Dolphin Pilings for a 44 Sedan Bridge

[fisheye]

I am shopping for a SR 44 Sedan Bridge with the hydraulic aft platform. I want to install 2 Dolphin Pilings at my dock since I am very close to the IntraCoastal Waterway and see some big boat wakes. My question is how far apart should they pilings be spaced in terms of bow to stern? My canal is only 100 feet wide with a neighbor directly across with a dock (no boat yet). I will have to make a 180 degree turn at my dock as I enter the 'slip'. I am thinking about setting them about 45 feet apart. I think the bow will be about 4 feet past the first piling to place the bow cleat a little past it. I will have 17 feet between my dock and the dolphin pilings for a boat with 14-3 beam.

Any ideas or advise on this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[FootballFan]

I have done planning for piling placement, I know what I like.

My thought is if they a bit closer together you would have more flexibility in options to tie up.

Side note, 40’ would allow you to enter on the side between the dolphins. You could probably achieve that at a shorter spacing.

 

[techmitch]

I am shopping for a SR 44 Sedan Bridge with the hydraulic aft platform. I want to install 2 Dolphin Pilings at my dock since I am very close to the IntraCoastal Waterway and see some big boat wakes. My question is how far apart should they pilings be spaced in terms of bow to stern? My canal is only 100 feet wide with a neighbor directly across with a dock (no boat yet). I will have to make a 180 degree turn at my dock as I enter the 'slip'. I am thinking about setting them about 45 feet apart. I think the bow will be about 4 feet past the first piling to place the bow cleat a little past it. I will have 17 feet between my dock and the dolphin pilings for a boat with 14-3 beam.

Any ideas or advise on this would be greatly appreciated!

I have done planning for piling placement, I know what I like.

My thought is if they a bit closer together you would have more flexibility in options to tie up.

Side note, 40’ would allow you to enter on the side between the dolphins. You could probably achieve that at a shorter spacing.

Just curious?
I know they aren't cheap, but why only 2? Is a bigger boat not in your future or do you only have so much bulkhead to work with?[/QUOTE]

 

[fisheye]

I need to enter the 'slip' area between the 2 pilings. That is why only 2. My canal would make it hard to bring in anything bigger than the 44 with a platform.

I will look at setting them at 40' apart

 

[sbw1]

The most important line is your spring line. So, a dolphin pile at your midships with a heavy duty line would provide a lot of wake protection. If you need two, I would have them placed so you can do a 4 way tie. Just curious...how do you plan to deal with the cables that could do a lot of damage to your rub rails?

 

[fisheye]

I plan on using the dolphins to keep the boat away from the dock mainly. I will also use a line from each one to the middle cleat as a spring line each way. I will do the same on the dock side. The boat 'should' never touch the dock or the dolphin pilings if I set the lines right.

 

[sbw1]

I plan on using the dolphins to keep the boat away from the dock mainly. I will also use a line from each one to the middle cleat as a spring line each way. I will do the same on the dock side. The boat 'should' never touch the dock or the dolphin pilings if I set the lines right.[/QUOTE

I you go with two dolphins you really do not need to spring it to keep it off the dock. Do a 4 way tie with a bow line to the forward dolphin and cross the stern lines one going to an aft dolphin. You could add a spring on the dock side if needed. That would give you great protection.

 

[fisheye]

Thanks sbw1 - that is what I was thinking as well. I would likely spring from the dolphins only if a bad storm or a hurricane was coming my way!