On Sat, 2 Oct 2004 16:45:08 -0400, "Jeff Morris"
wrote:

"gonefishiing" wrote in message
...
to reduce stress by doubling lines i think you would need to make sure they
are working completely together.

Of course, exactly doubling a line means feeding through the same chocks and to
the same cleats. I'm not sure that actually doubles the securty. I prefer to
add lines to different points that handle the same force but in a slightly
different way. For example, an after bow spring prevents the boat from moving
forward. Adding an after midship spring does the same thing, but uses different
cleats.


otherwise if it is just twice as many lines.----one will work while the
other is slack. if one goes south, then the other takes the load.

The lines that take the force from a given direction should all be tensioned
equally.

i have yet to figure out how to do this
any ideas?
admitting ignorance here.

Unfortunately, each situation is different.
But a few guidelines:

Use nylon.
Use the highest quality lines.
Don't "oversize," that just reduces stretch.
Have the lines led as far as possible. Avoid short breast lines for small
boats.
Double up with alternate attachment points.
Allow the boat to move up and down with the waves, but avoid the shock loads of
moving fore and aft.
And, as my mentor always said, "Remember, Chafe is the Invisible Enemy!"


One thing that I do is to keep my spring lines taut to my midship
cleats and allow my bow and stern lines to be relatively slack. The
boat seems to be able to ride out almost any conditions in the slip
with a minimum of jerking and hobby horsing.