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Cdock 3 support12/21/2023 Even smooth, large radius surfaces will abrade nylon and polyester lines over time.Ĭhafe guards provide a sacrificial surface that can take the damage without reducing the breaking strength of the line. It is inevitable, but can be reduced by not changing the angle of a line abruptly and by using abrasion-resistant pads, such as lengths of leather or hose, called chafing gear. Spring lines should be equal to your boat's length.Ĭhafe is the damage caused by rubbing lines or sails on surfaces. Transient dock lines should be about 2/3 of the boat's length when used on the bow and stern. Short lines benefit from elastic dock line snubbers that absorb shock loads and increase stretch.Īssembling permanent dock lines to a loop of chain at dock cleats eliminates chafe. These 18" polyester Chafe guards are sold in pairs. Larger lines will wear longer but stretch less. We recommend 1/8" of line diameter for every 9' of boat length. Double braided dock lines are available in six colors plus white and white/gold. Many boaters will want lines which match their canvas work, or trim color. It is harder to splice, so boaters may want to order custom Mega Braid from West Marine Rigging. Mega Braid is frequently the choice for boats above 70'. Single braids are very supple and limp, so they are easy to coil and handle. Double braid is somewhat stronger for a given size, has about half of three-strand's stretch, and is available in many colors so you can color-coordinate your dock lines to match the color of your trim or canvas. Three-strand line has a knobby finish, is easy to splice and is the most affordable. There are three main types of rope construction for dock lines: three-strand, double braid and Mega Braid. Low-stretch lines, like old worn-out polyester double braid used for sailboat running rigging, are less desirable because they transmit shocks from waves, loading up and loosening dock cleats and your boat's deck hardware. Nylon is strong (although it shrinks and loses about 10-15% of its strength when wet), durable, and stretchy (three-strand nylon stretches up to 16% of its length when loaded to 15% of its breaking strength), so it absorbs shocks. Permanent dock lines should be cut to fit the particular boat in the slip.ĭo you prefer braided or three-strand dock lines?ĭock lines should be made from nylon, a synthetic fiber that has a superior combination of strength and stretch. At the dock, lines should be protected from chafe using eye splices and shackles if the dock has rings, or eye splices and short lengths of chain if the dock has cleats. This calls for leather, rubber or fabric chafe gear where the line passes through the chocks, and possibly a chafe sleeve on the eye where it goes around the cleat on deck. First, they must be protected from chafe, the enemy of all lines in constant use. Permanent dock lines are also made of nylon, but differ from transient dock lines in several ways. There are dozens of combinations of diameters and lengths. The eye in the end is easily passed around a cleat or piling by someone on the dock and the bitter end is adjusted on board. When your boat is away from its regular slip or mooring, you need to have some designated nylon lines aboard, preferably with spliced eyes, ready for use when you tie up somewhere. The sailboat is using spring lines to prevent fore and aft surging, while the bow and stern lines "locate" the boats.Īre you buying dock lines for temporary use (transient dock lines for use while away from your home port) or for your permanent slip? The powerboat is using double bow and stern lines to keep the boat away from the dock.
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