Thanks, guys, for the comments.  Willy, as usual, manages to come up
with something entirely simple and probably practical - soap the rope.

Other ideas had merit too, but I've been there and got those tee-shirts.

In the case I posited, with a nasty hurricane bearing down, lots of
water from rain and possible splashing, and no attendance by a human, I
wanted something really bullet proof.  One of the issues with
plastic/rubber hose, besides heating the lines, is that they are really
not all that rugged, and will "burn through" in extreme conditions.  My
denim material, while still aboard, was not simple to apply and ended up
taking both the Admiral and me to wrap it well - I need something one
person can apply quickly and efficiently.

Mike Negley offered this website:

http://chafe.hsarmor.com/gear.htm

I ended up on the phone with Dan Nathan (800-839-4997) who is a boat
owner.  After giving him my specifications for both boat and the storm
conditions I wanted chafe protection for, he commented that I was beyond
the "recreational stuff" and into the commercial zone.

As to recreational grade anti-chafe gear, his comment was if your boat
is in a marina with people checking its moorings, the stuff is maybe OK,
but their commercial stuff is guaranteed to out perform anything else on
the market.  Not to say that it couldn't experience wear and tear, but
it would probably be there when everything else has faded away.

I ended up ordering some of their SPAC-R-B stuff in 18-inch lengths
($26/foot - I told you I was not dollar-challenged on this issue).  His
comment was that every time somebody ordered it in smaller lengths, they
later regretted it.  He also says it will allow cooling of the line via
wetting and it large enough in diameter to allow air circulation (not
wrapped tightly on the line).

So, Willy, maybe I'll soap the rope before encasing it in this hi-dollar
sheath.

I sincerely hope I do not have cause to report the beneficial effect of
this chafe protection in extreme conditions, but I will be placing some
of it on my permanent stern lines, which had a chafing problem with
normal use over several years.

Rich Gano
CALYPSO (GB42-295)
Southport, FL

OK, check this out: http://www.strapworks.com/Tubular_Nylon_s/62.htm
Tubular Nylon webbing makes great chafe material. This stuff normally is
used for strapping, lifting, etc, but in the hollow version, just cut to
length and slip over your line. It comes in sizes from 1/2" up to 2" on this
site; that's the flat size, so you'll have to convert to ID. $1.20/ft by the
foot, or buy a big roll and sell it to your friends. If this site doesn't
have what you want, there are all kinds of suppliers out there, just search
for "nylon webbing". For that matter, you can get webbing in polyester or
polypropylene if you want.

You can get the stuff in flat as well, and just wrap your lines if you
prefer. It'll get wet, so it won't self destruct because of heat. Relatively
inexpensive and easy to find, even comes in colors.

Keith

Living on Earth is expensive, but includes a free trip around the Sun each
year.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich Gano" ganor@mantech-pc.com

John,

This gent is highly recommended:

Ray Karbett
Stingray Welding
Boyd's Lane
Owings, MD
301-855-6005

Bob

Robert Calhoun Smith Jr
M/V MARY KATHRYN
Hatteras 58 LRC
South River
Annapolis, MD

On 6/1/06 10:13 AM, "John Blackburn" jgblackburn@comcast.net wrote: