Dock lines
 

I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines. The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature. Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.

wrote:
I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines. The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature. Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.


Suggestion: select the heaviest line you can reasonably use with your
cleats. One wouldn't need 5/8" line for a little runabout, for example,
which is a good thing because most have cleats that will just about do
maybe 3/8. If it seems like there is a huge surplus of space on or
under the cleat when you are made fast to the dock, odds are the mfgr
envisioned larger mooring lines than are being used and that could be
an initial indicator that a larger diameter line would be a better
choice.

wrote in message
oups.com...

wrote:
I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines. The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature. Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.


Suggestion: select the heaviest line you can reasonably use with your
cleats. One wouldn't need 5/8" line for a little runabout, for example,
which is a good thing because most have cleats that will just about do
maybe 3/8. If it seems like there is a huge surplus of space on or
under the cleat when you are made fast to the dock, odds are the mfgr
envisioned larger mooring lines than are being used and that could be
an initial indicator that a larger diameter line would be a better
choice.


This is correct. My boat is just slightly larger than yours, and I use 1/2"
lines, which is what I would suggest for your boat as well. On the other
hand, if your cleats are too small to comfortably accept an adequate number
of turns of 1/2" line, then the better choice would be to drop down to the
next size and just make sure that the lines are always in good shape and
free from deterioration from the elements. Use good quality nylon lines,
either three-strand or braided. Also, I would make a personal
recommendation, since it appears that your boat is permanently slipped, to
use rubber dock line snubbers. These will substantially ease the strain on
your lines, cleats and chocks, and make it much more comfortable to be
aboard while slipped, especially if you are sleeping aboard. No more harsh
effect when boat movement within the slip sharply takes up the last bit of
line slack..

Those recommendatins aren't far apart. West would recommed
3/8" to 27'. The other site to 25'. You have a 28' (I'd guess from
the model number). Those differences are in the noise level.

Me, I use 3/8" to tie up a 17' Boston Whaler for the five minutes it
takes me to park the truck. But I've seen people using 1/2" on 14'
inflatables.


wrote in message
oups.com...
I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines. The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature. Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.

Around 8/11/2005 7:41 PM, wrote:

I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines.

FWIW, 3/8" on my 14' and 1/2" on my dad's 30'.


--
~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat"
"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats."
-Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

wrote in message
oups.com...
I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines. The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature. Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.


There are no hard and fast rules. You want nylon or something else with some
stretch, of course. High quality 3/8" line may well be stronger than cheap
1/2" line. And the slip environment of course makes a different - what's the
worst you can expect? Are you in a protected cove on a lake or on the ocean
in hurricane country?

--
Peter Aitken

wrote in message
oups.com...
I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines. The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature. Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.


Use rope heavy enough to throw quite far, into a stiff wind, with good
enough accuracy to land all over the person waiting on the dock, who will
probably be a bystander with an ice cream cone. If your cleats aren't big
enough for this rope, replace them with bigger ones.

Anybody here splice their own loops?

Actually, I do. I learned how to splice by making halters for sheep on the
farm way back when. When I got my boat, there was a bit of a learning curve
to re-learn that skill...it's NOT like riding a bike g. It sure does come
in handy to be able to make line exactly the length you want.

--Mike

"DSK" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines.

No, the subject is rarely brought up, but is wrrthy of discussion.

... The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature.

Well, it's a decent rule of thumb but can get misleading. The strain a
boat puts on her mooring lines is more a function of here displacement
and/or windage that her length. Another consideration is the boat's normal
mooring environment. If a fixed dock with tide, then that has to be
allowed for. Exposure to wind & current means upsizing lines a bit. What
about chafe gear?

Chuck's suggestion about using the largest line practical with the boat's
cleats is a good one IMHO.

... Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.


We use a mix of 1/2" and 5/8" for our 36' boat tied in a sheltered slip
with some tide range. I carefully arrange all the lines so as to minimize
possible chafe, and we've replaced at least 3 lines in 3 years. Most
people wait too long, UV degrades lines more than you think.

Another issue what type of line. Nylon? Polypro? 3-strand? Braided?

Anybody here splice their own loops?

Fair Skies
Doug King

wrote in message
oups.com...
I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines. The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature. Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.


I have a 25 ft hard top Thompson and use 3/8 lines, some 7/16, as I have
used on all my boats, in many instances, the same lines for the last 15
years.

Anyway, recently left on a dock on open lake which had several storms and
wind gust to 45 MPH. No issue on he dock line with snubbers. Can't say the
same for the guys dock, moved it and twisted a foot. Anyway lines held just
fine.

The issue of safety for the boat remains paramount, but another factor is
comfort. It can be subtle (or not), but elasticity in docking lines can make
a difference in how comfortable and restful the occupants find a boat.

And, smaller lines have more elasticity. So I don't go for the "as big as
you can manage" policy. Snubbers have been mentioned. Another simple
technique is to make the lines as long as practical. If you can tie the
stern up from the further away cleat, do so. If you can run a spring line
one cleat further along the dock, it will not jerk the boat and passengers
around as much.

Twisted lines have more elasticity than braided - but a little less
strength, and they say they're not as comfortable to handle (wimps! s). I
can't find them in the shops very easily in the larger sizes and lengths
anymore.

I know one guy who sat out a long storm at dock using very long, small
spring lines, and said it made a big improvement. He also laid out heavier,
shorter lines as back-up - just left them slack, and, as usual, got by with
much smaller lines than most people would intuitively feel adequate.

Half inch lines on my 26-footer provide a good deal of reserve strength (if
in good condition).

Charles

====

Charles T. Low
www.boatdocking.com

====

wrote in message
oups.com...
I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines. The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature. Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.

wrote in message
oups.com...

wrote:
I don't know if this topic has been done to death, but I am interested
in finding out what various boaters use for dock lines. The
information on the internet can be very confusing, and I have seen web
sites that recommend completely different rope sizes for the same size
boats. The rule of thumb is 1/8 inch diameter for every 9 feet of
boat. This is also what West Marine says in their literature. Other
sites say that boats over 25 feet, for instance, should use 1/2 rope.
I have moored my Bayliner 2859 all winter with just 3/8 inch lines, but
it has been in a protected slip.


Suggestion: select the heaviest line you can reasonably use with your
cleats. One wouldn't need 5/8" line for a little runabout, for example,
which is a good thing because most have cleats that will just about do
maybe 3/8. If it seems like there is a huge surplus of space on or
under the cleat when you are made fast to the dock, odds are the mfgr
envisioned larger mooring lines than are being used and that could be
an initial indicator that a larger diameter line would be a better
choice.

2005 17.5 foot Bayliner runabout 5/8" fits fine
in the cleats "with" fenders w/ 1/4" line. Plenty
of room. 20 foot 5/8" pre-looped doc line at
GI Joes is like $8-$9, and is great, good and flexible.