Dock lines? Dia. and lenght??

[joes new addiction]

I just sent in my check for my first slip rental.
I've read all the post about being a good neighbor and figured so far It's all good.
Trying to get my '71 PT 1/4 refitted and figured after reading all I could abut docking, perils and "do nots", I go it (I think!).
This is in a inland lake, so I don't THINK there are tides and huge waves, etc.
I'm reading a old sailing book now, "Good Sailing" (cera. 1973 ish) by the editors of "Rudder" (mag?).
On Docking (pg. 42),they recommend 4 lines the lenght of you boat, one twice as long.
This long one is used as a "springer" line.
2 in a "V" fore, 2 in a "V" aft, the "springer" one side to a cleat on the boat to the aft.
At the ASA sailing school I took last spring, we crossed lines on each side and I believe that was all.
They don't tell me in the book what dia or kind of line (nylon, fiber. etc). The school had 2 different dia. lines, (perhaps 1/2" and 5/8", but I could feel the differnt dia of the lines when I tied the boat)
I was given a spool of 100' of 1/2" nylon with the boat, was told that was a "good "anchor line". Can that be used, (although nylon really stretches)
What should I use to secure my "hole in the water", so I look just like I know what I'm doing??
Joe
So many places to sail, so little $$!

 

[Stu Jackson]

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...storeId=11151&catalogId=10001&page=Dock-Lines

These Advisors have a ton of great information. Either read them online or get a WM catalog and read them at your leisure.

 

[joes new addiction]

PERFECT!
Just what I was looking for.
I've have their 2011 catalog, but I guess never look at that section.
Tanks!
Joe
See you CAN teach old dawgs new tricks!

 

[tkanzler]

As Stu said, sniff around West Marine's web site for the articles. Like this one. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...storeId=11151&catalogId=10001&page=Dock-Lines

I was given a spool of 100' of 1/2" nylon with the boat, was told that was a "good "anchor line". Can that be used, (although nylon really stretches)

You want it to stretch - either as a dockline, or an anchor rode. But without knowing just what kind of line it actually is, it's not possible to recommend either way. But stretch is good for a dock line - it softens the load on the boat's cleats as it's being tossed around.

I personally prefer 3-strand for docklines. Braided is nice, but isn't as stretchy, and costs a lot more. I can make eye splices in 3-strand in no time, just the right size for whatever cleat or other termination I want it for. And it costs a lot less than braided. Makes me more likely to replace them frequently than for pricey braided lines. Oh, and white is just fine with me - my boat's not a dock queen, and doesn't need color-coordinated lines and fenders.

At 22 ft, I can't see why you'd need larger than 3/8" lines, unless it's subject to severe weather, or stinkpotters with more money than brains. Lakes are hardly immune to them. I don't care for snubbers, as they've always worn out too fast for my taste.

Don't worry about line length until you know how you're going to secure the boat in its slip. You don't need a spring line the minute you tie it up for the first time - you have to see what you need based on the configuration of the dock and cleats (and pilings, if there are any). I don't usually even bother with a spring line with my current boat unless I'm expecting severe weather, but it's well protected from wind and waves, light weight, and efficiently secured from all four corners. Most boats at my marina don't bother with spring lines, though I always used one with my 34 ft boat due to the cleat arrangement on that particular dock.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Use the spool for the anchor rode. There's a West Advisor on that, too.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Is that a 600 foot spool?
I'd make 2 sets of dock lines, one for your slip and another to keep on the boat for visiting other slips and raft ups and 2 anchor rodes out of this. Keep the rest of the spool for future projects.
Protect from chafe. I've been using 3 strand nylon on a variety of boats, including 6" lines on a USN Knox Class Frigate, for the past 33 years and never had a problem.

 

[alexco38]

This is a bow in slip:

For the bow we cut the dock lines just before it can tangle the propeller if it fell into the water. The rest of the lines are just a bit longer than the boat.

 

[sailcruiser]

I generally go up a size in dock lines. If he boat displaces say 10,000 lbs and a 1/2" line has a breaking strength of 11,000 I personally would move up to 5/8 for my own peace of mind. All dock lines are not created equally. Make sure you look at the tensile strength of whatever you choose. SC

 

[tkanzler]

I had never heard of a PT 1/4 sailboat before, so I went looking. I think I found your boat, or another one on the same lake at least. http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/12352

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I agree on going up one size... its the chafe during a storm that counts... just like an anchor rode ...

I assume you will leave the lines on the dock, and have 2 or 3 on the boat for docking at a restaurant or fuel dock (but they usually have them). (or a raft up?)

3 strands if you leave them on the dock, -no one will take them. & thick braided that you keep on the boat...

how deep is your lake?
I think you'll want at least 3:1 and 5:1 or 7:1 is recommended for anchoring.
so I'd use the 100' for anchoring as a lunch hook, and 150' or more for overnighting.

I assume you have not spent a season on your lake yet?

notice in the pic (link) they didn't use the bow cleat... how's the backing on your cleats?

 

[joes new addiction]

Thanks!
That's my boat!! I looked at in the pic last fall and was drooling going up to see it! (it was 20 minutes away).
When I got there, that pic ,must be 5-6 years old, as she doesn't look that way now!
Normally when I see things like that, I usually get turned off 1,2,3.
But when I looked at her hull lines, I was hooked! They say when you see a boat, bike, truck, wife, you know, well let's see if that's true!
I figured what's a few hundred hours of refit time, new sails, running rigging, etc. etc, etc??!!
(It was the PT or a 17' Mc Gregor, that was cherry, but that was in Long Island and I wasn't sure if my little truck (at the time, now I have a monster Ford-bigger boat, gotta have a bigger truck to hual it twice a year) could pull it the 5 hours home.
The trailer for this PT was built for her, is WAY overbuilt, I could tow a house with it, but like the boat, it can use some TLC.
I dunno how deep the lake is. only sailed there, never anchored, but they say it DEEP.
There is no marking on the spool of nylon rope, or line, so it could be anything, but from my rock climbing days, when in doubt, toss it.
I have to order my paint and other stuff from West Marine, so I'll order some line, (I saw a video on how to back splice a loop in a rope, so I'm itching to try it, haven't done it since my Army days in the 70's.
Joe
So many places to sail, so little $$

 

[tkanzler]

Don't toss the line! Even if you don't trust it (is it used and worn?), it's useful for making a bridle at your dock (like an arresting net, in case you come in too hot, or misjudge when to hit reverse), or stringing up some fenders for semi-permanent dock cushions, things like that. I never toss a piece of line if it's in good condition, and especially if it's long. I still have my last piece of climbing line (from when I worked as a tree climber 35 years ago) - no good for climbing, but I can use it for things like separating my dock from my neighbor's in case I lose control in a blow while solo sailing, that sort of thing. That boat is light, and 1/2" nylon should make plenty strong dock lines.

 

[Gudenuph]

For peace of mind and less jerking of the boat, we have used the stretch of 3/8" nylon on our O'Day 25. The trick is to double the lines with one being just a bit slack as a backup. The slack line can not chafe. The tight line stretches with the strain until its partner begins to pick up some of the load. When both lines are loaded they are a little more than the equivalent of 1/2" line. For more than 15 years we had used the same arrangement on our 30 foot Mercator (9700#), and had done the same when rafting to other boats. It is much kinder to your cleats and their caulking.
Geohan

 

[Joe]

Don't go any larger than 1/2 inch nylon for the anchor line.... cleat size and stretchability (word?) are you limitations.... you won't break the nylon. I had 5/8 for my 27 footer and the line didn't stretch enough to keep things comfortable... With 1/2 inch, you can quickly make chafe guards out of 5/8 garden hose to slip over the line. I like 3 strand, or laid, line better than the braided stuff. It's easier to splice an eye and it doesn't chafe as quickly.

I'd save the hundred foot spool for spare anchor rode, or extra dock lines.... and go splurge on a set of ready made docklines..... 3 strand of course, they always come with an eye spliced in one end so they're ready to go.... Now that I think about it, you could use the 100 ft spool to build a long stern line for the off side.... assuming you have a place on the dock forward to tie it.... then it will pull the boat away from the other side, and prevent it from rubbing.