Protect Your Sailing Line with This Easy Whipping!

by John Jamieson on 21 Mar 2013 If you are anything like me, nothing looks worse in marine rope than frayed strands. With prices soaring, you will want to protect the bitter end of all of your lines. Boost your marine knots knowledge with this fast, easy whipping that you can make in less than 60 seconds!

Did you know that burned or melted ends could cause more problems? It may be a fast way for marine stores to cut new line when you purchase it. But if that hardened end catches on the outer core, it can chafe and break down delicate rope fibers. Follow these five easy steps to make a fast, neat temporary whipping:

Materials you will need:

* Waxed sailmaking twine.
* Beeswax cake.
* Duct or electrical tape.
* Sharp knife.

1. Prepare the line

Wrap a thick 1' piece of duct or electrical tape near the bitter end. Cut through the middle of the tape with a sharp knife. This keeps the end from unraveling as you make the whipping.

2. Loop the sail twine

Measure and cut 18' to 24' of sail twine. Run it through the beeswax cake to add a protective outside coating. Make a 1' loop in one end of the twine. Position the loop as shown (illustration 1).

3. Whip toward the end

Wind the long end of the twine around the line. Work up toward the bitter end. Pass the end of the twine through the loop (illustration 2).

4. Remove the slack

Pull the twine to center the loop underneath the turns (third illustration - top). Twirl the ends of the twine around the fingertips of each hand. Pull outward at the same time to bury the strands and tighten the whipping (illustration 3).

5. Neaten the whipping

Remove the tape from the end of the whipping. This leaves about 1/2' of bitter end to extend past the whipped end. The expanded fibers will help keep the whipping in place.

Protect your expensive marine rope with a quick and easy temporary whipping. This marine knots technique will extend the life of your line and save you big $$s in replacement costs.

John Jamieson (Captain John) with 25+ years of experience shows you the no-nonsense cruising skills you need for safer sailing worldwide. Visit his website at www.skippertips.com. Sign up for the Free, highly popular weekly 'Captain John's Sailing Tip-of-the-Week'. Discover how you can gain instant access to hundreds of sailing articles, videos, and e-Books!