DOCK LINES

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:45 am

I like the guys with the big million dollar boats and on close inspection, the lines are crap and undersized. Having said that, I also hate trying to get a huge line on a cleat that is far too small to accomodate it enough to be a secure tie-up. Bigger isn't always the better way to go unless you have the propper size hardware to accomodate it......I am talkng about boat hardware guys/gals!!

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:02 am

Like I said use the bigest line that will fit the cleat

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:26 am

I carry additional smaller sized lines for all around. They come in handy when on the hook and rafted off to other boats with smaller cleats. I also find a lot of people don't carry enough line. Helps to have plenty on board, you never know when sudden extreme conditions dictate the need for more than just dock lines.

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:35 am

OMG you two need and big SEARAY long tight hug !

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:09 am

Here we go AGAIN!!!!!!!

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:23 am

alexander38 wrote:OMG you two need and big SEARAY long tight hug !

I'll go with a big "SEARAY" group hug

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:14 am

Big D wrote:I carry additional smaller sized lines for all around. They come in handy when on the hook and rafted off to other boats with smaller cleats. I also find a lot of people don't carry enough line. Helps to have plenty on board, you never know when sudden extreme conditions dictate the need for more than just dock lines.

Very true , I find many newer boats have cleats that are way to small , 26 foot boats and cleats made for 3/8 line . Many folks never carry any spare line , dock line or other wise .

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:35 am

26' boat, if it's a good boat it may weigh 5 or 6,000 pounds wet, 3/8" braided line has almost a 5,000 tensile strength.(3 strand 4,400lbs)

Like we wrote about earlier in this thread, the small line looks "too small" and certainly feels too small when you're trying to pull or tug on it, but the strength of the line and cleat far exceed the load a 26' boat would ever put on the lines at a dock, especially when you two on the bow, two spring and a stern, or the other way around if you back in. (exceptions for storm gear)

The inconvienience to me would be in a raft up type situation, someone on a bigger boat throws you a line, and it doesn't fit your deck hardware.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:49 am

tensile strength there is more to it then that . how often do you see a dock line fail because the dock line is low tensile strength ? you don't most good dock lines fail due to chafing .( go look up a chart on dock lines , on many of them my 36 foot boat calls for 1/2 line . That just won't cut it one good blow and the 1/2' is done. I use 5/8 and 3/4 lines , ( and double up for storms ).

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 11:23 am

while on the subject of dock lines , how many of you inspect your hardware ? I mean really inspect it , like the bolts holding the cleats ? Mine looked great but when removed I found my rear cleats had bolts complete rusted thru yet looked ok from the outside . the rest where perfect . I believe this was due to the bolts being exposed to salt water ( the bolt heads are in the open behind the rear vents . I got lucky that I found it before somthing happened

Just something to think about .

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 11:29 am

Part of my spring commissioning checklist is to inspect all hardware and fasteners and replace, tighten, or recaulk wherever needed. Not as corrosive up here on Lake Ontario, but vibrations etc throughout the season have a habit of introducing at least a bit of slack in a couple of fasteners every year. Cleats, fairleads, stanchion bases, and all bolts / screws / set screws in all railings get checked. I also do a once over for all hose clamps on both engines, generator, and exhaust systems.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 11:43 am

prowlerfish,

I totally agree with you, I have 3/4" braided on my 32 trojan, and fortunately Trojan put decent sized cleats on the boat or I would have changed them myself.
I just made new dock lines last night with my "eye splicing" project I made up 8 new 3/4" lines,
I think I went overkill on the tucks, I read 3-5 tucks for an average line 5-7 for mooring, I went 7 to 9,

as far as cleats on a 26' boat, especially a family type boat, I would imagine that a naval architect first drew the lines and sized the cleat to the deminision of the boat,(asthetically pleasing to the eye) and then confirmed its strength to the engineered load factors of line , hardware and mounting points on the boat, and all factors married to come up with the appropriate size, which, works great for the boat itself, and maybe or maybe not to the environment the boat is used

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:17 pm

Trojans do have good size cleats , I have had to change cleats to larger size on other boats I have had . But never on my trojans

I think when they make some of the smaller boats they don't think about the boat being in a slip full time . pop up cleats = part time cleats IMO.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:45 pm

pop up cleats = trailer boats and things that WILL break or not work when you need them the most

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:54 pm

We are making progress we agree on 6 out 10

Trojan Boat Forum

DOCK LINES

Deck hardware