Squeaking and Creaking of Docklines and Fenders...

[astraeus]

Originally Posted by Omatako

I have three strand nylon and have determined that it is actually the line that is stretching and creaking. I don't like "shippy" and haven't found a way to quieten them. I've tried pouring soapy water onto the line - no good. I guess that braided line is probably better.

Looks like I'll need to upgrade.

Andre

I have had squeeking from dock lines as well. They were the expensive prespliced braided lines from WM. The only thing that fixed it was buying 3 strand and splicing up new ones.

[rbrasi]

Originally Posted by Sapperwhite

I also wrap a rag or old towel scrap around my lines where they go through the hawse pipes. It's cheap and effective, makes all the difference in the world.

So last night, I could not sleep because the lines were groaning right above where I lay in the V-berth. I googled Noisy dock lines, and this was the solution! I wrapped a terry towel around each cleat and slept like a baby! Thank you SN and thank you Sapperwhite for saving what was becoming a lousy evening!

[carl762]

Everything's quiet on the dockline front, but what drives me nuts is people's halyards flapping through the night. Mine don't.

Need some noise-cancelling headphones. If it's quiet enough I actually sleep better on me boat.

[svHyLyte]

The "squeak" frequently comes from the strands of line rubbing against one another as they stretch and retract. The process generates internal friction that heats the line up, causes the strands to expand slightly, increases the friction, etc. etc. etc. Several research studies that line failures are frequently caused by internal heating rather than chafe, particularly when lines are run through plastic tubing that prevents water getting to the line and acting as a coolant.

When line is manufactured, it is given a coating that serves as a lubricant. As the line ages, however, the coating is washed away, particularly so if it's actually washed although that is sometimes necessary to remove sand and salt crystals that themselves are abrasives that will abrade or chafe a line internally. While most do not like moldy lines--in fact, the mold is slippery does tend to mitigate chafe. But who likes handling green "slimy" lines eh?

One cure that is somewhat more long-lasting is to clean and dry the lines and, once dry, give them a good dose of SailKote to somewhat restore the lubricity lost in the cleaning. A "squeaking" line is wearing out.

FWIW...