marline changed?

[JollyTar]

Good day! Has there been a change in tarred marline? I stopped by IMP for a spool the other day and it didn't look dark enough. I smelled it and it didn't have that pleasant but strong smell that it usually has. It even feels different than the stuff I've bought in the past. The gentleman behind the counter said that the gov't had forced a change in the tarring process (Canada). Does anybody have any light to shed on this? Do you know where I might find the stuff I'm used to? (sort of a picky kind of guy....) I appreciate any information you might share.

Respectfully,

Jim

[Thorne]

JT -

Welcome to the Forum. You'll want to go to the USER CP link in the upper left of this page and update your location info.

You will probably need to be more specific -- what brand, material, etc? There is real hemp marline with real tar, braided nylon twine/marline with faux tar, cabled polyester marline with faux tar, etc...

[JollyTar]

the tarred marline I buy is the same stuff we use on the ship, two ply "tarred" hemp marlin. Available in five pound balls or one pound spools. this latest spool (with the lighter colour and weaker odour) is made in India. Roughly 4mm diameter. Imported by Canada Cordage, Kitchener, Ontario. Sold by International Marine Products.
The difference appears to be in the tar or tarring process used. IMP carried the product I'm familiar with until recently (darker in colour, stronger odour, different feel to it). The fibres themselves don't seem to be different.

(thanks for the note about the user cp button.)

[Thorne]

Depending on the amounts you need and the price you can pay, there are a number of suppliers of real hemp marline, most if not all tarred. You can also order pine tar, although it might be "officially" banned up in your part of the world.

http://www.tarsmell.com/marline.html

http://www.sailrite.com/tarred-hemp

http://www.rwrope.com/traditional_rigging/tools.htm
(they also have hemp marline, just not easy to find on website)
http://www.rwrope.com/knot_tyers/twine_cord.htm


Edited to add - I'd love to know what they use as faux tar on the braided nylon seine twine and polyester marline -- looks like softened paraffin with dark dye...

[JollyTar]

Appreciate the links. Exactly the help I needed. Was hoping somebody might have more information on this gov't meddling. Hard to imagine them regulating tarred marline...
Afraid I have no information on the substitute although I have a pound of it.

[Bayboat]

Could that stuff from India be jute?