what diameter dock lines do you use?

[Herschel]

I keep my '98 26X in a very sheltered marina in Central Florida on the St. Johns River and lake system. For most of the 18 years of ownership I have used 1/2" x 25 braided dock lines and nearly always "double up" with a stern line and two bow lines, adding a fourth when hurricanes are coming close. I have recently decided to drop down to 3/8 inch by 25 feet, braided New England lines thinking that keeping the lines doubled up ought to provide plenty of security and, frankly, the 3/8" are just lighter and easier to handle and stow. I'll keep the 1/2" lines for spring lines when needed which is rarely, just when I venture down river where there are tidal changes. I am curious, though, what size dock lines most mac owners are using. The tables for line size vs. boat length puts us on the border area, but since our boats are lighter than typical 26-ft keel sailboats or most power boats, my thinking is that 3/8" doubled up is enough. Your thoughts/experiences?

[dlandersson]

I use 3/8" non-doubled up here on Lake Michigan. Never had a problem.

I keep my '98 26X in a very sheltered marina in Central Florida on the St. Johns River and lake system. For most of the 18 years of ownership I have used 1/2" x 25 braided dock lines and nearly always "double up" with a stern line and two bow lines, adding a fourth when hurricanes are coming close. I have recently decided to drop down to 3/8 inch by 25 feet, braided New England lines thinking that keeping the lines doubled up ought to provide plenty of security and, frankly, the 3/8" are just lighter and easier to handle and stow. I'll keep the 1/2" lines for spring lines when needed which is rarely, just when I venture down river where there are tidal changes. I am curious, though, what size dock lines most mac owners are using. The tables for line size vs. boat length puts us on the border area, but since our boats are lighter than typical 26-ft keel sailboats or most power boats, my thinking is that 3/8" doubled up is enough. Your thoughts/experiences?

[Be Free]

I normally use 1/2" but I have 3/8" that I add when bad weather is on the way and I can't get the boat out of the water.

I know the marina where you keep your boat and I would not hesitate to use all 3/8" dock line in there. Chafe (and other people's boats) is your biggest enemy during a storm so having multiple smaller lines will serve you better than a single larger diameter line.

[OverEasy]

Hi Herschel!

We used a slip last year for 4 months on the Beaufort River in Port Royal SC area subject to strong sunlight, tidal flows and wake concerns.
Talking with our Harbor Master for these conditions the recommendation was for 4 each 3/8” dia nylon double braid black lines with factory sliced eyes 24 to 26 feet long.
The rationale was these lines would provide:
-> More than sufficient holding strength
-> Enough spring stretch to avoid shock loading our boat cleats
-> Would be sufficiently flexible for handling/coiling/conformity
-> The black resists UV damage better
-> The factory eyes are better than what one can generally do yourself
-> Having 4 lines gives sufficient redundancy should inclement weather/tides/storms need to be mitigated
-> The length is more than sufficiently long to tie-up yet not so long as to be in the way
-> The length is sufficiently short to help avoid fouling a prop should a bow line fall in while underway with the engine

The Harbor Master also recommended to replace lines about every two years or so and if a line shows fraying of the strands.

We also were up in Vermont on Lake Champlain for over 2 months using two different Marinas and 4 different slips.
While that may not sound like much we found a variety of different dock cleats and cleat conditions.
The quantity and lengths of the lines let us adapt easily to the different dock cleating locations.
We found that the condition of the cleat surfaces varied from smooth cast aluminum to coarse old rough galvanized.

A suggestion we got from some long time slip holders and distance cruisers was to have our own short 12 inch long chain loops for the dock cleats with set of smooth stainless shackles if staying in a slip for an extended time. Loop the chain around the dock cleat snuggly and lock in position with the first shackle then give yourself a large eye with the second shackle to make a choker loop for your dock line pair that you leave at the dock. You still have a second pair on-board for your use as needed. The chain prevents cleat chafe and the threaded shackles prevent/minimize your dock lines from “wandering” off.

Another trick we discovered for easier landings at a regular slip was to set a somewhat loose “SNAG” line that droops from the inner most cleat to the outer most cleat without being submerged in the water.
It helps by giving a big target to catch with the boat hooks when solo docking to pull yourself in. It came in handy when currents or winds are pushing you out away from your finger dock in the Marinas. Once set it was really quite useful.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Herschel]

I use 3/8" non-doubled up here on Lake Michigan. Never had a problem.

Yes, I know doubling up may be a bit excessive, but I do a fair amount of RV-ing, too, and it is a comfort to know my lines are doubled up when I am away, and the weather back home turns ugly. Besides, after 34 years in the Navy/Naval Reserve, if I didn't double up my lines regularly, Fleet Admiral Nimitz' spirit would come out of the grave and make me do pushups!

[Wyb2]

… Chafe (and other people's boats) is your biggest enemy…

Seconded. A new 3/8 line will lift your boat clean out of the water (or more likely, rip the cleat out of the deck). On the other hand, a hard metal or concrete edge can wear through a 1” line in a few hours under modest loads.

[Herschel]

Overeasy said:

Loop the chain around the dock cleat snuggly and lock in position with the first shackle then give yourself a large eye with the second shackle to make a choker loop for your dock line pair that you leave at the dock. You still have a second pair on-board for your use as needed. The chain prevents cleat chafe and the threaded shackles prevent/minimize your dock lines from “wandering” off.

I liked your recommendations. Any chance you have pic of this rig?

[Highlander]

So u r saying if I want to wonder off with ur new dock lines I should bring along my 4" angle cordless grinder with a cut-off blade thx for that it,ll save me a double trip

J

[dlandersson]

Ditto, why should I buy new dock lines when there are so many just laying around?

So u r saying if I want to wonder off with ur new dock lines I should bring along my 4" angle cordless grinder with a cut-off blade thx for that it,ll save me a double trip

J

[Russ]

Ditto, why should I buy new dock lines when there are so many just laying around?

So u r saying if I want to wonder off with ur new dock lines I should bring along my 4" angle cordless grinder with a cut-off blade thx for that it,ll save me a double trip

J

One day we went out and tossed the dock lines on the dock as usual. When we came back they were all removed from the dock and tied together in a line. It seemed someone saw something floating in the marina and used them to retrieve it. Left them in a pile.

[NiceAft]

Russ,

What then was securing your Mac to the dock?

[Russ]

Russ,

What then was securing your Mac to the dock?

I had to separate the lines and re-attach the lines to the dock while crew held the boat in the slip by hand. Just weird someone would take the lines off the dock.

[NiceAft]

If I understand correctly, the lines weren’t just removed from the dock, but also from the boat, in order to make a very long line; thus leaving the boat unsecured to the dock?

Weird isn’t the word I would use.

[Highlander]

If I understand correctly, the lines weren’t just removed from the dock, but also from the boat, in order to make a very long line; thus leaving the boat unsecured to the dock?

Weird isn’t the word I would use.

Oh Ray ,
My My u need to buy new reading glasses or a big magnifying glass , He said he was out on the boat & when he came back
doe,s the wife keep u secured in the back yard while she,s at work or doe,s she let u go out & play with the traffic

Just Sayin That,s All J

[NiceAft]

Be nice John, I know where the skeletons are buried.