Very short dock lines

guy48065

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 31, 2008
Messages
571
I need to tie my pontoon as close to the end of my dock as possible because it's pretty shallow--esp. right now thanks to no rain. I've got the boat secured to the last 2 posts on my dock, against large plastic bumpers that keep it away from the steel wheels on this roll-in. The cleats shown are the only 2 on each side.
This is all to say I don't have many options on placement.
I'm using a short loop of ⅜ line at these posts. I like the boat close to the dock & not bucking around in the wind & waves, slamming it into the dock. I'm on a small inland lake, quiet here, level is dam-controlled.

Given all the above am I ok to use such short lines?
20260603_173557.jpg
 

aspeck

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
May 29, 2003
Messages
19,752
Shouldn't be a problem ... from your description you shouldn't have enough wave action to do any harm ... as long as there are no large cruisers or houseboats that like to put out extra big waves ... or wake boats that like to harass docks ...
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
52,518
I would get rid of the dog collar snap clip

I personally like mooring whips vs the hard bumpers
 

Mc Tool

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 7, 2024
Messages
1,410
I need to tie my pontoon as close to the end of my dock as possible because it's pretty shallow--esp. right now thanks to no rain. I've got the boat secured to the last 2 posts on my dock, against large plastic bumpers that keep it away from the steel wheels on this roll-in. The cleats shown are the only 2 on each side.
This is all to say I don't have many options on placement.
I'm using a short loop of ⅜ line at these posts. I like the boat close to the dock & not bucking around in the wind & waves, slamming it into the dock. I'm on a small inland lake, quiet here, level is dam-controlled.

Given all the above am I ok to use such short lines?
View attachment 416671
Do the plastic bumpers go up and down with the water level ....on a float ? Is the water level likely to rise without warning ?
Just thinking that limiting movement of the boat makes sense if your not going to get caught out. ......seen it happen in tidal areas 😂😂😂.
 
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