for at least six hours (overnight is better). Dump the bucket, wash the lines off with a hose real well, then put them back in the bucket, fill the bucket with fresh water and let soak overnight again. Take out the lines, stretch them out in a shady spot (I use my garage) and let dry 24 hours. They should be nice and limber.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tim Smith on December 31, 2010 at 11:20am

soak them with dawn or joy, don't wast $$ on softner and ther is no reason to put them in the washer

• ▶ Reply