I use bare wire. Actually I believe that for offshore they can not be covered acording to ABYC.
The ones on Wavelength are a bit ratty so I just warm up the plastic cover with a heat gun and stip off the cover with a hooked knife. Only time to replace them is if the strands are actually failing.
SAves $$$ and it does look good. For any chafe points a just purchase some of the plastic shroud covers and slide them on.

Exactly, Ross. Bare wire.

It may not be an ABYC requirement, but US Sailing and other racing rules seem to require bare wire for offshore races. Personally, I think it looks better than covered wire, and I am glad to hear that a heat gun and a hooked knife is all I need to strip mine. That job is on my summer To-Do list, now. Thanks for a great idea!

In the event you don't want to strip, the Mr. Clean Eraser is quick and easy to use and works well. Also does a good job on fenders.

I cut my covers off after the second season. The covers were always gummy and looked lousy. If you are going to clean them don't use acetone.

After years and years using acetone to clean my fenders, I learned from a fellow dockmate that there's an easier way: paint brush and roller cleaner. It'll work, too, on lifelines.

Stu - would you expand on your selection of brush and roller cleaner? There seem to be quite a few different brands. My lifelines are very yellowed and may get stripped this year if nothing else works.

[QUOTE=bakerha;12987]Stu - would you expand on your selection of brush and roller cleaner? There seem to be quite a few different brands. My lifelines are very yellowed and may get stripped this year if nothing else works.[/QUOTE]

Harold, I first used ACE, but they seem to have discontinued that, and simply use whatever is available at the hardware store. Paint Brush and Roller cleaner.

Instead of having to rub hard, like I used to have to do with acetone, I just wet a section of an old rag (we have tons of old towels as rags on our boat) and just rub a few times and they come clean. I've taken 10 year old fenders and made them look like new. My wife complains I never throw anything away, but this time I was right! :eek:

I just stripped my nasty lifelines using the heat gun and hooked knife idea..they look great..now a little muriatic acid to remove the rust stains and they will gleam..thanks Wavelength

Any recommendations for a hooked knife? I have a diving knife with a hook in the serrated titanium blade, but the damn thing is so vicious that I am sure to hurt myself if I use it for this job.

Also, once you get a cut started, is it possible to heat it and pull the covering off with pliers, or do you have to cut the entire length?

Great idea...naked lifelines.

larry,my knife is a cheap hardware hook,blade about 3 inches long,cheap wooden handle..i think its a gardening tool maybe,i found it in the shed,sharpened the inside of the hook with a round file and resharpened several times during the process...Heat 6'' of wire,gun on 'high',pull the knife along,then you can pull the bottom part off by hand while its still warm...if you strip 3 feet of "top" only,then try to go back and remove the "bottom" by hand when its gone cold,this didnt work so well...mind you my lines were very old,stiff,brittle and broken...ugly.Applied muriatic acid(Be Careful) with a toothbrush and all the rust stains evaporated without effort,then water rinse...give yourself 4 work periods to do it,knee pads recommended...worth it,cheers

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