Mooring Whips

[pacemaker63]

Anybody use mooring whips for their boat? Do they really work or are they more gimicky than functional? If anybody has them, are they happy with them or would they do it differently next time? Joe

[TrueBlue]

Don't have any first-hand experience with mooring whips, but out of curiosity, I researched them a few years ago and determined the product was ill-suited for sailboats - for a variety of reasons. Mainly, the whips would interfere with the rig when returning to dock and at a cost of over 600. for my boat's displacement - a set of 12" fenders are more secure and cost effective.

[Giulietta]

What are those?? Mooring Whips??

[TrueBlue]

Flexible plastic arms mounted on a dock, used to hold a boat away - supposably preventing friction with the dock. I have never seen them used on sailboats though.

[Giulietta]

ahahahaha

That is funny!!!!

I can imagine those fishing rods near my boat!!! They needed to be 3" diameter!!!! ahahahahha

Only in America, only in America!! God bless you guys!!!

Wouldn't last 3 minutes here, the winds are normally 12 to 25 kts on a normal day!!!
Hey the boat is gone, but good news, the fishing rods are still here!!!

[Goodnewsboy]

Mooring whips are not primarily for mooring a boat. Rather, they serve to provide a fairly constant force that keeps the boat from contacting the dock in locations where both are exposed to continual wave action that makes protection of the topsides difficult.

The boat is secured in place by the usual breast and spring lines. (Pay attention here, Giuletta!)

I am very familiar with a place that is subject to incessant wave action generated by passing boat traffic, and can report that they work very well for that purpose.

Although they seem to be used most with powerboats, there is no reason they cannot be applied to sailing boats as well, provided that they attach to the forward and aft extremities and return to a vertical position when not in use, thus being kept clear of the rig.

[sailortjk1]

The concern here is that the mooring whips will not be able to handle the heavier displacement of a sail boat. I'm sure the work just fine on an 18' runabout.

[capn_dave]

available. I was at a friends dock that had them. He adapted them so they would swing vertical when not used. I tied my boat to his dock and them attached the mooring whips they held the boat about three feet off the dock. Look Ma no fenders!!!! they worked great!!. The problem was the price I think he paid over $700 for them. He uses them to hold his 52 ft. Sea Ray off the dock. I tied my Morgan to them. These suckers you could hang off of with just a little bend.

He gets allot of wave and wake action at his dock, his dock is right on the end of point in the St. Johns river in Florida

Fair Winds

Cap'n Dave

[sailortjk1]

Hey Dave,
I plead no contest, thought they were only for lighter displacement vessels.

I just noticed your from Green Cove Springs. My wife's family lives in the area. We have spent some time on my Brother-in-laws Donzi on the St. Johns. Around Black Creek and Doctor's Inlet/Lake. Nice cruising grounds!

[capn_dave]

I am about 6 miles from Black Creek On the main river. Green Cove is just south or up river from the creek.
You can have just about as much fun on the river and go pretty far also. When I am not delivering boat I like to just go explore the St. Johns. I haven't seen it all, but I'm working on it. If you go way up river there are springs that you can spend days exploring.

My friends dock I was referring to is on Raggedy Point just south Of Dr's Inlet bridge and Whitney's Sail center.
Did your brother in law take you to the Outback Crab Shack? That is the place the Go Fast boats hang out. If he hasn't let me know the next time you come here and I'll take you.
If you go to Green Cove just ask around for Cap'n Dave just about everybody knows me. Please don't ask the police.

Fair Winds

Cap'n Dave