Capt. Cheap strikes again!

[Russ Sylvester]

In my never ending quest to squeeze a buck till it cries, I found a way to get top grade line on the cheap. Seems that Waste Marine has a rope section which is pretty extensive. It also seems that some not so nice folks will have the clerks cut sections of this expensive rope and then change their minds. The manager will then mark the rope down 25% and hang it on the 'castoff' rack.

Now before I go any further I'm going to stress that you NOT go down there and have them cut some line and then go back later to buy it. That's not playing the game fairly. Honestly saving a buck or two is fun, cheating ruins it.

Now if you know what you want and are willing to dig through and maybe even check back a time or three you can get top of the line (bad pun) rope at really cheap prices. Worth a looksee. I scored 35' of 3/8" spectra line with two color streamers for less than $20, not bad!

One other little tidbit. I've been searching around trying to get material for my beaded mast hoops. I found a local craft store that carries wooden 1" beads that could be drilled and finished for beads. The trouble is that they sell a bag of 12 for 3 dollars. That's too hard on the budget. Yesterday I was thinking about the beaded seat cushion idea someone had so I stopped by the local Pep Boys shop. They had a cheapy seat cushion with more beads than I could ever use on this boat for $9.99. Not too shabby!

[High C]

Even at 25% off, Waste Marine is still pretty high. Defender Marine carries Samson rope that is about 40% than you know who's line.

www.defender.com

[Mike Kelley]

I just made beaded mast hoops out of the same type seat cover, they work great!!

1/8 stainless line 14''long w/aluminum farrules 20 bead

s to the hoop

took about 2 hrs

Mike

[Russ Sylvester]

Tried them out for the first time this weekend and am happy to report that they are a great success! Went right up past the tabernacle without hanging up. Don't look half bad either.

18" of 1/8" stainless line with 23 beads per hoop and a nicopress sleeve double crimped down at the local West Marine. Cost me less than $20 for the whole shebang!

After making all of my hoops and a couple extra, I seem to have enough beads left over to do three sets that I'm not going to need. Therefore if someone would like them they can have them. I will box them up and send them, all it will cost is the shipping. Two sets are a natural wood color and the third is a maroon or almost a cranberry color. All are finished with a clear coat of what looks like acrylic. I've drilled out the holes to except the steel line easily. Let me know if interested. First come first serve.

[Barry Pyeatt]

Russ,

You might just want to keep a few spares besides the extra hoops you made as the beads can tend to break under use. Granted they are not under that much strain or stress in this application, but they are wood and the cross grain isn't that thick. And when the wind is whipping around the hoops do bang against the mast.

Another place they have an application is on the line across the jaws of the gooseneck. And several of them can be placed in the jaws of the gooseneck to act as a bearing instead of a tumblehome. The do ding up the finish on the mast though. So I still believe that a piece of leather (With a lot of neatsfoot oil worked into it) is the best approach to wear and tear on the gooseneck and mast.