C30 MKII Docking Challenge

[Finn1]

Hi All...I've got a challenge I'm hoping you can help me with.

I recently moved to a new slip where I am required to cross the stern lines. During a recent (and significant) storm, my C30 MKII chewed through both 5/8" lines affixed to the starboard stern cleat. By (poor?) design, there is a stainless steel vent just behind each of the stern cleats. When crossing the stern lines, each line has no choice but to wrap around these vents before reaching the cleats. These vents have sharp edges, resulting in extreme chafe to any line under load. For perspective, the 1" emergency line that was attached after she broke free was already half chafed through when I arrived the next morning.

At my previous slip, there was no need to cross the stern lines because the aft pilings were much closer to the stern of the boat, so I could just tie the starboard line to the starboard cleat, and port line to port cleat while still maintaining a good line-to-cleat angle to prevent sway. But because of how far back the aft pilings are in my current slip, the same arrangement can't be safely recreated.

I've spent a few days researching alternative solutions and am coming up empty handed. I had considered crossing the stern lines to my primary winches, but given the angle, it would mean using my stern rail as a chock, resulting in certain death of my stern railing under typical summer storm load. I had considered chafe guards, but because the distance between the vents and cleats is only a couple inches, it doesn't seem feasible (or even useful given the amount of chafe). Crossing to my midships cleats is a no go because of both angle and load requirements (they are small and attached to my jib sheet track). I had even considered moving the boat back far enough where I could use the starboard/starboard port/port configuration I used to, but because of how far back the aft pilings are, I wouldn't be able to get on or off the boat.
My goal is to find a good solution that is both safe, and highly repeatable (I sail at least twice a week). I can't imagine I'm the first person to come across this problem, so I'm hoping you folks might have a good solution.

Thanks!
Finn

 

[LeoLambert310]

Use old 1 1/2" firehose to prevent chafing cut to 2 foot lenghts.

 

[Finn1]

Hi Leo...thanks for the quick reply!

Under normal conditions, I'll probably use 2 half-inch lines to each cleat. Does that mean I'd need 1" fire hose? Also, any recommendations on how to prevent the hose from moving up and down the line?

 

[LeoLambert310]

During the winter months I tie the hose in place on the dock line and use 1 hose per dock line looks the sh##s but cheaper than replacing dock line each year and the hose is free.

 

[SFS]

I have a similar problem but for a different reason - I simply can't run a crossed line in a manner that isn't "fouled" on pulpits, hardware, etc. That is not completely a chafe issue, but rather a loading proposition where I don't want load exerted.

You have to make a decision about whether the aft lines are more effective NOT crossed and free of chafe, versus crossed but at constant risk of chafe. Chafe is insidious, and if the boat is unattended for long periods, I would not trust any anti-chafe measures. A line that is there will be more useful than a line that has parted. Unless the "requirement" you mentioned is a marina policy, you need to decide which method protects the boat the best.

Do you have another set of pilings farther forward (I've assumed you pull in bow first based on your description) that might normally be used for breast lines? If so, you can use them for breast lines AND for stern lines.

Lastly, consider how much side-to-side help you are getting from your spring lines (whose MAIN function is limiting fore and aft movement). If you judge it to be enough help, then going with uncrossed stern lines may be acceptable. Good luck.

 

[Jongleur]

My thought is that you can still go starboard
to starboard and port to port and have those
carry the tension then just have the crossed
lines only to disallow travel back and forth.
Less tension on those lines should mitigate
much of the chafe. Still use fire hose guards.
You can put string tied through a hole in the
fire hose tied back to the cleat or railing.

 

[Finn1]

These are great points...thank you! Got my thinking about maybe using the pilings further forward. They're located pretty much at the center line between bow and stern. I could use them to prevent the boat from going side to side, the bow lines and the aft pillars can be for spring.

 

[Joe]

They're called "breast" lines. (stern breast, bow breast, midship breast, etc) If you have posts at slip's center point you can tie off midships to the pilings to keep the boat centered. Use the winches for now until you can get some kind of midship cleat. Your bow lines should keep the boat from yawing.. A set of springs to the center piling will keep check the fore and aft movement.