Rope lengths?

[Doclocke]

I'm in the process of equipping my first-ever powerboat (17' Chris Craft, I/O), and need to purchase mooring lines and a tow rope (for towing other boats, or for mine being towed).

Are there recommended lengths and diameters for those ropes? If so, I'd really appreciate some advice.

 

[2ndtry]

Re: Rope lengths?

Heh. First, on a boat they are all lines. (I don't really care, but somebody will).

I keep at least a few 6' and at least one 15' 3/8" mooring lines on board. I like to also have a bungee style line around, but that is a matter of preference. I don't have a dedicated tow line, but have used anchor line in a pinch. Anchor line length will vary depending on the water depth you typically boat in. An anchor and appropriate line is NOT optional, it is important safety equipment.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Rope lengths?

Bow line should be as long as popssible, but not long enough to get into the prop if left trailing in the water.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Rope lengths?

I'm in the process of equipping my first-ever powerboat (17' Chris Craft, I/O), and need to purchase mooring lines and a tow rope (for towing other boats, or for mine being towed).

Are there recommended lengths and diameters for those ropes? If so, I'd really appreciate some advice.

Your dock lines shoud be as long as the boat. 3/8" or 1/2" will be good.

As for towing, there is a max length (law) that is allowed between boats, usaully it is the length of a ski line.State laws may vary.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Rope lengths?

I suggest a few 10' and 15' lines for dock lines. for towing, I have an old anchor line that I rigged up for towing with a Y on one end with a cleat loop on each leg. I also have snap hooks and shackles on board if I need.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Rope lengths?

I don't carry a tow line. I have Boat US. I'd recommend getting yourself a policy.

As for towing others, and please don't be offended by this, you're not capable (yet) to tow another boat. Those that are will understand why I say that by your post.

For those of you that do want to carry a line that can be used for towing, and anchor line should not be on the list of types of rope to use for towing. You want a nylon line that has good stretch to it. Similar to a ski line, but heavier-duty. Anchor line doesn't really stretch, and if it were to snap, well, the line can kill anyone in it's path.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Rope lengths?

Oh, as for docklines, get 2 or 3 20'x3/8". You could go to 1/4", but 3/8" is easier on the hands.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Rope lengths?

Of interest:
"Self-styled boating experts will inform you that rope mysteriously turns into line the moment you get it aboard your boat and is never again referred to as rope. But perhaps that is an affectation born of a desire to be more nautical than one?s knowledge or experience permits, because there has always been rope on boats. The Encyclopedia of Nautical Knowledge defines rope this way: ?In marine use, general term for cordage composed of strands, and, as a rule, larger than 1 inch in circumference.?It?s true that for practical purposes ropes are given other names on boats, and may turn into sheets, halyards, warps, rodes, pendants, painters, hawsers, strops, cables, mooring lines, docklines, leech lines, heaving lines, downhauls, uphauls, out-hauls, guys, reef points, lashings, lanyards, preventers, and vangs, among others.But there are still also many ?ropes? on a vessel, including the bolt rope, the tiller rope, the foot rope, the check rope, the dip rope, and others, including wire rope. Most telling of all, a sailor?s own phrase for professional competence was ?to know the ropes.? Not the lines"
excerpted from McGraw-Hill Boating Encyclopedia:Rope Versus Line

I realize that isn't an answer to the original question, but wanted to bring it back down to earth (where the water is!)

As a general rule, you'll want to start at about 2/3rds the length of your boat for the bow and stern moorage lines.

As previously stated, you shouldn't plan on towing or being towed by another "good samaritan" until you've been through a USCG boating course that includes towing. There are multiple factors to take into account such as" wind, water conditions, length and weight of boats involved, hull shapes, construction of rope/cleats/etc...

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Rope lengths?

In addition to jacoboregon's comment above, I was taught cordage is referred to as "rope" until is it used for something. Spare cordage kept on the boat is "rope" and when it's put to a specific use it's referred to as "line" e.g. dock line. Rope is used to make lines.

 

[Black Snow Slide]

Re: Rope lengths?

4 15'lines for docking and rafting with other boats. That will cover your bow, stern, spring line going forward and aft. Go with a 3/8"line.

2 20'lines beacause you may need the extra lengths in some situations. Be very carful about lines in the water when prop is in gear. You don't want the line in your prop.

1 30' 1/2 inch line for morring.

Get a membership to tow boat. Your boat is not designed for towing. Only extreme situations would I tow. Especially being a new captain.

Make sure you have an anchor bigger then what you would normally need. Make sure it has a length of chain. When you have two or three boats tied to you on your anchor it's nice not to drag.

 

[Slow Ride]

Re: Rope lengths?

Line, Rope, Cord, who cares? Diameter of rope depends completely on the weight of your boat. Go to a boating store and they can help you find the proper rope for each appliation. Length for dock lines is "as long as you need it to be to do the job!" To say that there is a proper length is silly. Generally 8-10 feet will work but again, size of the boat matters most and you could find yourself in a marina with dogs and cleats in strange places requiring longer or shorter ropes. Just be sure they remain in the boat once under way. Length of anchor line depends on water depth. As a general rule you will need 7-10 feet of rope for every one foot of water depth. The deeper the water, the closer you need to be to the 10/1 ratio.

As for towing. I take some personal issue with some of the comments. Yes it is dangerous and a new boat owner with little experience should steer clear of this event, but this isn't always possible. I assure you if I were stranded and someone left me on the water in harms way, I would hunt them down at the marina later! Slow speed towing can be done safely so long as the boats are of similar size and weight. I have had a US Navy Coxwain certification for many years and fully understand the implications and dangers of towing, but the idea of leaving a mariner on the water to fin for himself is selfish. If your not able to help due to sea conditions, experience, equipment, etc. you had better radio for help or go get help ASAP. I have been offshore 50 or more miles and completely cancelled fishing trips in order to assist those in need. It sucks but the alternative is to hear about their demise on the news later in the day! On the other hand, I needed help last summer and when I called for help on the radio, the first boat to respond wanted to know if I was taking on water. When I stated that I was not but that I was adrift without power, he told me he would be back in several hours to check on my progress and help me get to safey if I still needed him. What the heck? I could have been lost at sea! Fortunately another vessel overheard this exchange and came to my aid.

Towing is hazardous but should not be avoided merely on the basis of not having had a class. Almost nobody out there has taken a class and it is done safely on a regular basis.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Rope lengths?

I'm seeing a lot of comments about the dock line size depends on the length of the boat. Hogwash, I say!!! Hogwash!!!

You can safely and properly tie off a 60' boat with 10' of dock line...

It really depends on other things, such as tide spread, type of dock, and what other uses the line will have, just to name two off the top of my head. If there is a 6' difference between lowest low tide and highest high tide, and you're dock is not of the floating type, you'll probably need at least 15' of line as example. If you are on a zero tide locale, or have a floating dock, then you could get away with the short line you need. But don't forget about docks other than your home dock, or pilings you may be tying on to , etc.

I (still) say a minimum of 20' of 3/8" line should be adequate for most boats/situations. I personally use 25', because I use the lines to jockey the boat on the lift, rather then power it on (I feel more in control I guess).

Going to the local marine outfitter is a good recommendation, but along with their recommendation (read that as 'their guess'), take into consideration comfort in your hand. Pretty sure most stores will tell an owner of an under 19' that 1/4" is fine, and yes, it is from purely a breaking standpoint under normal circumstances, but when you've got a strong current and a crazy wind working against you because you missed making it home before the storm 'by that much', holding that 1/4" line won't be fun.

But most importantly, and price shouldn't be a factor in this regard, make sure, without a doubt, that the color of the line matches the boat! Get it custom made if necessary, and no matter the expense! Just ask any of the captains at the local marina of dock queens how important that is!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Rope lengths?

Normal cordage on my boat is 2 x 30' and 4 x 20', plus a pair of old 15'ers that I keep aboard for oddball situations. That has covered every temporary docking and raft-up situation I've ever encountered. At my home dock I have permanent bow, stern and spring lines set up. In my case, all cordage is 1/2". What you need will ultimately depend on where and how you tie up when you need to. I'd start with a couple that are roughly the length of your boat (20'), plus 2 x 15' and 2 x 10'.

A couple of hints that might make your life easier:

1. Whatever diameter line you use on the boat, make sure you can fit 2 of them on your cleats. You might, for instance, need to run both a stern line and a spring line off the same boat cleat, so check before you buy.

2. My lines of different lengths are also different colors and construction, so I or The Admiral can always grab the right one. My 30' lines are double braided, white with gold threads in them. My 20'ers are 3-strand, solid white. The 15' junk lines are black. Depending on what situation we're cruising into, I can tell Linda immediately that we'll need 'a white on each stern cleat and a gold at the starboard bow'.

Might sound silly, but it makes for quick and accurate communication between us.

Congrats on the new boat!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Rope lengths?

I like having lines that are larger (in diameter) than needed; easier on the hands.

Length? "long enough to reach and be tied."

The length of the mooring line is determined only by the set up of the place where you moor, including tide drop and often, piling diameter and even cleat size (I often moor to 14" pilings with a clove hitch and to big wooden cleats). Nothing else.

The idea of having the bow line shorter than the boat so it won't get in the prop is merely a "tip" but is not a good rule for boating because it has nothing to do with the function of the line; it has to do with the carelessness of the captain. Better to have good boating skills than compromise function. If you don't launch the boat, you don't have to worry about forgetting the plug, either.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Rope lengths?

The "towing discussion" often gets out of hand here. In a previous discussion, one guy, in all seriousness, recommended havnig someone stand by with an axe to chop the line (so add "axe" and "deckhand" to your shopping list).

In normal weather, for "small boats" under 25', you can always tow a boat that is about the same size as yours, and you can usually tow one that's bigger. I have towed and been towed in many combinations.

All the talk about stretch and length is irrelevant to small boats helpnig each other out.

However, you should tow with some kind of bridle so the towed boat tracks. I just tie my stern line from cleat to cleat, then tie the tow line with a bowline (knot) so it can slide around the middle. use a long line for long tows and shorten when approaching the dock; sometimes tie along side for close-in work. And remember--the towed boat has no brakes!