Storm Damage

[Bad Obsession]

Yesterday a HUGE storm blew through the area where I keep my boat. I worked all night last night and I was going to go to the boat and sleep a few hours before going out for an overnight cruise.

When I got down to the boat this morning I see that a dock line exploded (the force that it would have taken to do this to the line must have been incredible). A strap on my bimini also was broken and the other strap was loosened big time. The cover that I had over my front hatch blew away and is lost to the sea. A snap on my dodger caused a small tear about 1 inch long.

I didn't get too much damage to my boat. The rub rail had a few nicks on it and the metal track was bent slightly. I was able to smooth out the rub rail and put the track back into place. Tomorrow I will repair the dodger and try to fabricate a new front hatch cover.

I can't believe that the dock line was broken still. The force behind it snapping was really obvious by the way it ended up. Other boats in the marina had so issues but I am in an area that gets a good hit from a North West wind when it blows really hard. and it blows towards the back of my boat.

So frustrating. It seems like I keep getting hit with little things like this. This season I have had a lot of things like this.

 

[higgs]

What size are your dock lines?

 

[kappykaplan]

My old slip was very close to where Pax River meets the bay. I've had three 5/8" stern lines part in the past year when we had a significant blow out of the east. The boat received lots of wave action that contributed far more than wind to parting the lines. I finally added an aft spring line. The new slip is about a half mile further up the creek, so I don't expect to have additional problems. Sorry to hear about your problems.

 

[Tim Musolf]

When nylon line is under tension it takes very little chafe to fail the line. Check to make sure that chafe is not the root of the problem. I have seen testing on nylon line under near WLL tension cut by barely touching it with a knife.

 

[Ross]

Very tightly applied service is very chafe resistant. Make one of these load it with waxed marline or waxed seine twine and applying service is easy.

 

[Ron20324]

BadO, was the dockline break at a chafe point, or in mid-span?

 

[Merlin Clark]

This is a pretty good chart of safe working load of various lines.
http://boatsafe.com/marlinespike/safeload.htm
I think we'd lose deck fittings long before a line parted due to strain.
As other posters have stated, chafe is the major reason for line failure.

 

[MitchM]

you can try upsizing the dock lines AND chafe protecting them where they run alongside the the cleats (both dockside and boatside) and attaching snubbers to each line that will be under major storm strain...

fair winds, calm seas, better luck to you

 

[Bad Obsession]

There was some chafing protection.....It broke up from the chafing point. Seriously, the rope broke with some serious force. I should have taken pictures.

The line was 1/2 inch nylon.

The replacement line has chafing protection and it seems like a higher quality line. It is a stiffer nylon.

 

[OldCat]

There was some chafing protection.....It broke up from the chafing point. Seriously, the rope broke with some serious force. I should have taken pictures.

The line was 1/2 inch nylon.

The replacement line has chafing protection and it seems like a higher quality line. It is a stiffer nylon.

I am sorry to hear of your damage:cry:. I was nearly there last year myself in a gale with gusts to 60, but the marina guys got a new line on in time and saved me big trouble.

Last year the marina where I keep my boat suffered a 111 mph gust. 111 was extraordinary, but 60's-90's are not uncommon in spring or fall. Because it is a mountain lake with a steep bottom profile and highly variable water levels there is no way to shelter the marina. Lines snap...

In spring and fall I double the lines on the more vulnerable side and they are one size over normal for my boat (1/2" for a 22'er). The primary bow and stern lines on both sides are on shock absorbers. They all have chafe protection. The 'doubled' lines are a little loose so that they don't take stress unless the primaries break.

I got very lucky with my "lesson", sadly, you took some damage. More lines, bigger lines, more shock absorbers...

Best of Luck,
OC

 

[JVB]

Stiff breaks and flexible gives. Consider more lines, spring lines especially, and snubbers so the boat doesn't come to the end of its range of movement with a strong shock.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Just finished the dodger repair. It is okay. Until this the canvas was in great shape and it was new to the boat in 2004. I hope to get a few more years out of it. I am glad that I have extra material on hand and a sewing machine. Next time I make window covers I am going to use a different kind of attachment.

This project sure gave me an appreciate on those who do canvas work professionally.