What Is The Proper Way To Tie To An End Slip?

[RichH]

Mr Bill is correct. With the dependence 'solely' on the fenders to keep the boat 'away' from the dock, if a fender ever becomes 'displaced' (no longer between the boat and the dock) due to wave action ..... you're going to have to consider the possibility of some future gelcoat, etc. repair.

Thats why I recommended using straining lines (Line "E" in my previous diagram) to keep the boat 'off' the dock.
Some folks use 'dock wands' .... stout and long and tapered fiberglass 'rods' which are 'base connected' to a spring ... like holding the boat off the dock with a fishing rod and line ... the line connected to the boat, the rod 'well bent' so the boat is kept 'off' the dock by the action of the spring and bowed rod trying to 'straighten' themselves out.
Dont depend on 'fenders' to stay put in a storm.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

^ boat whips? But, not sure if they will let you drill into the dock though....

http://www.amazon.com/Dockmate-Economy-Mooring-Whips-2000/dp/B000ENFJF4

-I think the balls will be harder to displace than a fender... bigger is better w/fenders..

 

[Sail123]

As the new guy on the dock, I think it vastly important that I not attract attention to myself too much, by going past accepted traditional approaches to simple things like docking the boat. Putting whips on the dock may work, looks interesting, but I am not going there. Not till someone already there try's it first. Braiding dock lines is as radical as I am prepared to do my first year. Lol

I already will have the odd boat on the dock, mixed in with $40,000 boats well above my pay grade. I need low profile solutions.

 

[Sail123]

This drawing is to scale for my 30 foot Clipper Marine and my dock. I have a short finger that should be just fine to keep the mooring lines snug and keep the boat off my finger dock. The main finger dock is 26 feet long and the stump finger is a little over a yard long.

 

[tkanzler]

I've had not-so-great experiences with floating docks where the power boaters don't understand the meaning of 'no wake zone', where the fenders can end up plopping on top of the floating dock with the hull scraping the dock, as someone warned about above already. Even saw a small boat land right on the dock repeatedly. But even barring boorish boater behavior, I would do whatever I could to prevent that going forward, including and especially putting fenders right on the dock so the boat always has a soft zone to hit. You really only need max protection at the midpoint of the hull, where it will hit the dock, and a couple of hanging fenders for docking safety, IMO.

See if the dock cleats are clamped into slots or other such moveable attachments. If they are, you can a) slide what you have to improve the dock line angles, if needed, and b) 'borrow' someone else's if they aren't using it and put it on your dock. The last place I was at with floating docks had a number of cleats that weren't being used, so I grabbed one and put it on mine to pull the bow away.

And I second (or third, or whatever) the notion of tight(ish) spring lines, with some slack for the bow and stern lines. I would not pull the bow/stern lines in tight as a matter of routine. If the wind is pushing the boat off the dock, let it - less rubbing against the fenders. If you need to pull it in for boarding, pull it in, hop on, and tighten the dock line from on the boat. If the lines have eyes at the boat end, tighten it from the dock, or use a winch and an extra line. I personally like my dock lines preset for length, with an eye splice for the boat end, but everyone's different.

Oh, and spend some time there this season, and watch how the boat reacts to other boats, waves from across the lake, the wind, etc. You'll probably make some changes in how you secure it to soften the ride for your new baby.

She has nice lines, by the way.

 

[Sail123]

""She has nice lines, by the way. ""

Thanks!

I tried posting my diagram from my iPhone and failed.

Computers! lol

I believe I will do a rendition of this posted diagram. That should work well with my situation.

I will keep some fenders on the dock, and maybe add some bumpers as well, just to cover all bases.

I will be using 1/2" nylon double braid mooring lines, and also one spring line to keep me well clear of the main dock.

Can't wait for spring! It is 60 degrees here today, in Nebraska. Nuts!