Proper Line Coiling Procedure

[AndrewScullion]

The old fashioned "twist" method which does effectively twist up the rope and cause problems as discussed above leaves a very neat and tidy coil.
This is most likely a result of old Navy priorities of having everything smart and ship shape, where there was always plenty of blokes to untwist the rope again before it was used.
Coiling the rope without the twist leaves a messy figure of eight coil but is much more practical to deploy.
When you need to take out multiple twists from a rope, while sailing along, tie one end to your boat and feed the rest overboard. Leave it trailing for a while and the drag of the water will pull out all the twists until it is all laying naturally straight again.

[denby]

Andrew,

Thanks for the tip. And welcome aboard.

[lharmon]

We are probably not very proper. My requirement for many of our sheets and lines is that you can get them deployed easily, quickly and pretty much with one hand. We coil them and often store them over the stern or bow pulpits as shown. They ride for days and are still easy to flake and use.

[sailingdog]

I store a lot of my lines that same way... keeps them relatively neat, untangled, and out of the way.

[Looking]

Sabre, you can watch that video on your Mac. Go to this link, and download the free viewer.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...omponents.mspx

Remember, Macs can do anything that PC's can do (except get infected!) and better.

[chucklesR]

I do mine the navy way (hurry up, liberty call just sounded)

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by lharmon

We are probably not very proper. My requirement for many of our sheets and lines is that you can get them deployed easily, quickly and pretty much with one hand. We coil them and often store them over the stern or bow pulpits as shown. They ride for days and are still easy to flake and use.

I think your crew there has a touch of the scurvy...or your dental plan is inadequate!

[lharmon]

Just a little rambunctious behavior during gym class while in kindergarten. Our good dentist says they will grow. He did not say if she will get better judgement.

[Boasun]

Originally Posted by AndrewScullion

The old fashioned "twist" method which does effectively twist up the rope and cause problems as discussed above leaves a very neat and tidy coil.
This is most likely a result of old Navy priorities of having everything smart and ship shape, where there was always plenty of blokes to untwist the rope again before it was used.
Coiling the rope without the twist leaves a messy figure of eight coil but is much more practical to deploy.
When you need to take out multiple twists from a rope, while sailing along, tie one end to your boat and feed the rest overboard. Leave it trailing for a while and the drag of the water will pull out all the twists until it is all laying naturally straight again.

This is a good idea that I have used from time to time. But a couple of other ways of keeping that dreaded twist (that turns into cockles) out, is about every twelfth time coil your line down in the opposite direction. Also with mooring lines ensure that both ends are free when you use them. I know that some people leave one end attached to something and that causes twists and cockles to form.
Halyards that are laid line needs to be stretched out astern ever now and then. And on flag hoists be sure that the snaps have swivels built into them and then the twists will work their own way out.

Please don't mention Dentists, I just been to one for crown work. I don't like needles and it seems that all dentists use giantic ones. Then go on and use a 1/2" drill, and a big hammer & chisels when working on your teeth.

[SVAuspicious]

Originally Posted by lharmon

We are probably not very proper. My requirement for many of our sheets and lines is that you can get them deployed easily, quickly and pretty much with one hand. We coil them and often store them over the stern or bow pulpits as shown. They ride for days and are still easy to flake and use.

The one on the left is the way I do many of mine. The difference is the direction of the loop. With the one on the left you can grasp the bight and pull towards you, ending up with a very deployable coil in your end. Props to Jon D on Sirius for teaching me that.