Moving boat to a slip

villain style

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Oct 10, 2006
1,704
Safe Harbor Marina Kent Island, MD
Boat Info
2006 44 DA
QSC 8.3s
Engines
Cummins QSC 8.3s 500HO
So I have always lift kept my boat(s) at a private residence. Starting this year we will be moving to a marina and keep her in a slip. 4 piling slip with a finger pier. My boat was bottom painted three years ago and looks ok still since lift kept. Just curious if you think I need to repaint? Also, any suggestions or recommendations on size of lines needed to tie boat up and other suggestions for a new inwater slip holder....

Thanks - -
 
If the bottom paint still looks good then no need to re paint. I am assuming same type of water (salt/fresh). I'm a stickler as far as lines. I'm sure 5/8 would work but I like the 3/4" lines and it give me some piece of mind. If you have lots of tide movement then tideminders can be nice as well. Don't forget the zincs and start building a relationship with a diver.


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Start with your contract for any minimum requirements on size and number of lines and increase from there based on your comfort level. IIRC, my first marina required 5/8" lines for my size boat, and a minimum of 4, but changed to 6 lines at a certain vessel length.
 
Insurance!

Make sure your current policy covers anything that could arise from a boat sinking or catching fire at the marina. Bilge pumps and floats working.
 
IMHO you don't need 5/8' or 3/4' lines for a boat that size. You're not trying to lift the boat, you're only trying to keep it in place inside the slip.

Our boat is kept in a slip and we live in an area where it's often very windy. I use lots of lines on the boat but most of them are 1/2" or 5/8". On the side that faces the prevailing winds I double up the lines when we head south for the winter, but other than I just use 1/2" lines
 
+1 on the 5/8ths.

We had older 1/2 in lines on our boat when we tied up for a couple of days when we we in the process of bringing our 340 home.
Massive storm hit while we were in the car on the way home - got a phone call from a fellow CSR member Jason that we had started snapping lines.

Fortunately he and a friend got it tied back down. I'm not sure if the lines would have snapped had they been new but it was not anything I was willing to experiment with.
And that was in a reasonably well protected harbor. Where I'm at now is more exposed so having 5/8ths lines just gives me one less thing to worry about.

So how protected you are is one thing and how many cleats / pilings do you have available to tie to is another thing to consider and fixed vs. floating docks is yet another.

Keep it simple - see what everyone else is doing at your new marina.
 
If the cleats are in concrete onshore don't forget to use chaffing on the lines I learned this the hard way. I used clear tubing from big box store held in place with sailors string. we set the lines in the beginning of the season with the eyes facing the boat so all we do when leaving or returning is just hook / in hook the cleats and done.
ps. We snapped a brand new 3/4" line during a bad weather night so go as big as you feel comfortable using.
 
i use 1/2". I have never had an issue. 5/8 are too big for the cleats on my 2000 310. The cleats were smaller back than. They changed them in 2001.
I have the same slip config 4 poles and a finger pier. Use 6 lines.
Starting from the forward most poles as bow lines. My poles are almost even with my bow. The (2) lines are short and tied off on the bow cleats with a cleat hitch.
Then from the poles closest to the dock I have spring lines (2) that go from the pole to the aft cleats (not the transom cleats or amidship cleats) that are pre measured to keep the boat off the dock and have loops to go around the cleats. Then I have two stern lines that attached to the dock cleats that I then criss-cross to my stern cleats on the transom. These are tied off with cleat hitches. All 6 stay at the slip and do not travel with me. Get additional travel lines. Use a boat hook to grab the lines from the dock or the pole you left them hanging on. Don't reach and fall in or jump off the boat. If the poles don't have them put a hook or large nail in it to hold the line. Put the nail in the pole 90* from the boats direction so you don't snag the lines on your way in or out. Don't worry about criss-crossing he stern lines as you should be entering or exiting the boat over the aft quarter onto the finger pier. Kind of like the picture I found online - Below. Except I have the spring lines a different pole than the bow lines.
Gook Luck.

inslip.gif
 
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If you have short distances between dock and boat cleats it can be hard on lines. The shorter the line, the less give in it, and shock/load can beat up your lines and boat cleats. These things may be the solution sometimes if you're snapping lines. 14147-48-49-SNUBBERS_fu.jpg
 

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