Ever feel like the cockpit is a spaghetti bowl of lines? Want a really simple solution — and one that can be removed on a moment’s notice with no damage to the boat?
Enter Command Cord Bundlers. This tip came from Tami, who has sent me several other great ideas in the past.
The Cord Bundlers are designed for hanging extension cords, but they work well for sheets, halyards and other lines in the cockpit (or elsewhere). And unlike hooks, they won’t hurt if you fall against one!
Tami reports that it’s easy both to hang lines and to quickly release them when it’s time to get underway. I love how nice and tidy they look — and being able to hang lines where you want them instead of where there is a winch would have a lot of advantages (I was always moving loops of line so that I could sit without a loop of line behind my back).
Since I’ve discovered these, I’ve also used them for a number of other things such as routing our shore power cord and tidying up wiring in the battery compartment.
All you need is a smooth fiberglass or painted surface to mount the cord bundler on. These are the same Command Strips that I’ve written about for holding pictures and other things below, and can be easily removed without leaving a mark. But be sure to read the package for instructions on how to remove them — it’s very easy, but there is a special technique (pulling the tab straight down) to remove the bundler.
The one thing to note is that if paint or varnish is not in good condition — that is, if it’s starting to peel or lift up, Command Strips can pull the paint or varnish off when you remove them.
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Helen Marie Stanfield Bell says
What handy hangers!!
Carolyn Brown Fuller says
Cool! We’ve used the ones you screw in, but sure hate putting holes in fiberglass. Will definitely try these. Thanks!
Andrea Young Landin says
Good to know!
Phyllis Pardee says
we are readying for cruising after Christmas–this is good to know and I will surely find a use for them…..already thinking about those charger cords for cell phones and Ipad that are always hanging down and in the way! Thanks!!!
Cheryl says
Wow, what a great and easy idea! Thanks for sharing this.
Laura says
I use these to hang our hats. Also to keep our extension cord out of the way when we use our air conditioner in the summer. For hanging pot holders, towels (they need to have a loop for hanging)… Think of it as a closed hook which is perfect for a boat.
Monika Ludewig Bradley says
Just ordered them last night. Also noted the higher price per item on the multipack. Always have to look at that
tami says
Just thought I’d add an update, after having used the Command products in my cockpit for two years:
The hooks themselves seem to be standing up to the weather. The pull-tab sticky bit does get brittle, being outside. What happens is that the hook bit will fall off the sticky. And then, because the sticky bit is brittle, it doesn’t do as it should if it were pliable, that is to say, pull the tab and the sticky bit comes off. What mine did is break, and then I scraped off the rest of the sticky bit, Goo Gone or acetone works. I then just reinstalled the hook with a new bit of sticky tab. There have been extra sticky tabs in the packs of hooks, and I just saved them for such occasions.
I have not found that the sticky bits of the hooks that I installed in the boat are getting brittle, so I have to assume it’s a weathering thing.
This is not a big deal to me, but I thought I’d just update my experience with Command products. I’m happy with the products, and certainly glad to not drill holes in the boat
David Lake says
great thing about a power boat,…………dont have this problem…..ha ha ha ha ha
Mike Hogan says
While I like them as holders I have found that they don’t stay on over a long period on the outside of the boat in hot environments. Maybe just my experience but that’s what I’ve observed.
Mary Moore Lyon says
Just to note, this is what I️ hang all my spaghetti strap Ts (shirts) from also. I️ have a couple stuck to the inside of a hanging locker.
The Boat Galley says
Love it!
Beth Wolfe says
Here’s a thought for you cap’t Kyle Stryker
Tim Wenham says
Being in a trawler, we use velcro straps to hang our dock lines off our railings. This keeps them handy and ready to deploy. The ones with the slit allow attachment to the rail or other point and then wrapping around lines to secure them. I then tape the tip to make it easier to find the end and unwrap it.