Which dock line?

[Boatagain]

Need to get some more dock lines, one to replace the line chewed up by my prop, see thread "I Should Have Known Better" if you'd like a chuckle :lol:, and several more for extra security during hard blows and while cruising. Looking for advice on brand, type, size and length for an R25. Thanks!

 

[Boont Boater]

We have 1/2" double braided nylon dock lines for our R29. The West Marine catalog has an informative dock-line page. You'll want to match your line to your boat size. I kind of like longer lines - 25 foot plus for spring ties, etc. but my wife likes shorter lines for ease of handling when docking. We do have two 50 foot lines, used only once, for locking through to Lake Union. Of course its nice if you can pick a color that goes with your boat.

 

[pugtug613]

You need one set for your slip to leave there. Then you need either 7/16 or 1/2 triple braided nylon to take with you. 4 about 10 ft. and 2 at least 25 ft. for spring lines. I like having a loop on one end. I also get the spring lines a different color, so I can pick them out easily from the locker. I use black for the dock lines and white for the spring lines. Make sure the person handling the lines knows how to NOT get them wrapped around the prop.

 

[JamesTXSD]

I like to have bow and stern lines that are longer than 10', in case you need to run a line to a dock rail and back to a cleat on the boat; I would say 15 feet minimum for those 4 lines, and spring lines equal to the boat's length. For boats 20 to 30 feet, most line manufacturers recommend 1/2".

Great suggestion for the different color lines to differential length. Unless it is our dock at home, we generally don't leave lines on the dock (if you are seasonally renting a slip). We used to. Had a sailboat in a gated marina and came back one time and our lines were gone.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[Levitation]

Top-knot Mooringlines.com :mrgreen:

 

[Spinner]

I run Spinner, my R-29, single-handed, and most of the time, there is nobody on the dock to catch a line. Therefore, I also have one 50 foot line, cleated at the bow and run back to the cockpit. I tie it to the side rail with a thieves knot so I can step out, grab the bow line and also run the stern line at the same time.

By the way, thieves knot is just a series of chained slip knots. It stays where you need it until you pull the free end and undo the chain.

I have half-inch line, but 3/8 would be ok, and I use that for spring lines.

 

[Boatagain]

Thanks everyone! 😀

 

[knotflying]

By the way, thieves knot is just a series of chained slip knots. It stays where you need it until you pull the free end and undo the chain.

I think you may be using the wrong name. A thieves not is very similar to a square knot except the bitter ends are opposite one another.
Here is a link to a highwayman's hitch, which sounds more like what you were describing. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m50vmv28ngI

 

[Spinner]

Thanks! Thieves knot is the name given by the person who taught it to me, but you are right, it's not composed of square knots.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Plenty of good recommendations already made in this thread. All I'll add is that breaking strength is not the only consideration for sizing lines. You may also want to consider "handleability". Even on our little 22 C-Dory we used 1/2" lines for ease of handling. Smaller lines are cheaper and easier to wrap on a cleat. But if/when you have to handle them with tension on the line, the larger diameter is nice to have. Also larger diameter lines don't tangle as bad (aka are easier to untangle).