Dock lines - 3-strand or double braid?

[letterman]

Re: Mainly double braid

1/4" plastic coated cable from the boat cleats to just past the hull, then 3 strand nylon (for its elasticity). The cleats are so far inboard that the nylon always chafed through in short order. I tried anti chafe coverings, but the stretching nylon with the covering still acted like a violin bow and sang a hideous tune keeping me awake. I replaced the ends as explained above with cable, which doesn't stretch, and sleep like a baby. And, as the boat raises or lowers (up to three feet) as the weather dictates, I still hold fast, with no chafing whatsoever.

 

[sailingdog]

I wouldn't use 1/4" steel cable, especially plastic coated, since corrosion can seriously weaken the cable with little or no warning. Also, 1/4" 316 7x19 wire cable has the same breaking strength as 3/8" nylon double braid docklines, about 4900 lbs. This is a bit low for most boats IMHO. 1/2" docklines are probably the minimum you'd want to go, especially since you have a larger, heavier, 37' boat.

1/4" plastic coated cable from the boat cleats to just past the hull, then 3 strand nylon (for its elasticity). The cleats are so far inboard that the nylon always chafed through in short order. I tried anti chafe coverings, but the stretching nylon with the covering still acted like a violin bow and sang a hideous tune keeping me awake. I replaced the ends as explained above with cable, which doesn't stretch, and sleep like a baby. And, as the boat raises or lowers (up to three feet) as the weather dictates, I still hold fast, with no chafing whatsoever.