How to avoid blisters?

[Bob Pingel]

Yes, there is a very effective trick...

To help in milking the cover down, take a 3 foot chunk of shock cord and tie multiple half hitches (or attach it prussik-like) around the standing part of the rope. Then, just pull the knotted cord down the rope. The cord will grip the rope much tigher than you can and never lets go. It works great. You can get out most of the slack in just one trip down the rope.

Bob

[osteoderm]

This all reminds me of a saying we had, when daysailing folks on the Lady would ask about our hands: "Real sailors don't WEAR gloves," we explained, "we GROW 'em!"
For some reason which i've never quite understood, around the boat we almost all developed a "ridge", of which we were quite proud; a raised callous on the inside of the first knuckle of the ring finger.
Back in a woodshop these days, i've sadly found that my hands have lost this "feature", but anyone who handles rope more frequently than i soon ends up with some fine "grown gloves"... just shake hands with any serious traditional sailor and you'll feel what i mean.

[Jim Fulton]

Personally, I'm a big fan of gloves. If I sailed full time I might feel different, but I don't. I keep a pair of thin, leather gardening gloves in my rigging bag. Available at any good hardware store.

Jim Fulton

[Essington]

Originally Posted by Jim Fulton

Personally, I'm a big fan of gloves.

Well, as far as sailing goes, I started in the beach cat world (Nacra 5.2 actually), So I'm pretty attached to my black magic gloves, even on my cruiser (day sailor).

But, I don't think they are the best tool for protecting my hands from ropes when splicing. My insulated yellowstone beer gloves (it is always good to have a drinking glove handy) are probably more suited to that task.

-jason

[Renoir]

Similar to Bob Pingle's method you can wrap and stretch shock cord or wrap flat strap (nylon or otherwise) around the line by first middling it and crossing it over and over around the line in opposite directions to each other. I believe that this is referred to as a French Prussic. It will slide down the line with the correct pull and wrap.