BUNGEEEEEEE - DID SOMEONE SAY BUNGEE

[Potcake boy]

Folks,
Hope that no one from another boater's group has read that word on our forum, or we are headed for scandal and disgrace. Webmon can you block that word from the search engine. We have to take quick action to cover up any references and never speak this word here again.

After all we are sailor dudes and dudettes and we just don't use the B word.
We always use LINE for everything. To tie things up - to tie things down, to hold things together and apart - to pull things - uh well I've never actually been able to push anything with a line but I'm sure some really hard core sailormon can do it.

We get line in three strand, single and double braid, nylon, polyester, Dacron, low stretch, high stretch, red, white, blue and every color in between. It comes in every size from teeny weeny to a size so big it has to be described as a Hauser. Unfortunately it's no longer available in hemp as there was a pattern of rope abuse surfacing.

Whole books are written on how to tie it and make really handy gizmos like nautical doilies. There are constant everyday references made to this humble servant of ours - walk the line - carry the line - life line - end of the line (also known as the bitter end).

When I go to the boat supply place I make a beeline for the line rack. Thank Neptune they haven't yet put line on the impulse shelf at the local supermarket check out, my garage would be full to the gills.

Imagine pirates of the Caribean swinging from ship to ship on these stretchy things, they'd end up right back on their own vessel, how embarrassing. Try tying your boat up to the pier with one of those and making a quick exit forgetting to untie - you'd spring right back to the pier and look like a motorboater. Haven't you noticed the bungee stuff is in the motorboat section of the boat store and right next to the fishing stuff in WalMart?

Please no more talk of b-u-n-g-e-e it's sacrilege - and you could be keel hauled for this (not possible to keel haul with bungees). Learn to tie a bowline and maybe a square knot and toggle hitch and you'll have it just about covered. And don't forget the next time you are surveying a used  prize for a possible purchase, make sure you check to see how much line there is and if it is part of the deal.

However, I'll check my "Rules of Conduct for Sailor Dudes" to see if an exception is made for non nautical activities like tying shrouds when trailering. I'm sure bungees would be a good cover when you stop at a Waffle House for breakfast and have to park right out front where all the rednecks can see your boat. When they spot the bungees holding everything together on your road worthy vessel they will smile knowing that you have Rolling Rock beer in the cooler, and you are just experimenting with sailing.

Oh yeah, I like the ones with the molded on plastic ends best, they come in a nice blue.

Well here's to hurricane Ike taking a hike - looks like we'll be lashing things down again this weekend.

Ron

[Rick Klages]

My over the road drill relies completely on bungees thanks to Gill!  Before our meeting I tied everything but the 16/3 I bought from him was delivered with more bungees of every size than anyone could ever use on a flotilla of boats in any one lifetime.


ick

[doug]

After BUNGEEEEE - DID SOMEONE SAY BUNGEE I really hate to admit that my best value purchase this year was two bungee's; one end with a typical bungee hook and the other a simple loop. The Admiral suggested that instead drilling a hole in the tiller and purchasing some form a tiller tender, the bungee's would be the cheap solution to tend to the tiller when single handing just slide it over the tiller and hook em to the rear cleats. She was right.

[multimedia_smith]

HI Doug,
I use a LINE with two of those "B" things looped at each end around the stern cleats... when I pinch the tiller lock in the middle the "B" things give a little for small corrections and then re-center... works great.

http://www.com-pacowners.com/gallery2/displayimage.php?album=49&pos=34

I also use one of the "B" thingies on my boom to gather the sail at the end of the day... it's quick and you don't have to find it... it's always right there where you need it.

http://www.com-pacowners.com/gallery2/displayimage.php?album=49&pos=12

I keep one handy on the pulpit in case I need to gather the jib.

I'm with you about letting IKE take a hike... we finally got electricity after a week on the generators after Gustav... my parents live in Terrebonne parish and don't expect to have power restored until October... this latest one might even set that back...

Part of living close enough to the water...

[B.Hart]

  I admit I am a bungee-aholic, please foregive me.   HAPPY SAILING   BILL

[Potcake boy]

Well Bill, in that case, may we address you as Bungee Boy?
Of course my bungee piece was meant entirely in good humor as the forum was a bit slow at the time, and as you have obviously discovered we all need to not take ourselves too seriously. Besides, you can keep a whole bunch of them in a bucket.
So stick to your convictions Bill, and the rest of the world may catch up with you some day. I can easily imagine Chesapeake Bay being renamed Bungee Bay in honor of us trailer sailors, as the cost of big boats may leave them sitting in the Marina yards.
If the economy goes down the tubes, we can always tighten up our bungees and go for a sail.
Pleasure to hear your input,
Ron

[Mundaysj]

I couldn't live without my bugee cords.  I personally like the black circular ones with the little orange plastic balls on the end.  It kind of gives off the halloween spirit.  When I drop them in the water, I just buy a jug full of new ones.  They stand in for sail ties, hold the tiller in place, hold down the jib when dropping it while single handing... I love 'em.  And it is soooo much easier than tying a bowman's knot.... in the rabbit hole...   LOL
Sherie

[Bob23]

To all bungee-ites:
   I LIKE ROPE!  I REALLY  DO! Knot to say bungees are bad...good for holding down boat covers.
Bob23, all tied up at the moment.

[kchunk]

I thought only cowboys used rope? 

So...rope is good if it's called "line" and bungees are good if they're called "shock cords".
Did I get that right?

[Paul]

Yes.  I'd have to agree about the names.  But, overall, I like what works.  I like gaskets (flat cloth belt material) to tie sails down.  I like small stuff to tie reefs and other odd jobs.  I simply place a slip in the knot to untie very quickly.  Think "double slipped reef knot."  You likely tie it twice each morning after putting on your shoes.    You wouldn't bungee cord your shoes, would you? 

However, bungee (I mean shock cord) has its place:  in the cabin and maybe a few discrete locations as needed.

[Bob23]

K:
   YEE-HAW!!
   Yes, you got that right. I knew as I was typing rope, I'd get a response. I stand corrected: I LIKE LINE! On my truck, I like rope.
   I have several books on knots and thier uses on board a ship. I've narrowed down to about half dozen knots that I use regularly that make life easier...and safer sometimes. Plus they're fun and challenging to learn. (You can tell I ain't got much of a life, eh?)
   Bungee cord material is great for water balloon launchers, by the way.
Bob23, trying to learn the Chinese Lanyard Knot. ARRGGG!

[B.Hart]

  I prefer bungee bill  HAPPY BUNGEE SAILING   BILL

[curtisv]

Ron,

Is it acceptable to use the B-stuff to hold the halyards back so they don't slap the mast when on the mooring?  It not on the trailer or holding a tarp down but not underway either.

And there is even a nautical name for these things - gilguys.  I suppose calling out to the crew to "rig the gilguys before we go ashore" might make it closer to OK, but "put those b-things up between those ropes that hold the sails up and those wire things" would definitely be frowned upon.  That would be my call.

Curtis

[ka8uet]

As it happens, I do use b-----s on my shoes.  They go on nicely over my braces, and I never trip over them. :-)

[Bob23]

What do you mean by braces?
Bob23