Whipping Spars: Best Line?

[PeteCress]

For whipping old windsurfer masts used as spars (to keep stuff from sliding on them) I've been using 1/8" "braded nylon-polypropelene" line from Home Depot.

It works.

But my inner obsessive-compulsive is saying that using cotton might be better.

To wit:

• Cotton would shrink, thus making it tighter and enhancing it's functionality
• It *might* be cheaper
• Since it shrinks, the wrapping process might be easier bc the wraps wouldn't have tb initially as tight.

Is there anything to this notion?

[Ian McColgin]

Most natural fibre lines stretch when wetted. If you want to shrink a natural fibre whipping it needs to be a dry application. Then soak the whipping material, wrap it on, and let it dry.

Polyprop is not very UV resistant. Neither is nylon but it's better and nice and stretchy. Get some sein line or something such and put it on tightly. You might make a serving mallet for the purpose so's you can give it a little umph. Or wind the twine on a medium fat dowl so you have something to pull on that's tougher than your fingers.

G'luck

[Captain Intrepid]

Personally I'd say go with tarred nylon seine twine and learn the marlinspike hitch so you have a good handle to reef on the line with.

[ChrisBen]

I used waxed sail twine to lash a cleat to a windsurfer mast. Not the best pic but you get the idea (red arrow).

[wizbang 13]

I would go with nylon seine twine. Sometimes it is black and looks just like marlin.
When you get it to the correct position, lick a little varnish or cetol or something on it to lock it up.
You can simply drop a bunch of half hitches to make a lump, or make a decorative turks head.

[Ian McColgin]

I've forgotten the correct term but a very attractive whipping on a spar, handle, wheel or whatever can be made by starting with a clove hitch made in the middle of the line. From there, make half hitches sequentially on each line end proceeding in opposite directions around your object. If you make things evenly, the two sets will cross with a clove hitch on the opposite side. And so on all around. To finish, make the last five or so hitches (I use seven for luck) a bit loosely and feed the bitter end back down. A needle helps. Then pull the hitches tight and finish by pulling the bitter end down snugly and trimming it.

G'luck

[dredbob]

I've forgotten the correct term...

I think "French Hitching" is what you are describing.

bob