Frozen rope

[newfiez]

Hey guys,
I'm still using my boat (-12c this morning), and I'm curious if anyone has tricks to keep my dock lines from freezing up whenever it rains and drops to freezing the next day..

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Frozen rope

Well we don't really get that kind of cold down here in my neck of the woods and deicing your lines may be tricky. The only thing I can think that might work is to soak the lines in anti-freeze. I'm not sure what that would do to the lines over time, but it might be an interesting experiment. Otherwise, I think you just have to live with them as is. Of course, you could always just move down here to sunny Fla and make winter a thing of the past forever

P.S.
Why not just store the boat over winter?

 

[Philster]

Re: Frozen rope

Or you Floridians could move north and enjoy the change seasons and the benefits it offers.

Lubricating the ropes with glycerin or even beeswax prevents their absorption of water, and makes them much easier to chip the ice off. There are also commerical waterproofing solutions suitable for ropes from Mammut, Edelrid, Mcnett, and other companies. Surface ice just sheds right off. Preventing the lines from become saturated and then frozen, which requires de-thawing, is much, much easier. So, keeping the water out of the lines is key. Ice might settle on top, but this is nothing compared to saturated lines freezing.

Okay, we're off to do some tubing in a bit (the kind where you get into a tube and head down a snow covered mountain). <<Sorry, Floridians; don't be jealous.

 

[newfiez]

P.S.
Why not just store the boat over winter?

I have to use it to get back and forth to work...I live on Toronto Island, and it's the only way off early in the mornings. As for anti-freeze...I thought about using it, I'm just worried about some animal licking the sweet stuff

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Frozen rope

i would think the alcohol in the antifreeze would just evaporate

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Frozen rope

if your dock is a private dock with available shore power, you could get a low heat electric pipe heating cable and wrap it around your ropes
http://plumbing.hardwarestore.com/52-299-heat-tape/easyheat-electric-pipe-heating-cable-291542.aspx

could work...but never tried it personally

 

[Philster]

Re: Frozen rope

Since I've seen mention of environmental concerns:

http://www.greenicemelt.com/products.htm

 

[mommicked]

Re: Frozen rope

Just a thought, what if you sleeved the ropes in a piece of garden hose and seal the ends of the hose w silicone or ductape or wrap the rope w ductape?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Frozen rope

do as Philster said.... done deal

EDIT: but you WILL have to get the rope dry first.... clothes dryer works well for that

 

[Part-time]

Re: Frozen rope

Antifreeze is actualy oil based, not alcohol, and would be very bad for the enviroment.
Best is to use nylon rope.

 

[newfiez]

Just a thought, what if you sleeved the ropes in a piece of garden hose and seal the ends of the hose w silicone or ductape or wrap the rope w ductape?

I would never be able to tie it or un tie it with hose on the ropes, but I understand the theory

 

[newfiez]

Antifreeze is actualy oil based, not alcohol, and would be very bad for the enviroment.
Best is to use nylon rope.

Was trying to avoid nylon, but that may be my only option

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Frozen rope

think antifreez would be best bet but if you a envirmonetel nut then don't but other then that i would use it personaly.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Frozen rope

Rig your lines so you can avoid tying them. Use loops or clips if you can cover them when in use.


Then get yourself 4 more sets of lines, keep them in giant zip lock bags (space bags from walmart work well).

Take the wet ones and dry them every evening.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Frozen rope

... As for anti-freeze...I thought about using it, I'm just worried about some animal licking the sweet stuff

Use the RV, Propylene Glycol (PG) based antifreeze.
Not the Auto, Ethylene Glycol (EG) based type.

It is generally safe and used in many products you have at home.
I tasted a drop of it and almost gagged.
If you don't like cough syrup, you won't like PG.
If you were to drink a glass full, it would likely "Clean You Out", to put it nicely.

Its chemistry is similar to the Polypropylene use in Poly Rope.
It should not react with Nylon.

Also, As the water in the antifreeze evaporates, The PG becomes MORE freeze resistant.

 

[oops!]

Re: Frozen rope

at -12.....everything is so stiff.....not much will help...

you could store your ropes in a box with a light bulb in it ...or some type of small heater.

but water in the lines or not.....at that temp everything is stiff

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Frozen rope

Or you Floridians could move north and enjoy the change seasons and the benefits it offers.

Lubricating the ropes with glycerin or even beeswax prevents their absorption of water, and makes them much easier to chip the ice off. There are also commerical waterproofing solutions suitable for ropes from Mammut, Edelrid, Mcnett, and other companies. Surface ice just sheds right off. Preventing the lines from become saturated and then frozen, which requires de-thawing, is much, much easier. So, keeping the water out of the lines is key. Ice might settle on top, but this is nothing compared to saturated lines freezing.

Okay, we're off to do some tubing in a bit (the kind where you get into a tube and head down a snow covered mountain). <<Sorry, Floridians; don't be jealous.

Oh you mean like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP9RnDp_tms

I lived in the Rockies/Tetons for a bit and the Appalachian mountains for a few years, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Too many hills, not enough water. The colors in fall are stunning (for about two weeks, but they always seem to come with tourists, which of course I'm genetically predisposed to hating being a native Floridian and all), then it seems to get very gray, very dark, very dead and very dreary, and like the song says "corn don't grow on top of Rocky Top, they get there corn in jar". I definitely can see how people get cabin fever. Of course, I was in Deliverance country, so there weren't exactly a lot of distractions to keep your mind off of things.(All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and now play makes Jack a dull buy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.....) Don't worry though, I haven't gone completely soft. I live in the cold, white northern part of Florida We even get snow......once a decade, or so Good luck with the ropes!

 

[marauder11]

Re: Frozen rope

Just wondering a -12 would there not be concern for the leg freezing. I am sure that there is something i do not know about using a boat in this cold.

 

[oops!]

Re: Frozen rope

at -12....in an open water situation with an outboard kept in the water...it wont freeze unless the water does. the water wont be that cold.

if the drive comes out of the water....and is not in the down/drain position...it will freeze and destroy the lower unit.

marauder......where are you in oil country?....oilers ...flames...or in between? or are you north?

 

[Outsider]

Re: Frozen rope

Floridians only need one season, why would we move somewhere that has four ... :facepalm: