Today I installed my stern tie line on my swim step using an old unused hose pipe reel that was gathering cobwebs out in the back yard. I knew I should never have given any thought about discarding it over the years of not being used. As it has turned out, it makes for an ideal spooler for 350-feet of stern line I picked up today.
I debated at length as to what type of line/rope to buy. I ended up buying 7/16" Floating Dingy Tow Rope from West Marine. I looked online for ages and along with S&H costs could not find a cost competitive option vs. my local West Marine. Plus I have discounts with them etc. So off I went and bought 350-feet -- a little more than I wanted to spend but then you gets what you pay for sometimes -- and this was certainly the case this time IMO. The rope is described as a Double braided tow rope consisting of a polypropylene core contained within an abrasion-resistant braided nylon jacket. Torque-free and nonhockling. Floats on top of the water, so it won't get caught around the prop. It stays flexible and retains strength when wet or dry. It can be cut and is sold by the foot. It has a 5,000lb. breaking strength. This rope should do me fine as a single line for 300-feet to the shoreline or doubled up for 10,000lbs at 150-feet. This rope is a fine piece of equipment to have onboard and will have multiple uses -- although its primary function is to provide our R25 with a sturdy and strong stern tie feature.
I bolted the old plastic hose pipe reel to the swim step using 3/8" bolts, nuts & washers while making sure there was clearance for my Portland Pudgy when it was in its upright position.
I then used a fixed loop and used a bowline knot to secure one end of the rope to the center hub of the hose pipe reel and tightened it up so there was sufficient friction to start winding on the 350-feet of rope. Now this is where I was a little apprehensive as I was unsure if the 350 feet of 7/16" rope would wind onto the hose pipe reel without it spilling over the top of the rim of the wheel. I started winding the rope onto the reel in a clockwise direction while holding the line reasonably tight hoping to maximize the length of rope I could wind onto the reel. BTW -- I laid out the rope on my dock landing ahead of time to ensure there were no kinks etc. Well after winding and winding all 350 feet I barely made it without any rope spilling over the edge of the reel. 😀
After I wound the rope onto the reel I tested unwinding it by gently pulling and it played out nicely without to much effort. This now means a single person can take the rope end in a dinghy and goto the shore line, loop it around a sturdy post/tree for example, and turn about and make it back to the boat with around 150-feet of double rope or if necessary run it out to around 300-feet and tie it off and return to the boat. The benefit of the double rope is that it can be reeled back in without going to shore.
I'm all set now for stops where a stern tie is required. 🙂
This was a fun project and took very little time installing.
I took a few pics and attach them below.
Here's an image of the rope I used.
350-feet fully wound onto an old plastic water hose pipe reel
A close up view
A close up view from different angle
Don't those bright red Tuff Ends look gorgious. 😎
I debated at length as to what type of line/rope to buy. I ended up buying 7/16" Floating Dingy Tow Rope from West Marine. I looked online for ages and along with S&H costs could not find a cost competitive option vs. my local West Marine. Plus I have discounts with them etc. So off I went and bought 350-feet -- a little more than I wanted to spend but then you gets what you pay for sometimes -- and this was certainly the case this time IMO. The rope is described as a Double braided tow rope consisting of a polypropylene core contained within an abrasion-resistant braided nylon jacket. Torque-free and nonhockling. Floats on top of the water, so it won't get caught around the prop. It stays flexible and retains strength when wet or dry. It can be cut and is sold by the foot. It has a 5,000lb. breaking strength. This rope should do me fine as a single line for 300-feet to the shoreline or doubled up for 10,000lbs at 150-feet. This rope is a fine piece of equipment to have onboard and will have multiple uses -- although its primary function is to provide our R25 with a sturdy and strong stern tie feature.
I bolted the old plastic hose pipe reel to the swim step using 3/8" bolts, nuts & washers while making sure there was clearance for my Portland Pudgy when it was in its upright position.
I then used a fixed loop and used a bowline knot to secure one end of the rope to the center hub of the hose pipe reel and tightened it up so there was sufficient friction to start winding on the 350-feet of rope. Now this is where I was a little apprehensive as I was unsure if the 350 feet of 7/16" rope would wind onto the hose pipe reel without it spilling over the top of the rim of the wheel. I started winding the rope onto the reel in a clockwise direction while holding the line reasonably tight hoping to maximize the length of rope I could wind onto the reel. BTW -- I laid out the rope on my dock landing ahead of time to ensure there were no kinks etc. Well after winding and winding all 350 feet I barely made it without any rope spilling over the edge of the reel. 😀
After I wound the rope onto the reel I tested unwinding it by gently pulling and it played out nicely without to much effort. This now means a single person can take the rope end in a dinghy and goto the shore line, loop it around a sturdy post/tree for example, and turn about and make it back to the boat with around 150-feet of double rope or if necessary run it out to around 300-feet and tie it off and return to the boat. The benefit of the double rope is that it can be reeled back in without going to shore.
I'm all set now for stops where a stern tie is required. 🙂
This was a fun project and took very little time installing.
I took a few pics and attach them below.
Here's an image of the rope I used.
350-feet fully wound onto an old plastic water hose pipe reel
A close up view
A close up view from different angle
Don't those bright red Tuff Ends look gorgious. 😎