This clothespin-less clothesline actually secures clothes more tightly the harder the wind blows. Sonya Boe shared this handy trick on the Facebook page, Women Who Sail, and agreed to share it here.
I love solutions like this: No need for clothespins and does a better job than a traditional clothesline. Keep your clothes from blowing off the line (and potentially off the boat)! By using a choke-loop on a corner of material, the loop draws tighter and tighter as it gets windier — holding your clothes more and more securely.
Here’s a picture guide to help you make your own super-secure clothesline.
1: Gather Materials for the Clothesline
You’ll need three-strand line in lengths appropriate for your vessel, waxed cord cut into about one-foot lengths (you can get it on Amazon), and a flat head screw driver.
2: Make the Clothesline
Take a screw driver and pry in between one strand of the clothesline. Use it to ease the end of a length of waxed cord through the strand.
Pull the waxed cord through until both ends meet. Tie a simple knot to make a loop.
Continue adding waxed cord at regular intervals.
Tie the clothesline between two points so it is taut. A taut line hitch will allow you to tighten the line as it stretches.
3: Hang Your Clothes
Hold a loop taut at the bottom.
Loop it back on itself to make a self-tightening choker.
Thread a corner of clothing or linen through the choker and pull down to tighten.
Laundry’s a breeze now, and I have no fear of losing our belongings to the wind. However, I still have nightmares of dolphins wearing my husband’s sweatshirt we lost last summer in a big gust!!!
The author, Sonya Boe:
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Shari says
If you have an awl with a sewing hole or a Speedy Stitcher, even easier to work the little cording thru. Great idea!
Mark says
I love this clothes line tip. FYI the constricting loop mentioned also known as a Larks head knot.
Marie says
Brilliant!
Sylvia s/v Sparrow says
Genius! Can’t wait to try this out for myself. Thank you!!
Lynn says
Why does the thinner cord have to be Waxed A?
Carolyn Shearlock says
She recommends it, but I think you can use any very thin cord.
Cap'n Dave says
Waxed cord doesn’t chafe as easily. It’s like waxed dental floss vs. unwaxed. The more it gets used, the more unwaxed begins to shred, whereas the waxed will hold together a lot longer. I imagine it would also hold up to the elements better (sun, salt, spray).
William Larmond says
A wax line will stay in place better, less slippage
Jackie says
Another option is to use fairly small bungee cord either twisted or braided and tuck the corners of your laundry in between the twists. I have seen locals here do the same with rope, but it’s easier with the bungee.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yes, I’ve seen those. The advantage of the one I describe is that it holds clothes tighter the windier it gets, which is not true of a bungee clothesline.
Don Wolfe says
I joined the US Navy in 1968. In Boot camp they gave us something called tie-ties. They were pieces of cord about a foot long. You would tie one end on your clothing and the other end on the clothsline. They said that was how they hanged their cloths on a ship. I was never on a ship so I have to take their word for it.
It was very similar to what you are doing except you upgraded your idea a little.
I envy you both. May God Bless you. I once had a dream of sailing around the world. Now I’m to old and Agent Orange has got the best of me.
In the 60s a teenager from Los Angels sailed around the world. A book and movie told of his adventure. It was called The Dove, the name of his boat.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Dove is a great book/movie! And take care of yourself with that Agent Orange.
Verna says
What diameter should the 3-strand line be?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Around 1/4 inch, but it doesn’t have to be exact. You could even do it with fairly large line — say an inch — if that’s all you had.
AJ Mallory says
I liked this idea but I wanted to use it on my lifelines instead of making a special clothes line. Here’s what I came up with; make a loop using about 10″ of the cord, take the newly made loop and pass it around the lifeline and back through itself (you can take two loops around the lifeline if you really need it to stay in place). Then use the resulting loop (now attached to your lifeline) as described here. No special clothesline required, you can use it on any line or even a jib sheet.
Thanks for making this info available!