Dock Lines

[shaw520]

Hudson River, SeaRay 280 Sundancer (dry weight of 8500#'s)

Ive just been given 200 ft of some very high quality 3/4" dbl braided line in black ( ah yes, to match my new tops). I want to make several decent dock lines. Just curious as to what ppl find to an optimum length to cut them at, keeping in mind extra for end loops.

 

[wrvond]

20 feet for three lines plus one 50 foot line for solo launching.

 

[tpenfield]

Usually the bigger the boat, the longer the dock line. 20 ft. at least for a 28 footer, but maybe 25 ft for a few so you can have some good spring lines.

 

[JoLin]

What Ted said. I keep aboard 2 lines app. equal to the length of the boat (25's in my case) for spring lines. 2 x 15 feet for stern lines and 2 x 15 or 20 feet for bow lines. I also have an extra 25 and an extra 20 just in case.

3/4" is pretty big. does it fit your cleats?

 

[shaw520]

This sounds about right guys, thanks for the input. I use 3/4" bow and stern, and 5/8" for springers. We get a lot of wind and current in the river, two yrs ago we had an Oct storm come through in the middle of the night, two boats broke loose and I had 3 out 5 lines break. (5/8")... So since then I use (2) 3/4" stern lines, (2) 3/4" bow lines, and (2) 5/8" springers one forward and one aft.

 

[shaw520]

...oh and yes, my 280 has big cleats. I use the through and over method with the looped end. Our dock system has HUGE cleats, we get ships over 100' at our marina.

 

[Ned L]

3/4" is pretty huge for a 28' boat. When you say you had dock lines "break", did they snap or chafe through????
Growing up we used 5/8" lines on our 46 footer (27 tons gross registered). The 60 ft Pacemaker next to us used 3/4" lines.
There is a bit if a disadvantage in using lines that are way oversized in that there isn't enough strain on them to get them to stretch, which makes for a rougher motion for your boat.
I have 5/8" for my 33 foot.

 

[JoLin]

...oh and yes, my 280 has big cleats. I use the through and over method with the looped end. Our dock system has HUGE cleats, we get ships over 100' at our marina.

I use the same method, but I can't go over 1/2" diameter. I've never owned a boat that IMO had enough, and large enough, cleats. And they're usually mounted in the wrong place. I always added more, but haven't gotten around to it on this boat. The Carver is tough- all the side decks and gunnel are enclosed.

 

[shaw520]

I've never owned a boat that IMO had enough, and large enough, cleats. And they're usually mounted in the wrong place.

Couldn't agree more,.

 

[shaw520]

When you say you had dock lines "break", did they snap or chafe through????

Snapped, 5/8" 3 strand... The boat next to me had (5) 1/2" lines and broke free..we had to retrieve the boat from another dock.

I have 5/8" for my 33 foot.

That's the norm here for 26' up to 33.

 

[Ned L]

Snapped, 5/8" 3 strand... The boat next to me had (5) 1/2" lines and broke free..we had to retrieve the boat from another dock.


That's the norm here for 26' up to 33.

Wow!!! Ok then,... I guess 3/4" might not be overboard for you.