Captain Allen
Member
- Feb 2, 2009
- 356
- Boat Info
- 370 EC 1994
- Engines
- 454 Mercruisers, straight drives
Ditto And the spring line at home is a different color since it hangs on the same hook as the bow lines when we are away from the dock.
Color coded dock lines, the Admiral thinks I'm crazy...
- Thread starter Joel_MD
- Start date
Ditto And the spring line at home is a different color since it hangs on the same hook as the bow lines when we are away from the dock.
- Oct 12, 2007
- 12,916
- Boat Info
- '89 Sea Ray 390 Express
'00 Sea Ray 185 BR
- Engines
- mercruiser 7.4L inboards
Mercruiser 4.3L/Alpha 1
Agreed. Sometimes we make simple things way too difficult. I subscribe to Frank's method, all the lines are the same length, and same diameter and most importantly same color. (Although I have been guilty of using white lines with black when I tie up at places that are likely to destroy the line. White lines are my garbage lines)
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
A little off the subject, but all my lines are black because the sun doesn't deteriorate black as quickly as other colors.......and I never use high quality braided lines when we are traveling away from home. My travel lines are black 3 strand nylon because they don't snag and pull on a piling that is "hairy" with splinters nearly as bad as braided lines do.
boatman37
Well-Known Member
- Jun 6, 2015
- 4,256
- Boat Info
- 2006 Crownline 250CR. 5.7 Merc BIII
Previous: 1986 Sea Ray 250 Sundancer. 260 Merc Alpha 1 Gen 1
- Engines
- 5.7 Merc BIII
We also have 2 sets of lines. The set at the slip stays there so pretty hard to screw it up when I pull in. And even then just get it hooked up and I will double-check them. Wife has no problems tying it up. I still double-check but can't think of a time when I had to re-do any. We leave them tied to the dock cleats with the loop end laying there waiting for us. We are in a finger slip so we have 3 tied to the starboard side (a line to each different cleat) and one to the port rear near the swim platform. Not even sure it could be screwed up
JVM225
Well-Known Member
I also leave my lines attached at my own slip with the loop ends loose so that when I get back to the dock they just have to be attached to the boat.
I dock port side to my bulkhead so the lines are pretty easy for anyone to figure out, but I leave the stern line in a conspicuous easy to reach spot so that if someone does want to grab it for me I just have to get the stern close to it so they can grab it. It also makes it easy if I'm single handing it because I can get to the aft end of the port side pretty quickly from the helm even when I have a nasty wind blowing me off the dock. Once I have the stern line on I get the bow in tight and usually go take care of that line myself, then step off and get the two spring lines.
It's nice to have a hand when docking, but I've found in general that unless I really need help, the best way to avoid arguments is to do it myself. Even when someone helps me I always like to follow up and check my lines to make sure they are routed correctly and firmly attached to the boat.
I also like to hook up the electric lines myself. Just last weekend my 17 year old son was hooking those up when I looked over that way and noticed he was having a problem. Although his intentions were good, he was twisting them in the wrong direction.
Canvas is another thing I would rather do myself. I hate canvas in general because it's a pain in the neck to take down and put up. It's even harder to figure out for someone who doesn't do it all the time so it's much faster if I do my own.
When the family is out with me I love having the help, but would much rather they take care of squaring away the cabin and then help with the wash down and loading the stuff back in the car before we leave.
I keep 6 additional lines on the boat for travel lines. I made the mistake of getting braided travel lines. They look real nice, but they do tend to snag on poles.
I dock port side to my bulkhead so the lines are pretty easy for anyone to figure out, but I leave the stern line in a conspicuous easy to reach spot so that if someone does want to grab it for me I just have to get the stern close to it so they can grab it. It also makes it easy if I'm single handing it because I can get to the aft end of the port side pretty quickly from the helm even when I have a nasty wind blowing me off the dock. Once I have the stern line on I get the bow in tight and usually go take care of that line myself, then step off and get the two spring lines.
It's nice to have a hand when docking, but I've found in general that unless I really need help, the best way to avoid arguments is to do it myself. Even when someone helps me I always like to follow up and check my lines to make sure they are routed correctly and firmly attached to the boat.
I also like to hook up the electric lines myself. Just last weekend my 17 year old son was hooking those up when I looked over that way and noticed he was having a problem. Although his intentions were good, he was twisting them in the wrong direction.
Canvas is another thing I would rather do myself. I hate canvas in general because it's a pain in the neck to take down and put up. It's even harder to figure out for someone who doesn't do it all the time so it's much faster if I do my own.
When the family is out with me I love having the help, but would much rather they take care of squaring away the cabin and then help with the wash down and loading the stuff back in the car before we leave.
I keep 6 additional lines on the boat for travel lines. I made the mistake of getting braided travel lines. They look real nice, but they do tend to snag on poles.
- Oct 12, 2007
- 12,916
- Boat Info
- '89 Sea Ray 390 Express
'00 Sea Ray 185 BR
- Engines
- mercruiser 7.4L inboards
Mercruiser 4.3L/Alpha 1
That is an awesome idea using 3 strand when traveling. All of mine are braided, and I pay the price when I travel, as many slips have hairy pilings. They make short work out of a braided line.
