Stern cleats

[prdewolf]

I cross the stern lines on my 310 but the lines contact the hull (cockpit coaming) before reaching the cleats and thereby causing a bit of chafe against the fiberglass. The dock cleats and slip don't allow any other configuration to keep the boat in place and of the finger pier (floating dock). Does anyone have a similar problem and if so, any recommendations for a solution to end the chafe? I have thought about putting in other cleats but am leary of hull reinforcement to handle the loads.

 

[Capt Terry Griggs]

use your excess dock lines

I have a 34 Hunter w/ the same problem. What I do is to use the excess length of the dock line as a cushion/buffer. After I have tied my cleat hitch, I coil up the excess length of the line and place it between the fibreglass and the line leading from the cleat to the dock. It acts as a buffer for the fiberglass and even will give your dock lines more life. In addition, when you are sleeping on the boat in a heavy wind, you won't hear as many creaks and groans coming from your dock lines.