Dock lines

Gasman

Gasman

Member
May 30, 2015
80
Great Lakes
Boat Info
2001 29' sun dancer sold
2000 340 sundancer
Engines
Twin 5.0 mercruiser
7.1 v-drives
Hey family I just recently just purchased a 2000 340 just wondering how many dock lines and the footage everyone is carrying on the boat????
 
Besides 2 bow and stern lines and 2 spring lines, I have 2 50' lines for the mooring buoys at Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. I could also use those long lines for emergency if needed.
 
What type of dock lines you guys like the best? Nylon double braid is what i heard lasts longest but i beg to differ after this one season. Chafing getting the best of my lines.
 
Best price you'll likely find will be Amazon. Half price of West Marine for what appear to be the same lines.

I keep four 25' lines on my boat though I also have four that I leave permanently attached to the dock. I believe my dock lines are 5/8" and the set I use when rafting or tying up while out and about are 1/2".
 
Ok so it's not over kill to carry 4 25' and 2 50' and possibly 2 30'or 40'.... just to be prepared for any docking situation....
 
Fisheries supply has a sales on samson right now, they are good lines. I keep 8 Lines in my slip, 2 Bow, 2 Stern, 4 springs... For travel I take 6 lines and I would make sure to have 2 extra long lines in case you have a unique situation.

Josh
 
TOpknot, makes all my lines... they will do Searay Logos for free on them as well..

all my lines are black, and float.

On the boat:
I have a 100 foot line with bag and stainless steal snap hook with an anti-chafe guard to tie the stern to banks, trees, and such this makes tying and untying a SNAP ha. vs knots and crap. go around the tree/stump/stake and clip it to its self. done. a pic of what the end looks like but wrong color and I have searay logos.
Tow-Lines-Bridles-Landing-Image.jpg


2- 25 foot bow lines with loop and logo on one end.
4-15 foot lines with loop and logo on one end.
6 fender lines (6 foot or rope, with tiny loop and logo) attached to nice fenders with fender covers
2-3 old dock lines as spares.

at the dock:
I have 4 normal dock lines with logos for the bow and mid lines. Measured to give nothing to roll up on the dock very clean look
At the stern I have custom shorty made with the same Stainless steel snap hook above and logos, and again nothing left on the dock the rope ends on the cleat. The stainless Snap hook attache to the rear stainless U bolts in the hull that are close to the water line. Again very clean look, and keeps ropes off the fiberglass, and you can step off the platform sideways with out going over a dock line.

http://mooringlines.com/
 
I never buy a line less than 25 feet. Too much is always better than too little.
 
sbw1 said:
I never buy a line less than 25 feet. Too much is always better than too little.
Click to expand...
+1 on the 25' and up. I never understood the short lines on the boat.... maybe to leave on the home dock, but not travel.

And I am an advocate of as many damn lines as you can stow. I have been caught in tidal surges and storms where I needed many lines and double lines tied. Some of these ports on the Great Lakes can be open direct to surges. I think I travel with ten 25' and two 35'. Most are stowed away as I normally only use 3, but when you need 'em you NEED 'em.

Similarly, I keep 3 big mooring balls (deflated) and an air pump in the cabin sole storage locker for those times.
 
I think the lengths you need is somewhat relative to your boat size. In my travels on Lake Michigan, with the 270, I carry 10 foot x 4, 25 foot x 4, and 35 foot x 2. Mt 10 foot lines are easily the most used, the 35 foot the least used. I have a set of home slip lines and a full set of transient lines onboard. I have found that what I carry is more the 90% of all boats I see.

The 10 foot lines usually are on the pier side as stern and bow lines and are the quick tie lines docking. The 25 foot lines usually are the fore and aft spring lines while the other 25 foot or the 35 foot as needed are to far side bow and stern lines. If I need a 50 footer I will tie the extra 25 and 35 together, but I have never needed to so far. That is my set up.

MM
 
Gasman said:
Ok so it's not over kill to carry 4 25' and 2 50' and possibly 2 30'or 40'.... just to be prepared for any docking situation....
Click to expand...
If you have the room I think what you mentioned is fine. Just be sure you are 1/2" or 5/8" diameter. I feel it's better to have too many and not need them than to get in a situation where you wishing you had more
 
Island Time Buffalo said:
+1 on the 25' and up. I never understood the short lines on the boat.... maybe to leave on the home dock, but not travel.

And I am an advocate of as many damn lines as you can stow. I have been caught in tidal surges and storms where I needed many lines and double lines tied. Some of these ports on the Great Lakes can be open direct to surges. I think I travel with ten 25' and two 35'. Most are stowed away as I normally only use 3, but when you need 'em you NEED 'em.

Similarly, I keep 3 big mooring balls (deflated) and an air pump in the cabin sole storage locker for those times.
Click to expand...
I pretty much do the same with the lines in terms of numbers. Also, the round fenders work the best. I'm surprised more people do not see this. The USCG uses them, and a very experienced boater friend introduced me to them years ago.
 
I just bought 4 25' lines, braided. I like a little longer just in case.
 
Thanks for looking out for me.....I have probably 10 lines on the boat but use the 4 new ones 99.99% of the time.
 
I keep my permanent dock lines at my dock and keep 6 travel lines aboard the boat.
Mine are all double braided. In retrospect though I wish a few of the travel lines were 3 strand nylon because most of the docks I go to require that I tie Spring lines to a pole and the double braided lines are a pain in the neck on poles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,229
Messages
1,428,965
Members
61,120
Latest member
jingenio
Back
Top