What is the best practice for preventing a line from tangling?

Storing a line in a coil is an effective method for preventing tangles. When a line is coiled properly, it maintains its shape and reduces the likelihood of kinks or twists that can lead to tangling. Proper coiling involves laying the line down in loops with even tension, which helps prevent the line from crossing over itself or becoming knotted during storage or transport. This practice is especially important in maintaining the integrity and usability of the line when it is needed for various tasks, such as mooring or towing.

Other options, while they may have their own merits in different contexts, do not specifically address the main issue of preventing tangling as directly as proper coiling does. For instance, using a clove hitch is a type of knot intended for securing a line but does not inherently prevent line tangling during storage. Wetting the line can help with flexibility, but it does not address coiling. Leaving the line in the sun could potentially damage it over time, depending on the material, and could also lead to tangling if not stored properly. Therefore, the best practice for preventing a line from tangling is indeed to store it in a coil.