Anyone know a good source of labels for sticking to the control line area of hull to remind dopey crew (and helm) which string they are pulling....guess waterproof would be handy.  Some boats seem to have em', mine doesn't!  Thanks Simon

Apparently the Brother P1000 makes label that are water proof, see Amazon link. About 30 quid. Might get one myself.

Use white electricians tape and a permanent marker seems versatile, cheap and easily removed without taking off the paint/varnish underneath - result

Have sent an email to you

Any ideas for the optically challenged?

I can spot a buoy miles away, but reading little stickers in low light without glasses is getting trickier every season

If this one-string system were absolutely what it's cracked up to be, presumably there would be no problem.

Actually I use a big marker pen on the gel coat, K for kicker, B for rig back, F for rig forward its so long since I sailed my merlin I forget what the other one is on my centre console, probably cunningham. The big letters are easy to spot. Obviously not so good on a wooden boat. write letters as big as you like.

Also available on Amazon about one quid each :-)

I have often thought of adding labels to the control lines too. Marker pen would certainly do the job but there must be a more professional way of doing it. Some of the boats displayed at the Dinghy Show have very good looking lettering as seen in the link below. Do Letraset do a waterproof version?

I have to inform the masses that Glen used marker pen on BAU.

The lettering machine above with White on Clear laminate 12 mm tape will produce water proof lables of reasonable look and size. Investment �30 ish plus �12 ish for the tape, which you could use elsewhere.

To go for the really pro look, then they need to be done with stick-on vynyl lettering (same as boat names), effectively made to order. For a full set made up like that in the picture - both sides - you would be looking at around �35 in 15mm letters. The alternative for the far sighted, would be to have 25mm single letters, e.g. L R K B F U D for about �15. Nice thing about the custom letters is you could colour co-ordniate and even match the font to your boat name font.
There are lots of online services that do this, but I do know someone who does this, so if anyone is seriously interested in custom lettering for their control lines, drop me an e-mail.

Did the electrical tape with permanent as mentioned up top.  Makes a big difference to communication and confidence.

Carry the tape and marker with you to write the course down and stick it to the tiller.

Masking tape and permanent marker pen is a good tip for the course - doesn't leave a sticky residue on varnish

When Peter Flannagan used to sail (Nosmo 3255) I rememeber meeting him at Bewl Water ('91). We started talking about his boat and I was intrigued by the number of strange knots tied in the control lines, this, he advised, was because his crew was partially blind! What a remarkable person! So...... I recon electrical tape and a marker pen would suffice.

Richard, His crew was actually totally blind and a remarkable lady.

Iv'e used labels as second post with nail varnish over to make sure they stay and improve wear.
works well, but the nail varnish edge does show.

Suggestion - If you get the forgetful one of the team to identify the control lines by where they come from, and get them to make + write the labels, they will remember for much longer than having it done for them.

Research into the science of 'human factors' has proved we are better at spotting colour faster than reading text. I think labels are usually needed, but after a period of familiarity the crew will be grabbing ropes by colour more than anything. So don't buy a job lot of rope for all the control lines.

By the way, don't use single letters if your controls are in the order: Cunningham - Outhaul - Kicker !

I've found that the use of coloured lines and end stoppers (matching colours) helps a lot.

E.g. The kicker is red, both the contol lines and the stoppers.
The shroud lines are yellow (and so on)
Obviosuly those are viaually obvious when sailing - it's the snodger and jib hallyard tensioner that aren't quite so obvious.
With an older boat (i.e. not a standard new ones) it's possible to make sure that the regularly used lines are to hand, whereas those used infrequently are tucked away.

Colin

This is the Merlin Rocket class, dammit! How dare you say that a control line might be used infequently!!!

well, 

I don't adjust the one that changes the toestrap length very often

(And it has to have a big stopper knot on it - I've done enough back somersaults in my sailing already!)

Colin

Thanks alot for advice and the interesting thread...managed to find a source of laser printed plastic labels from a work contact so now to spend a happy afternoon sticking em'on!

So why didnt you get Barry to make me a set, too?

I just use colour coding on mine, various crews have written letters on but when they wear off never seem to require replacement.

It's certainly not something i'd spend any money on.