Check your lines!

[bljones]

I'm no mooring/anchoring/docking guru, but even I know what doesn't work.

Dock Six Chronicles: Lines about lines

[SlowButSteady]

Looks like he also left his Watski "self-tailers" out in the UV to disintegrate, and I'm gonna take a wild guess that the halyard slap-slap-slap in the background is from this boat too.

[hellosailor]

See now, if you get tungsten carbide line cutters installed on your stanchion bases, you don't get that kind of fouling.

(WEG)

[T37Chef]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

See now, if you get tungsten carbide line cutters installed on your stanchion bases, you don't get that kind of fouling.

(WEG)

[JordanH]

As a first-time boat owner, chafe of dock lines makes me paranoid and kept me up several nights *before* I bought the boat and then these past 1.5 weeks as the boat is sitting 215km away. The second cause of sleeplessness was new nylon line stretch.

I bought a new set of 1/2" nylon lines (and fenders) before I bought the boat and they were the first replacement of old kit that I made to the boat. These new lines let me sleep well enough, but I was still worried about chafe on the chocks and stretch.

After I delivered it to her new temporary home, my first purchase was some hose. For anyone looking to buy hose for nylon 3-strand line, you should definitely go up at least an 1/8" on the internal diameter. The 5/8" (braided hose) fit very snugly over the 1/2" 3-strand lines when they weren't loaded. I also bought enough hose in 18" lengths to not only place in the chocks but over the sharp edges of the dock which sits a few feet over the top of my deck. (I wish that water level would come up!). What I learned... buy the right sized hose and buy more than you think you need.

I haven't figured out how to deal with the stretch of they nylon on my spring line... good for snubbing, but bad when you don't have much room between your bow and the shore/dock. I suppose my solution will be to buy a low-stretch line for that spring line in particular and use nylon for the rest.

[NCC320]

Originally Posted by JordanH

I haven't figured out how to deal with the stretch of they nylon on my spring line... good for snubbing, but bad when you don't have much room between your bow and the shore/dock. I suppose my solution will be to buy a low-stretch line for that spring line in particular and use nylon for the rest.

I had a similar situation where I needed to keep my stern off a downwind finger pier. I still use nylon, but not 3 strand. I went with double braid which has much less stretch....I don't recall the numbers, but rope manufacturers websites usually give this data for their products. Also, while a single 1/2" line would be appropriate for my boat, I went with two 1/2" lines. I'm trading off shock absorbing stretch for more absolute holding strength because, in my opinion, contact with the pier was more a concern than absorbing shock. I've used this approach for over 10 yrs. on my current boat and have never had any problems. Also, check, but I believe double braid polyester has some less stretch than double braid nylon. I would stay away from high tech no/low stretch lines however. You are trying to hit a happy compromise and some stretch is definitely useful. Good luck.

[pdqaltair]

Originally Posted by JordanH

I haven't figured out how to deal with the stretch of they nylon on my spring line... good for snubbing, but bad when you don't have much room between your bow and the shore/dock. I suppose my solution will be to buy a low-stretch line for that spring line in particular and use nylon for the rest.

Many sailors use old polyester sheets and halyards for springlines, for the reason you suggest; more limited but still signifigant stretch. It always depends on the specifc tie-up, but generally the spring lines are longer and thus benifit from lower stretch properties.

I think you'll find that tubular webbing (the hollow sort) works better for antichafe than hose. 1-inch for up to 7/16" line, and 2-inch up to 3/4-inch line.

[MarkSF]

What are those right-angled metal bits on the lifeline stantion bases for anyway? Stiffening? On my boat they're a handy bit to tie the cords on the rail covers to, but they must have another purpose.

[Minnewaska]

Despite the chafe, I'm trying to imagine what the actual intended purpose of floating that line around the stanchion was. Guess I'm no guru either.

[puddinlegs]

Originally Posted by pdqaltair

Many sailors use old polyester sheets and halyards for springlines, for the reason you suggest; more limited but still signifigant stretch. It always depends on the specifc tie-up, but generally the spring lines are longer and thus benifit from lower stretch properties.

I think you'll find that tubular webbing (the hollow sort) works better for antichafe than hose. 1-inch for up to 7/16" line, and 2-inch up to 3/4-inch line.

Non stretch lines can be very hard on deck hardware due to shock loading when used for dock lines.