Is there a general rule of thumb for determining how strong your dock lines
should be?

I have a 34 foot boat that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 19,000
lbs. I want to buy some dock lines to carry onboard for tying up at fuel
docks or the occasional restaurant etc. when I'm not in my slip. I really
don't want to have to untie the lines at my slip every time I leave, since
I'd have to find just the right adjustment again every time I return.

There are LOTS of sizes and strengths of line out there. What should I
really be looking at?

Thanks!

Gary

On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:24:51 GMT, "Gary"
wrote:

Is there a general rule of thumb for determining how strong your dock lines
should be?

I have a 34 foot boat that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 19,000
lbs. I want to buy some dock lines to carry onboard for tying up at fuel
docks or the occasional restaurant etc. when I'm not in my slip. I really
don't want to have to untie the lines at my slip every time I leave, since
I'd have to find just the right adjustment again every time I return.

There are LOTS of sizes and strengths of line out there. What should I
really be looking at?

Thanks!

1/2 to 5/8" nylon braid is more than sufficient for that boat.

With all due respect, adjusting and inspecting your dock lines should
become a habit.

However, to each their own.

Later,

Tom

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...

With all due respect, adjusting and inspecting your dock lines should
become a habit.


One good storm is usually enough to make that lesson clear, especially if
one does not know how to tie spring lines.

I'll also add that no matter what size the boat, the owner should have
enough line to achieve proper throwing weight, and longer lines than would
appear necessary. At least once a week at the launch, I see some hapless
fool with 5 feet of line at bow & stern, trying to throw it 10 feet to
someone one the dock. I'll bet the money saved really feels good at that
moment.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
enough line to achieve proper throwing weight, and longer lines than would
appear necessary. At least once a week at the launch, I see some hapless
fool with 5 feet of line at bow & stern, trying to throw it 10 feet to
someone one the dock. I'll bet the money saved really feels good at that
moment.

I remember reading somewhere (Power Squadron course?) that your bow line
shouldn't be longer than your boat length. This way, if the line falls
overboard while the boat is making way, the line can't get caught in the
propeller.

Don White wrote:

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

enough line to achieve proper throwing weight, and longer lines than would
appear necessary. At least once a week at the launch, I see some hapless
fool with 5 feet of line at bow & stern, trying to throw it 10 feet to
someone one the dock. I'll bet the money saved really feels good at that
moment.


I remember reading somewhere (Power Squadron course?) that your bow line
shouldn't be longer than your boat length. This way, if the line falls
overboard while the boat is making way, the line can't get caught in the
propeller.


If the boat is a jet it will need to be shorted yet :-) My little
brother sucked one up on his Sea-Rayder soap-dish jet boat. Had real
good line. Bent the impeller.

Capt Jack R..

Good tip!


"Don White" wrote in message
news

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
enough line to achieve proper throwing weight, and longer lines than
would
appear necessary. At least once a week at the launch, I see some hapless
fool with 5 feet of line at bow & stern, trying to throw it 10 feet to
someone one the dock. I'll bet the money saved really feels good at that
moment.

I remember reading somewhere (Power Squadron course?) that your bow line
shouldn't be longer than your boat length. This way, if the line falls
overboard while the boat is making way, the line can't get caught in the
propeller.

On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:24:51 GMT, "Gary"
wrote:
Is there a general rule of thumb for determining how strong your dock lines
should be?

I have a 34 foot boat that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 19,000
lbs. I want to buy some dock lines to carry onboard for tying up at fuel
docks or the occasional restaurant etc. when I'm not in my slip. I really
don't want to have to untie the lines at my slip every time I leave, since
I'd have to find just the right adjustment again every time I return.

There are LOTS of sizes and strengths of line out there. What should I
really be looking at?
=============================================

My old boat was about the same size and weight (33 ft 23,000#) and we
used 5/8 inch nylon lines for short term tie ups. For longer,
unattended docking I'd recommend 3/4 inch. My mooring lines were 7/8
with lots of chafing protection. Never had problems with any of that.

I once had a dock line break on a 34 ft sailboat in calm wind
conditions. It was 1/2 inch dacron braid (low stretch compared to
nylon). The breakage was caused by interaction of the boat with a
floating dock in response to a wake. The boat and dock were moving in
different directions and at different rates, causing the dock line to
snap like a rubberband with no warning. Fortunately I was next to the
boat when it happened and was able to quickly re-tie. All that is
offered by way of explanation for my conservative approach and use of
nylon line.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:24:51 GMT, "Gary"
wrote:
Is there a general rule of thumb for determining how strong your dock
lines
should be?

I have a 34 foot boat that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 19,000
lbs. I want to buy some dock lines to carry onboard for tying up at fuel
docks or the occasional restaurant etc. when I'm not in my slip. I
really
don't want to have to untie the lines at my slip every time I leave,
since
I'd have to find just the right adjustment again every time I return.

There are LOTS of sizes and strengths of line out there. What should I
really be looking at?
=============================================

My old boat was about the same size and weight (33 ft 23,000#) and we
used 5/8 inch nylon lines for short term tie ups. For longer,
unattended docking I'd recommend 3/4 inch. My mooring lines were 7/8
with lots of chafing protection. Never had problems with any of that.

I once had a dock line break on a 34 ft sailboat in calm wind
conditions. It was 1/2 inch dacron braid (low stretch compared to
nylon). The breakage was caused by interaction of the boat with a
floating dock in response to a wake. The boat and dock were moving in
different directions and at different rates, causing the dock line to
snap like a rubberband with no warning. Fortunately I was next to the
boat when it happened and was able to quickly re-tie. All that is
offered by way of explanation for my conservative approach and use of
nylon line.

For temporary tieups I would use 1/2" at most. Easier to handle.

On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 19:25:56 GMT, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

Wayne B wrote:
I once had a dock line break on a 34 ft sailboat in calm wind
conditions. It was 1/2 inch dacron braid (low stretch compared to
nylon). The breakage was caused by interaction of the boat with a
floating dock in response to a wake. The boat and dock were moving in
different directions and at different rates, causing the dock line to
snap like a rubberband with no warning. Fortunately I was next to the
boat when it happened and was able to quickly re-tie. All that is
offered by way of explanation for my conservative approach and use of
nylon line.


For temporary tieups I would use 1/2" at most. Easier to handle.

================================================== =

Maybe for a gas dock tie up where you're standing next to the boat.
Most gas docks have their own lines however. My sailboat that broke
the 1/2 inch line was only 10,000 #s. The wake wasn't supposed to be
there but it happened. Assuming you don't want to carry two sets of
lines, and would ocassionally like to duck into a restaurant, etc.,
I'll stick with my 5/8 recommendation.

"Calif Bill" wrote in message news:8PqXc.14204
For temporary tieups I would use 1/2" at most. Easier to handle.

So, you'd use 1/2", period, huh? Doesn't matter what the strength is,
you'd just use it, because it's easier to handle???