Weathering Texas Storms

[Texas Gun-Man]

Last night we had some strong storms in North Texas. On my ranch I lost one tree and had damage to a few more from straight-line winds.
It had me worried about my boat.
All the slips on my lake are covered so I have to park on the end. Since I'm on the end, I can't use one of the hydro-lift to get out of the water.
Please take a look at the picture and let me know if you think there is more I should be doing to protect the boat? Maybe spring lines?

The marina is in a cove and that does afford some protection. Also you can kind-of see in the background, the bridge behind the boat probably affords some protection since it's higher than the water, blocking some wind.

 

[pclarksurf]

TGM- I would definitely add forward and aft spring lines to your existing--- and given your proximity to the dock and pilings, I might beef up the fenders/ maybe even go to the round style to hold you off the dock.

And your bow line might concern me a bit if it could ride up and down on that piling-- would be better to secure to a fixed cleat on the deck.

 

[Texas Gun-Man]

I don't have the cleats on my boat to make spring lines. I can go from the winch in the cabin to the dock for the forward spring line, but I'm open to suggestions on the aft one.
The dock isn't rickety but it's thin and real wood. Not sure how dependable the cleat would be.
I like pclarksurf's idea about bigger fenders.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I don't have the cleats on my boat to make spring lines.

Use the jib sheet track and buy two track mounted cleats for the midships cleats, one on each side.

Single Handing 101.1 Midship Cleats Pictures http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4921.0.html

 

[Johnb]

Given the propensity of bumpers to ride up or move to where they do no good I would be tempted to add some padding to the dock, anything from purpose made dock bumpers ($) to old carpet.

 

[RJD]

Agree, definitely spring lines.

 

[CloudDiver]

Line snubbers... They absorb shock when things start to get rowdy.

 

[Franklin]

The dock looks to be fixed, so get a big fender and hang it from the center pole horizontal. For attaching your ropes to the poles, get a 3' strong double braided rope and run it through rollers and use shackle or D ring to attach your dock line to it. This way your ropes can go up and down the pole and not shafe. Then also add the spring lines.

 

[Texas Gun-Man]

Probably the best I can do for now. I need a rail cleat but other than that it'll do. I installed the dock cushion and you can't really tell but there are spring lines here.

 

[pclarksurf]

and thanks to poor Stingy who got to see this very scenario live:

always interesting to see what mother nature can do to you-- a great physics lesson you won't hopefully have to go through.

 

[Roland5048]

Natural Selection in progress. What we're those guys thinking...or, rather, not thinking?

 

[Justin_NSA]

Single finger docks scare me. We've had storms so bad that stanchions were bent on one of the boats from the rolling. Not sure how you would protect your boat from that except maybe some huge dock fenders to keep you away from it. We're in a 'protected' cove too.

 

[vhoisington]

Ok looking at your setup I'll make my suggestions based upon years of open water experience at our lake (3 mile fetch, no breakwater stern to prevailing winds and waves).

1. Definitely add snubbers to all your lines. It amazing to watch how they stretch and absorb shock. They will in some cases stretch to over twice their original length.
2. Spring lines fore and aft. Use the existing cleats and bow and stern and run the lines to the middle post.
3. you could go up one size in dock lines but yours currently look adequate.

When setting up fore and after snubbers and spring lines pull the boat as far forward (or back) as possible, both the primary dock line and the spring line should come taut at the same time. when setup this way both lines then handle the load together rather than one line trying to handle everything.

Oh and definitely get some flat fenders and fix them to your dock. This will help keep the boat from rubbing.

good luck,

 

[kito]

A while back I was watching the 30 minute infomercial called "Ship Shape TV" and they were spamming a product called Slidemoor. May be just the ticket for your situation. http://www.slidemoor.com/

 

[Texas Gun-Man]

VH
Did you look at my after pictures? I've added Taylormade Edge Gard, spring lines, cleats, and more fenders.

 

[BlowMeAway]

TGM, are you affected with rising water levels on that river due to the recent rainfall in TX? If so, I'd bring the fenders up about 6-8 more inches, assuming your docks float upward on those pilings. As stated earlier, snubbers will take a lot of strain off the dock lines as well. Best advice is find another slip with adequate depth and a nose in docking on port side...pulling away from wind rather than pushing in to the hard stuff.

 

[Ron20324]

Install a 10-12 inch mid-ship cleat with good backing plates. I have a spring line on my midship cleat, going aft. I size it to keep the boat off the bulkhead in my bow-in slip. HOWEVER, when running the engine and put it in gear, that 15-foot spring line stretched enough( maybe a foot?) that the bow hit the bulkhead. There are some fishing rod-like things (whips?) you attach to the piling, and they arc out over the boat , fore and aft. You attach them to the boat by lines, and they pull the boat out from the slip. Mostly used on power boats, YMMV on a sailboat.

 

[vhoisington]

TGM,

Sorry I missed your after picture. Good additions, they will help a lot. When you add the snubbers and balance the lines such that when pushed ahead (or astern) the bow and forward spring lines come taught together you'll have a pretty good setup.

One thing to watch, as you go through the season, check your lines for wear, fraying or burning. I've had mine actually burn due to the friction heat.

Your setup is harder than many since one you only get one side to tie up to and two everything relies on a single set of cleats. Don't be afraid to us opposite side cleats for tie off and even consider swapping bow/stern occasionally to even out the strain on the boat.

Stay dry,

Victor

 

[Texas Gun-Man]

Thanks everyone...
BMA and Victor,
The dock doesn't float. The flooding is crazy.
The crazy part is when it rains, because the dock doesn't rise, the boat sits REALLY high. The Brazos River Authority opens the damn Dam and a few hours later the boat is lower than normal.
I've checked on the boat multiple times a day all week, but won't be able to keep that up. I've staggered the fenders in height hoping to have it covered at multiple levels.
It's like trying to hit a moving target. If I had been smart, I would have taken the boat out, but who knew it was time to round up the animals two-by-two....

 

[All U Get]

For your lines around the pilings I would add chafe protection like old fire hose. I actually saw a boater use chain around each piling and then attach his lines to it. In your case it might allow the lines to slide up and down the pilings with the water level. Nobody mentioned dropping an anchor off the port side and pulling away with breast lines. Seems like you have the room. Good luck with the weather.

All U Get