Dock Line

[play dough]

I have various dock lines, mostly double braid, that I've purchased from different sources. After some use and exposure, some lines seem to fair better than others. Admittedly, I try to find the best price but I'm wondering if there is a quality difference in lines and how do you determine what is or isn't a quality product?

 

[Blueone]

I would be curious too... I lost all my mooring lines in a bad storm last summer... I needed 8 lines ...everything I looked at had basically the same description but a very wide price range. I just went middle of the road and hoped for the best....so far happy

 

[fwebster]

I use only New England double braid dock lines. I wash the salt out of them annually and always use a second dock line during storms. The second line is a nylon twist line because they have a lot more natural stretch in them than double braid lines do. As a result, our frequent storms may cost me a nylon twist line or 2 but I'll sacrifice them rather than over-stretch and ruin the expensive New England double braid lines.

Also, dock lines isn't the best place to economize on boating supplies. Avoid cheap imported lines and be very careful with West Marine, Walmart, and some online vendor's lines. Many of them look pretty, but the core in some double braid lines is just cotton "string" that adds minimal strength and serves no useful purpose other than as a filler for the nylon braid covering.

 

[sbw1]

I always bought dock lines at West Marine with good success. The slip at our home faces very demanding conditions as there is zero enforcement of the wake laws and the slip is subjected to the full force of what ever west Michigan weather dishes up on the beam of the boat. It has experienced 95 MPH winds that wiped out thousands of trees on two occasions. Every week end water breaks over the transom of the boat as a result of wake violations. The boat routinely rolls 30-40 degrees on busy boating days. The only thing keeping the boat from damage was the dock lines. I replaced the two stern lines with new every year and moved the year old lines to the bow. A year later those became spring lines fore and aft. Always bought the proper size nylon lines for the weight of the boat. Never had a failure in 46 years.

 

[Little Ducky]

Funny Story:

It sucks to toss a line to someone just to have a $50 piece of rope sink right before your eyes. I didn't realize that dock lines didn't float.

Lesson learned.

 

[GypsmJim]

I like to build things. West Marine sells bulk line, which I have always found to have very good durability.

I got a fid from Dad, must be 50 years ago. I splice in my own loop and then whip the other end. My lines are made to the EXACT length I need, not to the various lengths available.

Now I use black lines. I used to use white marine rope whipping, but obviously that won't look good on black line. I have found that black electrical whip works even better, plus its half the price since it doesn't say "marine" on it.

 

[mobocracy]

I have found that black electrical whip works even better, plus its half the price since it doesn't say "marine" on it.

The glue lined heat shrink tubing works really well for whipping rope ends, especially with a couple of millimeters of excess. It gets pretty hard when it shrinks and feeds through snubbers and smaller openings without flaring.

 

[Henry Boyd]

+1 on New England Rope. I splice three strand, but once you get to ⅝ and ¾ double braid, it pretty much requires a come along to properly set the core so I do’t bother.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Funny Story:

It sucks to toss a line to someone just to have a $50 piece of rope sink right before your eyes. I didn't realize that dock lines didn't float.

Lesson learned.

Things that don’t float. Eisenglass, canvas, tools, buckets, $100 Raybans. Ask me how I know.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Lil Ducky, don’t take this wrong, but it’s not called rope, it’s a line.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Lil Ducky, don’t take this wrong, but it’s not called rope, it’s a line.

Never mind, I misread, you called it line, sorry, I missed it.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Damn kids took my reading glasses, and the remote!

 

[Pirate Lady]

What time is the Law & Order marathon start.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Things that don’t float. Eisenglass, canvas, tools, buckets, $100 Raybans. Ask me how I know.

Three of out five for me.

 

[Shaps]

Things that don’t float. Eisenglass, canvas, tools, buckets, $100 Raybans. Ask me how I know.

Add Cell phones to the list.
Ask me how I know.

 

[Creekwood]

Add Cell phones to the list.
Ask me how I know.

X2. And I mean 2 of mine,

 

[b_arrington]

Add Cell phones to the list.
Ask me how I know.

Ugh. I lost my phone overboard the day my 290 AJ was delivered. I used to keep it on a belt clip. Knelt down to pick up the mooring line and it popped out. Click clack clatter sploosh groan.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Add Cell phones to the list.
Ask me how I know.

I also went in with the cellphone, twice. That doesn’t count right, if you get wet too?

 

[Carpediem44DB]

Never carry your cell phone and BMW key fob in the pouch of your hoody sweat shirt. I bent over the gunnel to adjust a line on a cleat and brushed both into the drink, that was a $1000 day on the boat! Now I double check that phone and keys are in a zippered pocket only while on the boat.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Never carry your cell phone and BMW key fob in the pouch of your hoody sweat shirt. I bent over the gunnel to adjust a line on a cleat and brushed both into the drink, that was a $1000 day on the boat! Now I double check that phone and keys are in a zippered pocket only while on the boat.

Those Amazon waterproof phone pouches with lanyard; before I walk down the pier the phone goes in it and the keys stay in the car. Saved me twice last summer when I fell in. Still cost me $100 each time cause the outboard went in with me.