I am in a slip that can be viewed as one half of a "T". A long dock comes out and finger piers come off that are shared on each side. The boat can be tied on one side and one end only. I have been tying up my boat loosely so that it can move away from the finger pier leaving about six inches between the fenders and the pier. The wind / current could hold the boat away from the pier and the fenders would not touch or the boat fenders would be pushed against the pier if the wind / current was the other direction. My boat tends to "float" around. Should I snug it up so that there is no room between the fenders and the pier? Should I tighten up the fore and aft lines so that the boat floats only a couple of inches as opposed to a good foot or two?
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Paul
I tie mine tight..
I'm on a simular dock to you. When I leave for the night, I normally tie it fairly snug. I don't know if that's right or not, it just the way I've always done it. I'd be curious to see what others say here. Paul Emley "TESS", #1433 1974, Dinnette, outboard Vancouver, B.C., Canada http://community.webshots.com/album/14287993qauQVQbYXp
I'm on a simular dock to you. When I leave for the night, I normally tie it fairly snug. I don't know if that's right or not, it just the way I've always done it. I'd be curious to see what others say here. Paul Emley "TESS", #1433 1974, Dinnette, outboard Vancouver, B.C., Canada http://community.webshots.com/album/14287993qauQVQbYXp
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Guest
nope make it loose
make it loose so it can float a bit in the slip. ive seen cleats pulled out when big wind comes in and there is no room for the boat to heel or if it gets hung with a dropping tide, .plus its good practice for when you go where there is a tidal range. another thought the longer the lines the more strech to dampen the stress on the cleats. make sure the boat pulls on 2 lines from each direction . im in the same slip that you all are . i use two bow lines an aft line and a spring line from the aft cleat to the winch. when i push the boat from the bow aft the 2 bow lines tighten at the same time and the boat is centered in slip. from the aft the boat slides forward snugs up to the pier and the spring and aft line tighten at the same time. also a hint, when i leave the slip . i put the motor in forward and the spring holds me against the dock while i undo the other lines. then when im ready to go i slip into reverse and flip the line off the winch and motor on out . works like a charm when the wind is athwartship.
make it loose so it can float a bit in the slip. ive seen cleats pulled out when big wind comes in and there is no room for the boat to heel or if it gets hung with a dropping tide, .plus its good practice for when you go where there is a tidal range. another thought the longer the lines the more strech to dampen the stress on the cleats. make sure the boat pulls on 2 lines from each direction . im in the same slip that you all are . i use two bow lines an aft line and a spring line from the aft cleat to the winch. when i push the boat from the bow aft the 2 bow lines tighten at the same time and the boat is centered in slip. from the aft the boat slides forward snugs up to the pier and the spring and aft line tighten at the same time. also a hint, when i leave the slip . i put the motor in forward and the spring holds me against the dock while i undo the other lines. then when im ready to go i slip into reverse and flip the line off the winch and motor on out . works like a charm when the wind is athwartship.
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Larry Watkins
Tied up
Walt; I'm in a single-finger slip, too. I secure the boat so the lines have just enough slack so I can remove the loops from the cleats on the boat, without having to unwrap the dock cleats. I leave my dock lines attached, and when I return all I do is lead the line thru the fairlead, drop the loop on its cleat, boat is secure. Larry W.
Walt; I'm in a single-finger slip, too. I secure the boat so the lines have just enough slack so I can remove the loops from the cleats on the boat, without having to unwrap the dock cleats. I leave my dock lines attached, and when I return all I do is lead the line thru the fairlead, drop the loop on its cleat, boat is secure. Larry W.
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Ken Pfaff
Fairly Tight
I like my dock lines to be fairly tight, so that it won't move around too much. I assume you are on a floating dock as opposed to a fixed on. If you tie them too tight on a fixed dock and the tide drops you will have problems
I like my dock lines to be fairly tight, so that it won't move around too much. I assume you are on a floating dock as opposed to a fixed on. If you tie them too tight on a fixed dock and the tide drops you will have problems
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Andy Howard
Your best advise will be from slip buddies
Cultivate friendships with the "old timers" at your marina. You might get 40 different responses from 20 different people, but you can sift through the results and get the conventional wisdom. We tie up as loosely as possible..and always tie, as opposed to using a loop around cleats. We do this because, every 4 or 5 years we get enough wind from the wrong direction to blow all the water out of the cove. Boats tied loosely simply settle into the mud, if the docklines get tight you can't get the loop off and you either cut the line or wait around for the cleat to rip out. So I think in this case it's a good idea to figure out what everyone else does, decide who's doing it right and copy their setup.
Cultivate friendships with the "old timers" at your marina. You might get 40 different responses from 20 different people, but you can sift through the results and get the conventional wisdom. We tie up as loosely as possible..and always tie, as opposed to using a loop around cleats. We do this because, every 4 or 5 years we get enough wind from the wrong direction to blow all the water out of the cove. Boats tied loosely simply settle into the mud, if the docklines get tight you can't get the loop off and you either cut the line or wait around for the cleat to rip out. So I think in this case it's a good idea to figure out what everyone else does, decide who's doing it right and copy their setup.
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Davor
Snug but not tight
My boat is moored at T-Bird Marina in West Vancouver and most sail boats are tied to allow about 2 to 4 inches of slack between the fenders and the finger. Be sure to make your sping-lines tight to limit movement. Push and pull your boat to check have far it can move and remember that your lines will strech a bit in the rain. Please don't intiminate your neighbour by allowing your boat to move into his space. s/v Miss Brandy
My boat is moored at T-Bird Marina in West Vancouver and most sail boats are tied to allow about 2 to 4 inches of slack between the fenders and the finger. Be sure to make your sping-lines tight to limit movement. Push and pull your boat to check have far it can move and remember that your lines will strech a bit in the rain. Please don't intiminate your neighbour by allowing your boat to move into his space. s/v Miss Brandy
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
Be sure to spring it
My boat is fairly snug but it can get away from the dock a good 6" if the wind/current is just right. No big thing. I think the bigger issue is to make sure you have spring lines run and good, solid dock lines. LaDonna
My boat is fairly snug but it can get away from the dock a good 6" if the wind/current is just right. No big thing. I think the bigger issue is to make sure you have spring lines run and good, solid dock lines. LaDonna
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Herb Schiessl
Not too tight
I have found that if you tie too tight, the fenders can work up and end up on top of the dock. If the boat is too close, the fenders can not drop back down to protect the hull.
I have found that if you tie too tight, the fenders can work up and end up on top of the dock. If the boat is too close, the fenders can not drop back down to protect the hull.
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Bill O'Donovan
Slip Buddies For Sure
Andy Howard offers good advice in asking the oldtimers at your dock. If, however, one of them is toothless and his boat has been knocked about silly, I'd tie yours at least tigher than his.
Andy Howard offers good advice in asking the oldtimers at your dock. If, however, one of them is toothless and his boat has been knocked about silly, I'd tie yours at least tigher than his.
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George
SNUBERS YOU GOTTA HAVE THEM
Use 4 lines with a 5th used as a spring line. Put snubers on all 5 lines and tie it as tight as you can. I have done this for 6 years.I now have the Harbor Master telling everybody to do the same. If you want more info let me know. mcdonald75@home.com
Use 4 lines with a 5th used as a spring line. Put snubers on all 5 lines and tie it as tight as you can. I have done this for 6 years.I now have the Harbor Master telling everybody to do the same. If you want more info let me know. mcdonald75@home.com
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