do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

One person launches like this:
*************************************************
"I use the knot to attach a stainless steel carabiner to the line. When I
launch or retrieve the boat, I attach one carabiner and line to the bow
ring and another carabiner and line to a stern ring. I tie the end of the
stern line to the dock and then push the boat off the trailer into the
water while holding the bow ring line, which I walk over to the dock. That
way, it makes it easy for me to tie the boat to the dock while I move and
park the truck and trailer.

For retrieval, I tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down into the
water, and pull the boat onto the trailer by hand with the bow line.

I use carabiners because they snap on better and a bit more elegantly than
snaps."
************************************************

This is an elegant sounding method, but it leaves me wondering what happens
to the line attached to the bow ring. Removing that while kneeling on the
bow could get pretty *hairy*.

As I'm always open to good ideas, I thought I'd present this and see if
anyone has a better way.

John H. wrote:
do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

One person launches like this:
*************************************************
"I use the knot to attach a stainless steel carabiner to the line. When I
launch or retrieve the boat, I attach one carabiner and line to the bow
ring and another carabiner and line to a stern ring. I tie the end of the
stern line to the dock and then push the boat off the trailer into the
water while holding the bow ring line, which I walk over to the dock. That
way, it makes it easy for me to tie the boat to the dock while I move and
park the truck and trailer.

For retrieval, I tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down into the
water, and pull the boat onto the trailer by hand with the bow line.

I use carabiners because they snap on better and a bit more elegantly than
snaps."
************************************************

This is an elegant sounding method, but it leaves me wondering what happens
to the line attached to the bow ring. Removing that while kneeling on the
bow could get pretty *hairy*.

As I'm always open to good ideas, I thought I'd present this and see if
anyone has a better way.





Jeeze.

I should have applied for a copyright. Or Chuck should, since this was
lifted from his boating message board.

I can't reach the bow carabiner while in the boat. Too far, even if I
plopped down on the front deck and tried to reach the bow ring. My boat
is very deep at the bow. So I bring the line up through a deck chock,
attach it snugly to the cleat, and bring the rest of the line into the
boat so it doesn't wrap itself on the prop. That way, it is there and
ready to be deployed when I return to the dock. It doesn't interfere
with the anchor, because I don't use the chocks on either side for
anchoring. Sometimes, I drop the line into the anchor storage bin on the
deck after wrapping it on the cleat.

This photo shows my deck hardwa

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...C/IMG_0434.jpg

You certainly don't want to just bring the bow line into the boat
without fastening the line onto something. My boat happens to have
proper deck hardware to handle lines, but if yours does not, you can
certainly find a place to bolt on a cleat.

"John H." wrote in message
...
do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or
do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

One person launches like this:
*************************************************
"I use the knot to attach a stainless steel carabiner to the line. When I
launch or retrieve the boat, I attach one carabiner and line to the bow
ring and another carabiner and line to a stern ring. I tie the end of the
stern line to the dock and then push the boat off the trailer into the
water while holding the bow ring line, which I walk over to the dock. That
way, it makes it easy for me to tie the boat to the dock while I move and
park the truck and trailer.

For retrieval, I tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down into the
water, and pull the boat onto the trailer by hand with the bow line.

I use carabiners because they snap on better and a bit more elegantly than
snaps."
************************************************

This is an elegant sounding method, but it leaves me wondering what
happens
to the line attached to the bow ring. Removing that while kneeling on the
bow could get pretty *hairy*.

As I'm always open to good ideas, I thought I'd present this and see if
anyone has a better way.


What you do depends on your situation. I am not a big fan of using tiedown
fittings as cleats. At your own slip you might use eye splices on one end of
your dock lines to go over your cleats and the bitter end to tie to the
dock. Leave the lines on the dock and its a snap to get set up again when
you return. You will need a second set of lines if you plan to dock
somewhere else during your outing. Carry a minimum of 3 lines with eye
splices on one end. On a 20 foot boat, I would keep 20 foot lines.
If you are a trailer boater, 3 lines the length of your boat with eyes on
one end is probably sufficient. When in doubt keep the lines rigged and
ready. Not good if you need to reach for a line and there is nothing there.
The caveat: Whatever you do. Do not allow lines to be in the water behind
your boat.
Be wary of dock walkers offering to help you tie up.

On Jun 27, 7:29*am, John H. wrote:
do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

One person launches like this: *
*************************************************
"I use the knot to attach a stainless steel carabiner to the line. When I
launch or retrieve the boat, I attach one carabiner and line to the bow
ring and another carabiner and line to a stern ring. I tie the end of the
stern line to the dock and then push the boat off the trailer into the
water while holding the bow ring line, which I walk over to the dock. That
way, it makes it easy for me to tie the boat to the dock while I move and
park the truck and trailer.

For retrieval, I tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down into the
water, and pull the boat onto the trailer by hand with the bow line.

I use carabiners because they snap on better and a bit more elegantly than
snaps."
************************************************

This is an elegant sounding method, but it leaves me wondering what happens
to the line attached to the bow ring. Removing that while kneeling on the
bow could get pretty *hairy*.

As I'm always open to good ideas, I thought I'd present this and see if
anyone has a better way.

If I had to go through all of that crap just to launch a boat, I'd
stay home. Maybe that's why this person's previous boat never got used.

On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:29:47 -0400, "Jim" wrote:


"John H." wrote in message
.. .
do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or
do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

One person launches like this:
*************************************************
"I use the knot to attach a stainless steel carabiner to the line. When I
launch or retrieve the boat, I attach one carabiner and line to the bow
ring and another carabiner and line to a stern ring. I tie the end of the
stern line to the dock and then push the boat off the trailer into the
water while holding the bow ring line, which I walk over to the dock. That
way, it makes it easy for me to tie the boat to the dock while I move and
park the truck and trailer.

For retrieval, I tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down into the
water, and pull the boat onto the trailer by hand with the bow line.

I use carabiners because they snap on better and a bit more elegantly than
snaps."
************************************************

This is an elegant sounding method, but it leaves me wondering what
happens
to the line attached to the bow ring. Removing that while kneeling on the
bow could get pretty *hairy*.

As I'm always open to good ideas, I thought I'd present this and see if
anyone has a better way.


What you do depends on your situation. I am not a big fan of using tiedown
fittings as cleats. At your own slip you might use eye splices on one end of
your dock lines to go over your cleats and the bitter end to tie to the
dock. Leave the lines on the dock and its a snap to get set up again when
you return. You will need a second set of lines if you plan to dock
somewhere else during your outing. Carry a minimum of 3 lines with eye
splices on one end. On a 20 foot boat, I would keep 20 foot lines.
If you are a trailer boater, 3 lines the length of your boat with eyes on
one end is probably sufficient. When in doubt keep the lines rigged and
ready. Not good if you need to reach for a line and there is nothing there.
The caveat: Whatever you do. Do not allow lines to be in the water behind
your boat.
Be wary of dock walkers offering to help you tie up.

My own slip...right!

The only dock walker that helps me tie up is my wife. She's gotten very
good at helping launch and retrieve. She would get really ****ed if I asked
her to stay out of the way!

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:29:47 -0400, "Jim" wrote:


"John H." wrote in message
. ..
do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or
do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

One person launches like this:
*************************************************
"I use the knot to attach a stainless steel carabiner to the line. When
I
launch or retrieve the boat, I attach one carabiner and line to the bow
ring and another carabiner and line to a stern ring. I tie the end of
the
stern line to the dock and then push the boat off the trailer into the
water while holding the bow ring line, which I walk over to the dock.
That
way, it makes it easy for me to tie the boat to the dock while I move
and
park the truck and trailer.

For retrieval, I tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down into
the
water, and pull the boat onto the trailer by hand with the bow line.

I use carabiners because they snap on better and a bit more elegantly
than
snaps."
************************************************

This is an elegant sounding method, but it leaves me wondering what
happens
to the line attached to the bow ring. Removing that while kneeling on
the
bow could get pretty *hairy*.

As I'm always open to good ideas, I thought I'd present this and see if
anyone has a better way.


What you do depends on your situation. I am not a big fan of using tiedown
fittings as cleats. At your own slip you might use eye splices on one end
of
your dock lines to go over your cleats and the bitter end to tie to the
dock. Leave the lines on the dock and its a snap to get set up again when
you return. You will need a second set of lines if you plan to dock
somewhere else during your outing. Carry a minimum of 3 lines with eye
splices on one end. On a 20 foot boat, I would keep 20 foot lines.
If you are a trailer boater, 3 lines the length of your boat with eyes on
one end is probably sufficient. When in doubt keep the lines rigged and
ready. Not good if you need to reach for a line and there is nothing
there.
The caveat: Whatever you do. Do not allow lines to be in the water behind
your boat.
Be wary of dock walkers offering to help you tie up.

My own slip...right!

The only dock walker that helps me tie up is my wife. She's gotten very
good at helping launch and retrieve. She would get really ****ed if I
asked
her to stay out of the way!

If the Admiral wants to
help.............................................W ell you'd be a fool to say
no.

wrote:
On Jun 27, 7:29 am, John H. wrote:
do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

One person launches like this:
*************************************************
"I use the knot to attach a stainless steel carabiner to the line. When I
launch or retrieve the boat, I attach one carabiner and line to the bow
ring and another carabiner and line to a stern ring. I tie the end of the
stern line to the dock and then push the boat off the trailer into the
water while holding the bow ring line, which I walk over to the dock. That
way, it makes it easy for me to tie the boat to the dock while I move and
park the truck and trailer.

For retrieval, I tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down into the
water, and pull the boat onto the trailer by hand with the bow line.

I use carabiners because they snap on better and a bit more elegantly than
snaps."
************************************************

This is an elegant sounding method, but it leaves me wondering what happens
to the line attached to the bow ring. Removing that while kneeling on the
bow could get pretty *hairy*.

As I'm always open to good ideas, I thought I'd present this and see if
anyone has a better way.

If I had to go through all of that crap just to launch a boat, I'd
stay home. Maybe that's why this person's previous boat never got used.


I suppose it doesn't matter much what happens when one launches a
beat-up, clapped-out, old redneck boat as you claim to own. I like to
keep my boats in "as new" condition.

On Jun 27, 8:29*am, "Jim" wrote:
"John H." wrote in message

...



do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or
do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

One person launches like this:
*************************************************
"I use the knot to attach a stainless steel carabiner to the line. When I
launch or retrieve the boat, I attach one carabiner and line to the bow
ring and another carabiner and line to a stern ring. I tie the end of the
stern line to the dock and then push the boat off the trailer into the
water while holding the bow ring line, which I walk over to the dock. That
way, it makes it easy for me to tie the boat to the dock while I move and
park the truck and trailer.

For retrieval, I tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down into the
water, and pull the boat onto the trailer by hand with the bow line.

I use carabiners because they snap on better and a bit more elegantly than
snaps."
************************************************

This is an elegant sounding method, but it leaves me wondering what
happens
to the line attached to the bow ring. Removing that while kneeling on the
bow could get pretty *hairy*.

As I'm always open to good ideas, I thought I'd present this and see if
anyone has a better way.

What you do depends on your situation. I am not a big fan of using tiedown
fittings as cleats. At your own slip you might use eye splices on one end of
your dock lines to go over your cleats and the bitter end to tie to the
dock. Leave the lines on the dock and its a snap to get set up again when
you return. You will need a second set of lines if you plan to dock
somewhere else during your outing. Carry a minimum of 3 lines with eye
splices on one end. On a 20 foot boat, I would keep 20 foot lines.
If you are a trailer boater, 3 lines the length of your boat with eyes on
one end is probably sufficient. When in doubt keep the lines rigged and
ready. Not good if you need to reach for a line and there is nothing there.
The caveat: Whatever you do. Do not allow lines to be in the water behind
your boat.
Be wary of dock walkers offering to help you tie up.-

YaImKool has cleats and ropes all over. My 3/8 bow line is usually
bent to a forward cleat under the front deck. It can be removed
quickly if necessary, and is not quite long enough to reach the prop.
I have smaller cleats (3 on each side) with various lengths of 1/4
inch from say, 1-2 feet long. I use these to tie down equipment, rods,
gear etc. while towing, as well as underway or fishing. I like to
keep the stern ropes short, but a quick sheetbend makes them as long
as you want. The shorter ropes along the sides are what catches the
eye of most fishermen, well aside from Shortpants favorite paint job
The stern cleats all carry a combination of a short rope and a small
bungee chord. I wrap the bungees around the rods while towing or
cruising, and being a lazy anchor fisherman, I tie off the rods with a
quick slipknot while I am not paying attention or even trolling. A
quick tug and the rod slips out of the holder. As well, I sling a
quick loop around poles hanging over the sides, those short ropes also
meet requirements for boats under 20 foot long to have "handles" or
steps along the sides in case of capsize.

I also carry a crate with several extra lengths of rope, mostly 1/4
and 3/8... I do have a length of 3/4 inch hemp too. The same crate
carries the extra anchor and chain, some ratcheting tie downs,
bungees, rain gear, first aid, and lantern... Somehow I always
thought these things all belonged together

Personally, I feel there is no more important tool on a small boat
than ropes and cleats.

Phewww.

On Jun 27, 10:33*am, HK wrote:
wrote:
On Jun 27, 7:29 am, John H. wrote:
do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

One person launches like this: *
*************************************************
"I use the knot to attach a stainless steel carabiner to the line. When I
launch or retrieve the boat, I attach one carabiner and line to the bow
ring and another carabiner and line to a stern ring. I tie the end of the
stern line to the dock and then push the boat off the trailer into the
water while holding the bow ring line, which I walk over to the dock. That
way, it makes it easy for me to tie the boat to the dock while I move and
park the truck and trailer.

For retrieval, I tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down into the
water, and pull the boat onto the trailer by hand with the bow line.

I use carabiners because they snap on better and a bit more elegantly than
snaps."
************************************************

This is an elegant sounding method, but it leaves me wondering what happens
to the line attached to the bow ring. Removing that while kneeling on the
bow could get pretty *hairy*.

As I'm always open to good ideas, I thought I'd present this and see if
anyone has a better way.

If I had to go through all of that crap just to launch a boat, I'd
stay home. Maybe that's why this person's previous boat never got used.

I suppose it doesn't matter much what happens when one launches a
beat-up, clapped-out, old redneck boat as you claim to own. I like to
keep my boats in "as new" condition.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Tell me, Harry, where have you seen my boat? How do you know what kind
of shape it's in? Which one are you speaking about? Or are you just a
lying blowhard?

wrote:
On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:29:43 -0400, John H.
wrote:

do you add extra lines to the bow ring and another to the stern ring, or do
you use the bow and stern dock lines on the boat?

I generally launch and retrieve alone
I have a fairly long utility line on my boat for various uses. Snap on
one end, eye spliced in the other.When launching I put the eye over a
cleat on the boat, coil the line loosely on the deck and snap the
other end on the winch crossbar. Then when the boat rolls off I can
swing the snapped end over to a couple dock posts and tie it off to
the stern cleat.
You never "lose" the boat that way.
Even if the stern gets away from you, you still have a line on the
boat. If I see the wind is going to fight me I will attach a long
stern line and tie it off to the dock "down ramp" a ways before I roll
off the boat so I can pull it in after launching.
I assume the rules are different at a busy public ramp but we have a
private ramp in our neighborhood and most of the time I never see
another soul when I launch or recover. Even so this still goes pretty
fast.


What you are doing isn't much different from what I do, except I tie off
the bow and stern. The long lines help where I launch because the finger
pier next to the ramp is long, and I can tie off the boat where I want
it to be for launch and retrieval. The ramp is about 20' wide, and I
always launch and retrieve in its center.