Bay Area: Where to Bring Your Old Sailing Gear

In the March issue’s Letters, Steve Grealish of South Beach asked: “I have accumulated a lot of marine gear that clogs our boat and my garage. Are there good places to donate things like lifejackets, foul weather gear, used lines and tired sails? I’ve tried youth programs but didn’t get much interest. Any suggestions?”

Yes, Steve.

“I read Steve Grealish’s letter in the March issue,” wrote Jim Staley. “May I respectfully and enthusiastically suggest donating to the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors (BAADS), a nonprofit association of volunteers dedicated to empowering, training and supporting sailors in the disabled community? BAADS operates out of South Beach, and would be a fantastic local group to benefit from donations. I’d be happy to assist coordinating a donation, or Steve can contact us through our website www.baads.org.”

Thanks to both Jim and Steve for your inquiries.

How Do You Dispose of Old Line?

Latitude Nation — What do you do with old line? Really old line? We’re not talking about something that can be donated to a second-hand pile, or even gifted to a new sailor on a tight budget. We’re talking about line that is breaking down at the atomic level.

We’re talking about line that is flaking like it has chronic dandruff, or shedding like a reptile. We’re talking about line that can no longer be classified nor serve as line.

Are there eco-minded sailors out there who can clue us in on the most responsible way to dispose of synthetic line? We’re reluctant to throw it into the garbage and have it decay — along with all the other plastic that will be decomposing for eons — in a landfill.

Artistically minded sailors — is there an artsy way to repurpose old line? Does anyone, like, make bracelets from the inner core?

Please let us know.