Broadside docking protection

mitiempo · May 24, 2015

Fixed dock (pier?) or floating?

As far as I know mooring whips are for small boats. Use bumpers and learn how to tie the boat up effectively.

Where I live all boats tie alongside a floating dock.

Ken Cross · May 24, 2015

I attached fenders to the dock itself. They can't swing up on top of the dock as they are mounted horizontally and are out of the water which keeps them cleaner. Just one cheap option. The other thing I like: I don't need to deploy finders when I come into the slip as they are already there.

Ken

Anonymous 121765 · May 24, 2015

Ted,

In a perfect world, two tide poles with a jack line would be the hot setup. I do not know if this is possible for you but, I would not want wakes & waves bouncing my boat with just fenders holding her off the dock & poles. Plus as fenders get dirty, so will your hull.

I can't speak for mooring whips, as I've never asked anyone that uses them. I would assume that these work for smaller size boats & this may fare well for your 29. You just may need to dig for more info.

CR

Stu Jackson · May 24, 2015

Can you be more specific on those "...few manufacturers who offer variations of mooring whips"?

Reason I ask is we don't know which ones you may have had in mind.

That said, in general they are made for smaller boats and the ones I've seen advertised all showed small powerboats. Your boat would be heavier and would have a deeper keel and, therefore, different behavior at a dock.

While the concept is great, if they were that applicable to sailboats, I'm sure many skippers here would already know about them and be jumping in here with both feet!!!

[Some once said: "Don't ever test the water depth with both feet!"]

You mentioned "bulkheads and pilings," so it appears you don't have a floating dock. Is that true?

Fender boards then are the next reasonable conclusion.

Flat fenders are also a good solution because they don't ride up, twist and get the boat dirty.

Keeping whatever you use clean is obviously important. Over the years I've used everything ("boaty" stuff, acetone, etc.), but the most successful cleaner I've found for fenders which have picked up airborne and dock grime is "Paint Brush & Roller Cleaner" from Ace Hardware.

Good luck.

KZW · May 24, 2015

"Don't ever test the water depth with both feet!"

I shall endeavor to remember and comply!!!!!!!

Steve Dion · May 24, 2015

Take a look at the Taylor Made Dock Bumpers. They come in sizes up to about 9 ft each. Not cheap but they really do the job.

thinwater · May 24, 2015

KZW said:
"Don't ever test the water depth with both feet!"

I shall endeavor to remember and comply!!!!!!!

I jumped off onto a stingray once. Fortunately he missed, but I went ass over tea kettle when he took off. Now I look first.

Sandy Stone · May 24, 2015

Fender boards make the best of a bad situation, but the 'feet' can mar your topsides. Make them sturdier than you think you need. You can also try lining the sides of the pilings with old carpet.