1/2 or 3/8?

sharps4590 · Feb 25, 2011

Bear in mind I've only been sailing since last year. When I bought my Cat 22 it came with 1/2 in. dock lines. The previous owner has been sailing for 30+ years and that's what he recommended.

Joe11688 · Feb 25, 2011

Indysailor said:
So I got a call last night informing me that a slip is available for us this season. Having seen conflicting info on the correct dock line for our Oday 23, I would like to know what size line others are using. Currently, I use 3/8, but since we have been on a ball there is little problem with chafing because we only dock for short periods. That size is recommended by Don Casey, but our club recommendation is for the largest line possible, given the size of the cleats. This is an inland lake, but the slip is somewhat exposed to boat wakes. I like the 3/8 line because it is more forgiving on the deck hardware, but I can see why people might go with the larger diameter as a hedge against wear.

[post edit]
Should have mentioned I use three strand twisted nylon line for my docklines.

I've been using two 1/2"X 24' braid lines for dock lines but I keep my boat on a mooring.
For my mooring line, I've been using a 5/8" three strand Nylon line with an eye splice to go over my bow cleat. I always close up the eye splice with a short piece of 3/16" braid line over the cleat.
Prior to that, I used to use a 3/8" three strand Nylon line with no eye splice and I would just tie it to the cleat.
Whereas most O'Day sailboats don't have chalks, I don't think you're going to get much wear on the dock lines if you can secure the line to the cleat so that it doesn't move and by that I mean, if you either tie it to the cleat or slip the spliced eye through the hole in the cleat and bring it over the horns. My braid eye splice just makes it through that narrow hole in the cleat so what I've done is tie a string to the center of the eye splice and pull it through the hole. I'm kind of partial to braid for docking lines and I want them to be a little longer than my boat for approaching the dock under sail.

Joe

Gudenuph · Feb 25, 2011

Trinkka said:
I've been using two 1/2"X 24' braid lines for dock lines but I keep my boat on a mooring.
For my mooring line, I've been using a 5/8" three strand Nylon line with an eye splice to go over my bow cleat. I always close up the eye splice with a short piece of 3/16" braid line over the cleat.
Prior to that, I used to use a 3/8" three strand Nylon line with no eye splice and I would just tie it to the cleat.
Whereas most O'Day sailboats don't have chalks, I don't think you're going to get much wear on the dock lines if you can secure the line to the cleat so that it doesn't move and by that I mean, if you either tie it to the cleat or slip the spliced eye through the hole in the cleat and bring it over the horns. My braid eye splice just makes it through that narrow hole in the cleat so what I've done is tie a string to the center of the eye splice and pull it through the hole. I'm kind of partial to braid for docking lines and I want them to be a little longer than my boat for approaching the dock under sail.

Joe

We used 3/8" dock lines for years on 9700# sloop with no problems and for the flexibility which you mentioned. Our trick was to use TWO independent lines both fore and aft with just a bit of slack in one of the lines in each pair. This way one line took the load almost all of the time while the loose line was truly a spare and without tension it could not chafe. It worked great and was easy on the hardware.
FWIW, Geohan

Scott On Eagles Wings · Mar 1, 2011

I am in a slip that is very rough on a lake both from boat wakes and when we get winds out of the NNW. 3/8 lines will snap like a cloths line. I use 1/2" stranded because they give a bit more than the braided lines and I also have a snubber on each line. I highly recomend the snubbers if you are subjected to boat wakes.

Shoaldrafter · Mar 6, 2011

dock lines

Scott On Eagles Wings said:
I am in a slip that is very rough on a lake both from boat wakes and when we get winds out of the NNW. 3/8 lines will snap like a cloths line. I use 1/2" stranded because they give a bit more than the braided lines and I also have a snubber on each line. I highly recomend the snubbers if you are subjected to boat wakes.

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Is there a difinitive answer? After much reading you fine that twisted lines are less likely to brake than braided line. Braiding reduces tensile strength.

Size goes with boat weight and there are tables that indicate the appropriate size for weight. So, research the weight load tables of the manufacturer. For made in China stuff do not expect tables.

As to chaffing, think old water hose. Instead of throwing out the old leaking hose, cut into two foot sections and slide to chaffing points along line such as turning cleats, deck edges, or any where it the line rubs. Choose hose big enought to get whatever line you do use thru but not too big so as not to say in place. This is referred to as Hurricane protection.

Any line on a storming day will wear and snap at chaffing points. Thickness is not the issue, wearing and bending are.

Ed K
O26

anchorh · Mar 6, 2011

Our 23 (on Seneca Lake NY) uses 3/8 all around. Makes no difference twisted or braid as long as you use nylon and not dacron. Use as much stretch as the lines allow. 1/2" is too static and your cleats will thank you for the thinner lines.

Indysailor said:
So I got a call last night informing me that a slip is available for us this season. Having seen conflicting info on the correct dock line for our Oday 23, I would like to know what size line others are using. Currently, I use 3/8, but since we have been on a ball there is little problem with chafing because we only dock for short periods. That size is recommended by Don Casey, but our club recommendation is for the largest line possible, given the size of the cleats. This is an inland lake, but the slip is somewhat exposed to boat wakes. I like the 3/8 line because it is more forgiving on the deck hardware, but I can see why people might go with the larger diameter as a hedge against wear.

[post edit]
Should have mentioned I use three strand twisted nylon line for my docklines.

1/2 or 3/8?

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