For my new Northstar Tandem I am planning to replace the bungee cord and the perimeter rope.
The current cording is as shown in the pictures below. I have a few questions:
The current bungee cord is in the typical cross pattern but, it then extends down both sides of the cockpits and then also has a loose section that is about 4 feet in length which has been pulled back up beside the cockpits and tucked under so it is not hanging completely free. The kayak also has a complete perimeter rope (both sides, front to back.) I do not understand why the bungee cord extends beside the cockpits nor why there are the loose sections. (None of the pictures show this very well but you can see the ends of the loose sections in the first and third pictures.)
Should I keep the bungee cord beside the cockpits in addition to the perimeter rope or just have the perimeter rope beside the cockpits?
The bungee that is parallel to the deck rigging should not be there IMO. I think it’s a hazard. Imagine grabbing that instead of the deck line in an emergency. No bueno. I think whoever did it was misguided.
I would be interested in hearing if others have a reason for running a Bungee parallel to the cockpit, because I don’t know of any and can’t recall having seen it before.
On the extra, one possibility is that as the bungee stretches, it isn’t uncommon to pull it taught, re-knot it, and cut off the extra.
I agree with Pru that running a bungee paralel and next to a static deck line is not beneficial.
I looked at quite a few pictures, on this site and elsewhere, and did not find any examples of the bungees being run along side the cockpits (with or without a perimeter rope.) Like @Pru and @rival51 said, it looks like a safety hazard to me… but since I am so new to this I do not trust my own opinions.
The bungees are really old @Peter-CA so that may be where the extra length came from. I thought at first that the extra length might be used as paddle leashes but I think they are in the wrong place for that and there are too many (6 extra lengths.)
What kind of knot is that @PaddleDog52? It looks a little like a double half hitch. I can see how that could allow for the tension to be maintained over time. I did get marine grade bungee.
How do you cut and seal bungee cord? I was just planning to cut it and tie it off (using a figure 8 knot.) Or maybe tie it and then cut it.
Cut with something sharp and hit with flame immediately. It unravels fast and it doesn’t take much heat. Couple of clicks on lighter I have. Half hitch on end. I put some shrink tube on some squeeze the end. I’m bored.
I’ve started using a short length of heat-shrink on the end of the bungee. Heat it until it’s attached, then cut through the heat shrink and bungee, then hit the end with a flame.
I don’t find running bungee parallel to the perimeter lines in the areas fore and aft of the cockpit and past the hatches where gear and paddles are normally stored to be a real problem. I don’t see any use for bungees being run with the perimeter lines. alongside of the cockpit and hatches, however. And certainly no use for a spare length of bungee just laying on the deck.
If grabbing for a perimeter line, I usually end up grabbing both the perimeter line and bungee together if they are present there.
Some people find bungee run parallel to the perimeter lines aft of the cockpit can be useful in securing a paddle for a paddle float rescue, as often a paddle will not fit under perimeter lines, especially if the aft deck is not flat. Whether or not to use bungee with a paddle float is an area of debate, as some people just hold it there with their hand.
I don’t find bungee to be particularly useful and have very little of it on my boats. It won’t hold things in place in conditions where the deck is getting washed by waves or surf, which often creates a “yard sale” situation on the water.
Rather than bungee, I use cords and sliders as shown below. They hold items securely in any conditions, but allow quick access when necessary. You simply push the sliders toward the center to create slack in the lines and toward the outside to tighten them.
I only use two strands of bungee on the foredeck, one just ahead of the cords/sliders (for holding things like gloves or a hood when I don’t need them) and one up by the compass to capture the end of my spare paddle.
In case you’re wondering, the purpose of the wooden balls on the bungee and deck lines is to elevate them and make it easier to slip the paddle under the bungee, or grab the deck lines during a rescue situation.
Whenever I store things under the bungee cord, I use carabiners where I can to ensure they don’t become dislodged from my boat if water washes over the deck. I like the idea of using sliders. bnystrom; what are you using to protect your deck’s gelcoat?
I dug through my notes and it’s Prostripe Black Tread Tape (part# R82403) Safety Tread Non-Skid Tread - Prostripe Automotive Restyling Products. I used 4" wide tape and combined multiple pieces to get the sizes I wanted. Over the years, it shrank slightly and opened small gaps between the pieces, but it still works fine. I used it mainly to reduce abrasion on the deck, which I had recently restored. Here’s a link to my tutorial on that topic: Gelcoat Restoration | BrianNystrom.com
Well I got all of the bungee cords and the perimeter rope replaced. Had a little trouble getting the perimeter rope tight enough but managed to snug it up with effort.
Thanks for all of the suggestions and advice.
Next up are some b u l k h e a d questions… but I will start a new thread for that to keep the separate topics easier to find.
bored. 
