Thanks to all for the information. It looks like a matter of meteorology and
geography. I just don't see leather around here (Thousand Islands, St.
Lawrence River), and there is very little in the way of individual boaters
doing any "whipping" of the sort we learned in boating classes, in this
instance used for binding or sewing the chafing gear to a line.

We had a big wind storm a few summers ago, and I doubled up my lines and
went down frequently to check the boat, but most local boaters did nothing -
many live hours away, and not all use any chafing protection at all - and
there were no problems that I heard of. I recall something like sustained
winds in the 30 knot range, and we're all fairly protected by breakwaters,
etc. I'm still using the same lines.

Charles

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Charles T. Low
www.boatdocking.com

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"Red Cloud®" wrote in message
...
...
I put leather on my docklines when they are new, and when the leather
wears out,
I replace the dockline. During storms, I double up on lines, and wrap
scraps of
towel around all chafe points.

rusty redcloud