I moved to a different dock to get a better view of the lake.
Now I get a better feel for it too. The waves come right down
between the docks and catch us in the side, creating a lot
of rocking from side to side. Are there any good ways of
reducing this action?

On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 14:08:31 -0500, dh@. wrote:

I moved to a different dock to get a better view of the lake.
Now I get a better feel for it too. The waves come right down
between the docks and catch us in the side, creating a lot
of rocking from side to side. Are there any good ways of
reducing this action?


A chained tire floating barricade?

Brian Whatcott

You could put out some rubber fenders to hold the boat in tighter alittle
better or, like he said wall of tires. Is the boat tightly moored to the
dock?

Joe
dh@. wrote in message ...
I moved to a different dock to get a better view of the lake.
Now I get a better feel for it too. The waves come right down
between the docks and catch us in the side, creating a lot
of rocking from side to side. Are there any good ways of
reducing this action?

On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 14:51:42 -0500, "Joe Grassi" wrote:

You could put out some rubber fenders to hold the boat in tighter alittle
better or, like he said wall of tires. Is the boat tightly moored to the
dock?

Well, no. It's strung between two fingers, not touching either. Since
the ropes won't stay tight, I was thinking there might be something
flexible that people use somehow. I hadn't thought about tying it
right up against the dock...is that what you're suggesting? So far it
sounds good enough to me. It's a floating dock. I had thought about
using cable instead of rope, but was afraid something so solid might
pull cleats loose and do actual damage.

Ya tie it right up against the dock and see how that goes, just make sure
you have some rubber fenders out so it doesnt damage the rubbing rail of
your boat. But it should be alot better than what you were having before.
Lemme know how it works out for ya.

Joe
dh@. wrote in message ...
On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 14:51:42 -0500, "Joe Grassi"
wrote:

You could put out some rubber fenders to hold the boat in tighter alittle
better or, like he said wall of tires. Is the boat tightly moored to the
dock?

Well, no. It's strung between two fingers, not touching either. Since
the ropes won't stay tight, I was thinking there might be something
flexible that people use somehow. I hadn't thought about tying it
right up against the dock...is that what you're suggesting? So far it
sounds good enough to me. It's a floating dock. I had thought about
using cable instead of rope, but was afraid something so solid might
pull cleats loose and do actual damage.

On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 15:42:40 -0500, "Joe Grassi" wrote:

Ya tie it right up against the dock and see how that goes, just make sure
you have some rubber fenders out so it doesnt damage the rubbing rail of
your boat. But it should be alot better than what you were having before.
Lemme know how it works out for ya.

Joe

It seems to be working pretty well, but the ropes are already starting to
loosen up. What about a couple of pieces of steel, bolting it to the dock
like the dock sections are bolted together? I might have to allow it to pivot
up and down, but could eliminate shifts in distance from the dock. It's a
43' houseboat btw.

Oh hehe, why didnt u say so in that case ya like what you said would work
with like pivots but also what you could do is why not just some good ol
wire rope, measure what u need to make it nice and tight and get some loops
of wire rope made put them on crank it down and ur set it wont come loose
and there is nothing to worry about... Or the other thing u could do is get
two cheap winches from Harbor Freight install them on the deck of your house
boat and have a loop in the end of the wire rope and put them over the
cleats at the pier and winch your self nice and tight to the pier and u
could do the same for where ever your house boat travels take u.

Joe
dh@. wrote in message ...
On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 15:42:40 -0500, "Joe Grassi"
wrote:

Ya tie it right up against the dock and see how that goes, just make sure
you have some rubber fenders out so it doesnt damage the rubbing rail of
your boat. But it should be alot better than what you were having before.
Lemme know how it works out for ya.

Joe

It seems to be working pretty well, but the ropes are already starting
to
loosen up. What about a couple of pieces of steel, bolting it to the dock
like the dock sections are bolted together? I might have to allow it to
pivot
up and down, but could eliminate shifts in distance from the dock. It's a
43' houseboat btw.

You could do what cruisers do to reduce rocking when anchoring/mooring...

Get a bucket, tie it on the end of your boom and hike the boom out as far as
possible. Let the bucket be submerged. This will dampen the effects of the
rocking motion. Of course, you have to be mindful of the boom sticking out
in the slip area and into someone else's space or onto the walkway, but it
might be worth trying. If you put the bucket on a long enough line, you
wouldn't have to worry about it hitting the side of the boat.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

dh@. wrote in message ...
I moved to a different dock to get a better view of the lake.
Now I get a better feel for it too. The waves come right down
between the docks and catch us in the side, creating a lot
of rocking from side to side. Are there any good ways of
reducing this action?

dh@. wrote:
I moved to a different dock to get a better view of the lake.
Now I get a better feel for it too. The waves come right down
between the docks and catch us in the side, creating a lot
of rocking from side to side. Are there any good ways of
reducing this action?

You might look into these:

http://www.dockbuilders.com/tideslide.htm

http://www.slidemoor.com/

Two of each might do the trick. You could use the slidemoor on one side
and tie tight to it and run tight lines to the tideslide on the other side.

Dan

You don't want to tie off to the dock hard enough to prevent rolling.
You'll break something.

Get a couple pieces 3/4 inch plywood 2 to 4 feet square (depending on
size of boat) and embalm in epxoy. Drill holes and make a bridle for
four lengths of rope coming together so that the sheets are held flat
when suspended by a single rope. Attach a heavy weight to one side of
each plate. Then weight the opposite side so that it just barely
sinks level when lowered into the water.

Tie one of these to amidships cleat on each side. When the boat
rolls, the weight heavily weighted side will let the plywood tip and
sink easily. It will then be pulled flat on the return roll. With
one on each side, there will be enormous roll damping. The weights
should be heavy enough that you can just lower them to the bottom and
tie the ropes off when leaving the slip.

One of these bow and stern will also damp pitching. A refinement is to
incorporate those dockline snubbers into the side of the bridle
opposite the heavy weight to soften any slight shock.

--

Roger Long