Poll on dock lines

[NiceBeny]

I look around my dock at how other people tie there boats, I have fore and aft lines with spring lines on both sides, including snubbers because of commuter ferry and ship traffic wakes coming in my marina. I try to have the lines somewhat snug so there is not a lot of pressure on boat cleats. Is looser better or snug? Tide does not affect because of floating docks.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Sometimes copying is not a good form of flattery if your dock neighbors are not doing it properly. Most all books and guides (http://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Dock-Lines) caution about CHAFE, rather than dealing with tension alone. Tight but not too tight, set to avoid conditions that when the boat moves the lines aren't so loose that they can come up short and induce shock loading on the lines. If you have docks on BOTH sides of you, the answers are somewhat but not much different than if you only have a single side tie. Don't go by your dockmates, read a book or two. Often folks will suggest snubbers in conditions like yours: http://www.westmarine.com/mooring-line-snubbers

Good luck.