Dock Line Size ...

[Ghost]

I think I know why the correct lines aren't supplied.........
The MFGRS get a huge break on volume orders which include customization.
I betcha.

Yep, I could see that. And/or, nobody was paying much attention. Just said, "hey, I can get these cheaply and give the customer something that matches the boat."

Ironically, the SeaFit Economy 3-strand pre-spliced are pretty hard to beat for price. $15 for 20-footers. Attwood has 15 footers for $9.35 on Amazon. Might be the same stuff, just re-branded. You can't even get a splice done in your own line for that price--really good deal.

New England Ropes high-strength 3/8" is stronger, but the economy stuff should stretch even better and has a softer feel--not as stiff. Only drawback to the economy stuff is snags more easily and likely doesn't handle chafe as well. I use the N.E.R. high-strength 3/8" for anchor rode (extra strength, don't care about the feel, and it's long enough that you get extra stretch from that).

[gcarter]

If anyone wants to keep their "lines" (Mike, I knew that! ) nice and clean and soft, wash them in your washing machine in soft water.
You don't have soft water?
That's too bad, you deserve stiff lines!

[Ghost]

If anyone wants to keep their "lines" (Mike, I knew that! ) nice and clean and soft, wash them in your washing machine in soft water.
You don't have soft water?
That's too bad, you deserve stiff lines!

If you don't have soft water, soak them in a bucket of water with a healthy dose of fabric softener. Stir occasionally to work it into the fibers. Give them a day or so. Then rinse them thoroughly and hang them up to dry for a couple of days. Works great.

Probably can speed up the drying by doing the rinse in the washing machine, such that the spin cycle drives most of the water out before you hang them up.

(Note: this is for nylon lines. Not sure what you'll get with some other materials. Probably won't do anything for polypropylene.)

[duckhunter]

Dude, Gelcoat?

Touche'. I stand corrected.

I guess you need to find some willow bark and get to weaving!

P1020965.jpg

[Carl C]

If anyone wants to keep their "lines" (Mike, I knew that! ) nice and clean and soft, wash them in your washing machine in soft water.
You don't have soft water?
That's too bad, you deserve stiff lines!

I still have my old Culligan, George. I put a new digital valve/timer assembly on it.

[woobs]

...I guess you need to find some willow bark and get to weaving!

Lol. Yeah, I tried weaving hemp rope (as a natural fibre) but, after a couple bowls I just got hungry and forgot about weaving.

Fwiw, hey, I'm good for a thread on fenders .........

[Carl C]

Lol. Yeah, I tried weaving hemp rope (as a natural fibre) but, after a couple bowls I just got hungry and forgot about weaving.

Fwiw, hey, I'm good for a thread on fenders .........

Fenders ... I do have a question about them if you start a thread.

[Ghost]

BTW, kudos Carl on your nylon 180. Just a thought--if you expect to be out at PIB or other places where you might get tied up in ugly lake action, snubbers are a big step up, even from the stretch of nylon. They'll work with the poly lines you have just fine. Might be a good insurance policy. You don't have to use them all the time--can just have on board. You can rig one in under a minute if you've done it before.

For anyone whose boat sees any really ugly wave action while docked, I highly recommend them. They're not cheap, but they're a lot cheaper than glass repairs. They're over $50 apiece from West, but you can do much better if you look around. Amazon has them for $33/per. http://www.amazon.com/Dock-Edge-16-I.../dp/B002IZKCQ2 if you have lines from 3/8" to 7/16". Half inch might not squeeze in, would have to go up a size. Better probably to size the lines down than to buy much bigger snubbers just for dock lines, but maybe not.

[Carl C]

BTW, kudos Carl on your nylon 180. Just a thought--if you expect to be out at PIB or other places where you might get tied up in ugly lake action, snubbers are a big step up, even from the stretch of nylon. They'll work with the poly lines you have just fine. Might be a good insurance policy. You don't have to use them all the time--can just have on board. You can rig one in under a minute if you've done it before.

For anyone whose boat sees any really ugly wave action while docked, I highly recommend them. They're not cheap, but they're a lot cheaper than glass repairs. They're over $50 apiece from West, but you can do much better if you look around. Amazon has them for $33/per. http://www.amazon.com/Dock-Edge-16-I.../dp/B002IZKCQ2 if you have lines from 3/8" to 7/16". Half inch might not squeeze in, would have to go up a size. Better probably to size the lines down than to buy much bigger snubbers just for dock lines, but maybe not.

It doesn't happen very often. I did buy six lines so that I can make a spring line on each side. That was the time I had to idle for 20 miles in 6-8 footers before I could plane out in 4s. Good ol Lake Erie.

[woobs]

Fenders ... I do have a question about them if you start a thread.

As requested...
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthre...547#post663547

have at 'er.

[Pismo]

3/8"

The old white braided jobs.. Uglier but they don't slip with half hitches and the smooth ones do.

[Carl C]

I found a use for one of the original dock lines. It'll go to the cabin.

[JParanee]

That looks cool

is it just pinned ?

[Carl C]

Nope. Glued with polyurethane construction adhesive.