What to do with old gear: lines, charts, and EPIRB

LWinters · #1 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

I've been on my boat for a year now and I kept myself from throwing anything away until I really knew what it was and if I needed it. The time has come when I am sure that I don't want or need 15 year old charts, both electronic and paper, the old 121 MHz EPRIB, and all kinds of old lines including my halyards I recently replaced.

I hate to pitch this stuff, but don't know what else to do with it. Any suggestions? Is it really into the dumpster for this once expensive gear?

NOLAsailing · #2 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

Everything has a service life, regardless of the original cost. I believe the EPIRB is worthless (you can't use that freq.), the charts certainly are, and the halyards may or may not be. Get it off the boat or out of the garage. If your YC has a boat garage sale to support a junior program or a similar place for used gear, consider donating it there. Otherwise it's just wasting space.

SailorMitch · #3 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

Or look for some outfit like the Sea Scouts for what they might be interested in? I have the same issue I want to address this winter, and I am thinking about the Sea Scouts.

thedudeistoocool · #4 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

Find someone who scrapbooks and give them the used charts
They may be able to incorporate them as background material

Or just use them for some nautical decoration around the home
cut them into nice sizes and frame them - then sell them on e-bay

Remember one mans junk is another mans treasure

T37Chef · #5 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

Sailor Mitch...if you have trouble contacting the SeaScouts...try Bodkin Marina (Not Bodkin Yacht Club) , Charlie is the owner. There were two boats kept there used by the Scouts.

BTW...great idea...I have some stuff they may want, let me know if you find anything more out about them.

WinterRiver · #6 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

Check with a local teacher to see if they'd like the charts. In our area (MA)they do a big mapping unit in 5th grade. They might like some real charts to get kids interested.

Another idea for anything that you think might be useful to someone is Freecycle.org. "The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,144 groups with 3,992,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free." People offer and take an amazing variety of stuff.

I'm sure there's someone who would appreciate your old lines, if only to use as clothesline that won't sag. Make it clear in your posting that the charts are not current and should not be used for navigation. Someone might want to wallpaper a kid's room with them.

CapnHand · #7 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

Make a rope mat out of the lines, you're just going to wipe your feet on it anyway. Or make rope fenders.

#8 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

Several people have mentioned Sea Scouts - please do consider that. While we probably can't use the EPIRB, old paper charts are still useful for teaching piloting, and due to our limited budget we can always find a way to use old lines. If you aren't sure if there are Sea Scout ships near you, visit seascout.org and follow the link for "ships" (remember that Sea Scout units are called "ships", like Boy Scout units are called troops). For any of you, if that doesn't work to find a local Sea Scout ship, and you have something interesting to donate, contact me via private message and I'll see if I can figure out who to talk to in your part of the world.

kwaltersmi · #9 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

Try ebay or craigslist. You'd be surprised what people pay for these days online.

Or, I'll take the lines/halyards off your hands.

LWinters · #10 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007

These are great ideas folks. I didn't even know the sea scouts existed. I did a quick google search and there are 19 "ships" within 45 miles of my marina. I thought about dropping this stuff off at the local resell shop, but I could probably take a tax deduction on the donation that is almost as much as what any of it would sell for.

Capnhand, talk to me about those rope fenders. I've got a few marlin spike sailors around me who've made some good looking mats out of old lines, but I've never seen a woven fender. Sounds like a place I can put my new fids to use other than eye splices.