Dock lines for storm conditions

[rob71]

With a few days to prepare here in Fl, I thought a discussion on how to tie and run dock lines could benefit myself and others. Double lines of equal length, run diagonal and crossed, how to account for line stretch etc.
any and all wisdom welcome. Thanks Capt. Rob

 

[SEVEN]

Use snubbers where possible. I also cut garden hose and run the lines through it. I put the hose where ever there could be rubbing. The way you have the lines set is perfect. Good luck with the storm.

 

[Mike36c]

I've found that standard three strand nylon line to be the most storm friendly. It will stretch and offers a sort of cushion as the boat takes a beating. I avoid braided dock lines, while stronger they don't give as much and will actually snap when an abrupt large load is applied.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

No! Rubber hose no good on synthetic line. Stretching heats line, rubber holds heat and line melts through. I use firehouse; strip out inner rubber tube and then strip out the two layers of fabric. Got plenty if you're in Charleston. Four point moor plus additional if you can. This is from Matthew last year. It was Cat 1. Put every line on and on every cleat and hope for the best.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Agreed. There are nylon covers with Velcro that work pretty well, also, but I haven't seen them after a real storm- yet.

Do any of our Florida members haul out for a hurricane such as this one, or is that choice not available or not recommended there?

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Firehose: Great Chaffing gear. Strip out inner rubber tube, then strip out inner fabric layer and it goes twice as far.

 

[Mike36c]

Agreed. There are nylon covers with Velcro that work pretty well, also, but I haven't seen them after a real storm- yet.

Do any of our Florida members haul out for a hurricane such as this one, or is that choice not available or not recommended there?

Haul out options are tough to come by. I tried to pay my yard up front annually just to reserve me a spot, no dice.

 

[SEVEN]

No! Rubber hose no good on synthetic line. Stretching heats line, rubber holds heat and line melts through. I use firehouse; strip out inner rubber tube and then strip out the two layers of fabric. Got plenty if you're in Charleston. Four point moor plus additional if you can. This is from Matthew last year. It was Cat 1. Put every line on and on every cleat and hope for the best.

I've never been in storms like you guys are expecting. The burning hose is new to me. Sorry

 

[rob71]

I did experience extreme line stretch in 2004 storms. That was was only 80 mph gusts.
My 34 footer was cross tied in a canal and my 30 ft lines stretched 6 ft. Putting the boat within 3 ft of the concrete sea walls. Now my 43 footer is in a slip with only 3 ft on either side to piling sand finger dock.
:-/

 

[bobk]

Agreed. There are nylon covers with Velcro that work pretty well, also, but I haven't seen them after a real storm- yet.

Do any of our Florida members haul out for a hurricane such as this one, or is that choice not available or not recommended there?

Jim, we have hurricane clubs or plans down here. The idea is pay for the privilage to have place in line to be hauled. They give you a window in time where you have to show up. Then there still are additional charges. Most all the storms within 200 miles of Miami have fallen between 8/15-10/15, so I chose to haul 8/15 for two months. The cost is close to what the club plan plus the extra expense and I'll get some maintenance and bottom job done at the same time..

Bobk

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I've never been in storms like you guys are expecting. The burning hose is new to me. Sorry

Rubbery covers don't burn. They help the individual nylon fibers get up to temp. When they part, half looks like a frayed break. The other half is glazed over. Hard to believe, but it happens without the wrong gear too.

 

[SEVEN]

The highest wind gust I've ever be in is 65 MPH. We don't have those horrible winds and rains you have in the east. If higher winds do make it here I'll be ready.

 

[Walter P]

Heat generation is more common than we think on nylon lines. I lost two lines on my 48 MY during Sandy...both were melted at the break point. By the way, I usually use 1" line as storm preparation and also for winter in water storage. Nylon rope is very strong ..... unless it is permitted to heat up and heat it will when subjected to friction. The rope is made up of many fibers of nylon twisted together and then each section is again twisted, usually into 3 sections. The reason for most of it's "elastic" properties is because of all the twisting which creates friction, thereby melting the small fibers. Just look at how easy the fibers melt with a match or small heating device when you melt the ends to keep it from unraveling. I think that the use of a large diameter rubber snubber with line wrapped around it will substantially reduce the friction and thereby prevent the line from parting.

As far as hauling.... I'm not convinced that it's the best course of action. Most of the boats that were lost or damaged here in NJ during Sandy were stored on land and were lifted by the super high tides. Some were carried away for miles. One of my friends lost his Hatteras 38C that way and it was blown into the Raritan Bay where it sunk. No matter how hard we try, we can't fool Mother Nature. All we can do is hope that our preparations are the best we can do and make sure our insurance premium is paid up.

Walt

 

[rsmith]

Problem is you can only put so many lines on the cleats. Then you need solid coring underneath with backing plates not just washers. Frances in 04 pounded us for 36 hours I had lines tripled up first set fairly snug second set looser for when the first ones chewed thru. 3rd set loose and tied off where I could get to them. You'll never get a line on a pole after it's blowing and the cleats can only handle so many. In a real blow chafing gear is worthless. As the lines stretch and that's a lot it snakes it's way out of place no matter what you secure it with then becomes just a pain in the ass. If the lines are too loose the boat rockets around in the slip with the gusts and when the line gets taught it either breaks or can pull out a cleat.

 

[rsmith]

Mathew last year

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Maybe so, but I'm going to try. Good chaffing gear ain't worthless and buys you time. Don't forget to add it around dock cleats and pilings. Run lines across the bow to gain length. Run long lines from spring cleats to bow cleat to bow cleat for super long lines spreading the load. Loosely bundle lines where they come together in fire hose to keep in place and pulling evenly. Put the strain evenly on the bundle not on one then the next and so on. Like you said, one line failed after the other. I'm taking some tires with me that I can spike into pilings. Pump fenders up to dribble mode. Use anchor or at least chain to pilings in slip ahead of you. Use the windlass capstan as a last line of defense. Put chain bridles on pilings and wrap to protect lines. Tie life jackets on pilings or docks. Something is better than nothing. I have frameless windows, so I put suction cups on them then pull them against each other with racket straps. Lots of pressure in the boat trying to get out. Caught one window dismounting in Matthew. Duct tape around hatches so wind can't get under them and take them--sometimes it's the hinges that fail. Run a heavy strap over hard top to frame. I've seen hard tops get torn off. Duct tape cockpit hatches to deck. Seen them lifted from air entering through engine air intakes. Make boats as heavy as possible. Fill water and holding tanks and have plenty of fuel onboard. Lots more to be done. I'd hate to miss the one detail that sank my boat. Looks like we're traveling Friday to be able to get secured and head to the farm on Sat here in SC. Good luck to us all.

 

[PeterK]

Good advice all around. We also use fire hose but have not taken the liner out. We parted one line (of 14) during Matthew but it was caused by catching the edge of a concrete piling when the line shifted.

We got our tuckus' saved by a friend. Found us a privately owned slip at a hurricane hole marina in Vero Beach. Owner is on his boat in the Chesapeake and said use it (no charge) and pay it forward. Only had to write him we would pay for repair if we damage the dock!

As our alternative was running as far as we could up the North branch of the St. Lucie and tying off to mangroves, gratitude does not do justice to what we are feeling...

I'm seeing a bottle of really good single malt or small batch (or both!) in the dock owner's future...

Everyone stay safe!

 

[rsmith]

Is that where you are this time? Grand Harbor?

 

[PeterK]

Is that where you are this time? Grand Harbor?

Yes. The old Loggerhead/ new Suntex.