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Prefered Dock Line Source?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sadey
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Sadey

Sadey

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  1. OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
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60' MOTOR YACHT (1987 - 1989)
Time to replace dock lines on Benedetto. I know the lengths I need but not sure if I need 3/4” circumference or 7/8”? I also plan to use double braided in stead of the mega braid. Suggestions on source?
 
I moved my 4 main dock lines from 3/4" to 1" last year and I like the heavier lines much better. I was fortunate to have a close friend wanting to get some 1" out of his garage so I happily helped him dispose of it :cool:. I cut and tied bowline's for a loop end with the fire hose protecting the loop. I made the loops large enough to slide over the dock pylons.

I used old fire hose as my chaffe gear on the lines.

On paper the 1" seems like overkill.... but in my hands, and to my eyes it seems about right. These boats are heavy and catch a TON of wind. Florida thunderstorms can be flat out nasty with super heavy winds.

Now, if I were transient, or cruising, I would have a set of braided 3/4" lines to use for daily docking duties. But for staying long-term in a slip 1" three strand would be my choice.
 
Jammin' said:
I have some double braid 3/4" that get really waterlogged and heavy. How are these in that regard?
Click to expand...

They don't get too heavy, just wet, but I prefer to keep them dry of course. However, I don't let them sit in water or they will get nasty (algae). I keep them dressed on the boat (off the deck) and for the two bow lines (I park bow in where I am at) I use the stiff nylon stuff because of the coil that sits on the dock. But all of the other lines are these. They are much more comfortable to handle.
 
rustybucket said:
I moved my 4 main dock lines from 3/4" to 1" last year and I like the heavier lines much better. I was fortunate to have a close friend wanting to get some 1" out of his garage so I happily helped him dispose of it :cool:. I cut and tied bowline's for a loop end with the fire hose protecting the loop. I made the loops large enough to slide over the dock pylons.I used old fire hose as my chaffe gear on the lines.On paper the 1" seems like overkill.... but in my hands, and to my eyes it seems about right. These boats are heavy and catch a TON of wind. Florida thunderstorms can be flat out nasty with super heavy winds.Now, if I were transient, or cruising, I would have a set of braided 3/4" lines to use for daily docking duties. But for staying long-term in a slip 1" three strand would be my choice.
Click to expand...
Ditto on the 1”. The 1” DB is another reason I’m planning to add an extra cleat on each side; hard to get enough big lines on. I have a couple hundred feet of 3/4 onboard for use as long springs in storm conditions. But if I use 3/4” for other than springs, I double up. Got plenty of fire hose also. I always use it on both ends, because it’s surprising how rough some cleats can be. Good to remember fire hose is generally three ply. You should discard the inner rubber liner which can precipitate heat failure of nylon lines. On lines going through hawse pipe, I like to stitch the hose to the line as sometimes the gear will work itself loose. Filthy lines are easily brought back in a washing machine.
 
I also use 1" 3 strand dock lines. Its not something you want to have to worry about if your away during a storm. I use defender.com, you can specify the lenth and size of the eye you want and they will custom make it. A 12" eye should be fine for your cleats; if you want 35' line order 37' with a 12" eye to get 35'.
 
Thank you for the replies. I think I’ll use Defender. Here in the Midwest we get the occasional big gust front however it’s very short in duration, maybe 10 mins top. The other night we hit 67mph or kts I’m not sure which one to use because we are technically on the Root River here in the Racine harbor so I think 3/4” will do. If we are leaving the boat for a day or more or a line of weather is headed our way I always double up.
 
I got my last three sets from that online retailer in Canada, I'll post their name if I can remember it. They also manufacture the rope themselves.



Online rope store, that's the name.
 
As I have posted before, certain Dock Line brands are mfg'd offshore. I have found them to have End Loops, which are under-sized: a little to unusable. One such brand is sold by a well known marine store.

In fact, since I have manufacturing in my background, I made the effort to contact the rope makers HQ. (they are ropes until one end is secure, then become a line- true?). Sourcing is a major issue nowadays, esp. offshore. Much to my surprise they had little interest in their "out of box" quality issue. I could not reach a senior person and the party I did reach basically blew me off.

So anymore I try to acquire US source content.
 
I really like the New England Premium 3-Strand from Defender. Last 2 to 3 times longer then other 3-strand dock lines I have used. I too have been using 3/4" for past 12 years, but did recently buy a 50' piece of 1" for spring line for storms. The starboard stern cleat ripped out of my 43 DC during Isaias 2 weeks ago. The 3/4 line on stern and springs had burn marks in them from stress near the dock cleats. The 1" was still perfect and easy to get off cleat. Took allot of whacks of the hammer to the 3/4" line to loosen and get off dock cleats.
 
I really like mega braid sock lines. They re much more pliable and don’t kink

Defender is one the best source with the best customer service and prices. Another good source is Fisheries Supply
 
Wish making eyes in double braid was easier. I prefer to buy lines by the spool. There’s a guy in Charleston that does them. But after learning he pretends to be a navy combat veteran with two fed convictions for defrauding the VA that ain’t an option.
 
I have been using Samson Ropes 1" super braid for the last six years. No issues during the hurricanes in JAX with damaged lines.
I bought 600' spool and it took only a day to splice and whip eight dock lines up. Samson had some good information on "how to" and the tools required. I got better and quicker after the first couple.
 
Great. I’ll stop by next time I’m in JAX!
 
When I worked at a local Marina, we would purchase all our lines from aamstrand dot com

I've bought lines for my boats from here. I am not affiliated with them. I do like Samson and New England and have bought DB dock lines from them also.

Aamstrand Ropes & Twines
 
sgharford said:
I really like the New England Premium 3-Strand from Defender. Last 2 to 3 times longer then other 3-strand dock lines I have used. I too have been using 3/4" for past 12 years, but did recently buy a 50' piece of 1" for spring line for storms. The starboard stern cleat ripped out of my 43 DC during Isaias 2 weeks ago. The 3/4 line on stern and springs had burn marks in them from stress near the dock cleats. The 1" was still perfect and easy to get off cleat. Took allot of whacks of the hammer to the 3/4" line to loosen and get off dock cleats.
Click to expand...

Your quote was of great interest: "The starboard stern cleat ripped out of my 43 DC during Isaias 2 weeks ago." I had very close, but not identical, damage to my 43' DCFB as well, during the 2019 season.

We had 80 mph straight line winds off of Lake Michigan, although our marina is 5-6 miles in off the lake. In this case the Cleat held, but the Chock, through which the line runs from the Boat Cleat to the Dock Cleat, pulled out. Since it is a "surround" Chock, it was there hanging on the line, when I found it. I was quite surprised that the Chock was not "through bolted". Instead the hold down bolts had a nut on the end, and the nut was embedded in the fiberglas.

The 56' or so Hatt a couple slips down had all his canvas blow off the flying bridge!
 
Pelican Rope double braided lines have served me well for many years. They will custom make any line size, loop size, line material, etc... Have served me well for many, many years, through more than our fair share of hurricanes....
 
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