Floating Dock Lines:Tight or Slack?

[s.slater]

I dock my C&C 33 stern in to a floating dock, finger on 1 side. I uses 2 crossed stern lines, a bow line and fore & aft springs (no cleats amidships). My question is, lines tight or slack? I've heard both opinions, too tight puts constant pressure on cleats, in high winds slack allows some travel then a jerk going away from the finger or a slam into fenders on the finger. Maybe just slightly slack? And should anything change when preparing for heavy weather/thunderstorms/hurricane. Thoughts from the experts out there?

[hamiam]

Relatively tight. Considering its a floating dock you dont need to compensate for tide. Three strand nylon dockline should have between 8%-10% of stretch in it which will absorb shock loads. I heavy weather I would suggest putting out more fenders, additional lines and even deploy an anchor and/or run lines to an opposite dock if the pervailing wind is going to drive your boat against the dock. Also, very import, make sure you have chafe protection on your lines. Some people use rubber hose or old firehose but Ive found that the best chafe guards are the ones made out of polyesther with both velcro closure and whips to ensure the guard doesnt slide down the wave. You would be amazed how quickly a sharp cleat can saw thru a dockline. Good luck.

[Irwin32]

I tie my boat up to be ready for extreme weather. If you have room, I would tie my boat so it is at least a foot away from any dock or post when you pull on dock lines to check clearance. Be sure to have fenders wherever your boat could rub the dock if a line failed. this if you have a four point tie up. If you only can tie to three points it is similar, but you will have to rely on fenders for protection. I collect fenders to line my slip. I find them out on the water and at garage sales. My slip is lined with fenders.

[Omatako]

Hi there
I'm inclined to go with Irwin32, always prepare for a blow and try to keep your boat away from piers and poles. No matter how good your jetty protection, you'll still get rubmarks with constant friction.
Your mooring tie setup sounds OK but how do you prevent the springs from rubbing the side of the hull with no centre cleat? Can you not hook up to your toe-rail somehow?
The best way I found to keep the boat from touching is using the same lines you have but having an extra line from the middle of the vessel (problem with no midships cleat) on the opposite side to the jetty finger and run it back to the walkway. That way you can hold the boat away from the finger and it will stay aligned by the cross-overs at the back and the bow line leaving a gap between the boat and the finger.
I avoid my hull rubbing on ANYTHING.

Cheers

[trantor12020]

My boat (H326) is berth similar to yours except mine is bow in. I used to ensure the lines are all reasonably tight but the constant wave action by passing boats causes the finger to dance about (my boat along with it) resulted in snapping of 4 of the 6 3-stain rope. Now I ensure the lines are slack and when the finger "dance" the boat just rides the wave and not "dance" with it. Also I notice NOT using snubber help reduces boat oscillation as the spring action of snubbers tends to send boat dancing fore-&-aft.

Ken
H326, SV Millennium-2
Singapore