Can you help me tie up my boat?

G

gnealon

New Member
Apr 8, 2009
570
West Babylon, NY
Boat Info
2005 280 DA, Garmin 4208
"Ship Faced"
Engines
Twin 5.0L Merc BIII
This probably sounds silly, but i thought it would be fun to hear all the ways to tie up my boat. I have a 280DA (31.1 ft LOA). Boat will be in a slip with 2 poles 25ft from the dock on each side of the bow. I attached a diagram on how I thought i would do it (my *new to me* boat comes this wed... i have never done this before)

Also... i need to go out and buy rope to be ready for delivery wednesday... if you could suggest length that would be awesome too. The slip is 14ft wide.

THANKS A LOT!!!!

VkJu_hTsUvI4j6hgPH7gMw
 
Cross the stern lines. Then set spring lines from midship to the pilings. Your forward lines are OK.
 
Southpaw II said:
Cross the stern lines. Then set spring lines from midship to the pilings. Your forward lines are OK.
Click to expand...

awesome... so the spring lines don't have to go to the stern?

also... can you explain why I would cross the stern lines?


thanks for the advice.
 
Try this pattern:
bungeecords.jpg

Oh wait..wrong link... Try this one. :grin:

bow_spring.jpg
 
gnealon said:
awesome... so the spring lines don't have to go to the stern?

also... can you explain why I would cross the stern lines?


thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...

No need to make the spring lines any longer than necessary as the are to keep your boat from moving rearward.

You don't have to cross the stern lines if you don't want to, but it's a good idea if the avaialable slip space is limited. I don't cross mine, but my slip is about 19' wide.
 
gnealon said:
hahaha classic!!! thx, does it make a difference if I do not have finger piers?
Click to expand...
No.

It does make a difference if your dock is floating or not, which you didn't mention. Two spring lines is overkill unless your expecting massive wakes and/or a gale. In which case you need more lines anyway.

Since you are shopping for them, I carry two full sets of lines (note rope is something you use on land). One set stays at the slip, set just right, the other stays aboard for the trip. Get a mix of lenghth. You'll want a couple of longer lines for your springs.

Congrats.. enjoy!
 
Agree with Vince. I'm tied up the same way although my dock is oriented differently than yours. Still, it's a very secure tie and will work for your situation.
 
Crossing the stern lines allows the boat to move up and down with the tide/waves without binding the lines, while still keeping the boat from moving side to side. It also makes the lines longer, which allows for more shock absorption in the lines themselves (they stretch)
 
ChuckW said:
No.

It does make a difference if your dock is floating or not, which you didn't mention. Two spring lines is overkill unless your expecting massive wakes and/or a gale. In which case you need more lines anyway.

Since you are shopping for them, I carry two full sets of lines (note rope is something you use on land). One set stays at the slip, set just right, the other stays aboard for the trip. Get a mix of lenghth. You'll want a couple of longer lines for your springs.

Congrats.. enjoy!
Click to expand...

Sorry... Dock is NOT floating. Also.. that sequence of

1. Starboard piling
2. Bow cleat
3. Port piling
4. Midship port cleat
5. Port dock cleat
6. starboard transom cleat

Is that ONE long line? Or do you use a bunch of shorter lines?
 
gnealon said:
Sorry... Dock is NOT floating. Also.. that sequence of

1. Starboard piling
2. Bow cleat
3. Port piling
4. Midship port cleat
5. Port dock cleat
6. starboard transom cleat

Is that ONE long line? Or do you use a bunch of shorter lines?
Click to expand...
1 line per connection.
 
Sorry... one more question guys...

What do you recommend in terms of breaking strength? (West Marine web site...)

4000
6800
11000
 
I'd go with 1/2" double braided nylon on your 280 as I do on my 260. I do carry a couple of 3/8 lines and my springs are 5/8. But I'm just saying...
 
We are in a similar set up in our slip for our boat. I used 2 15 ft 1/2in lines on the bow and then 2 25ft 1/2in lines crossed on the stern.

I have one 5/8in short spring line attached to the piling at the end of the finger pier and I use that as a "cheater" spring line when docking. It is a different color ( black) and it is the line I attach when I dock to stop rearward motion and keep my stern from swinging too far over. Then I make sure the misses has the bow lines attached and then go and secure the stern lines. I purposely made it black so I can say, to anyone on the dock or on the boat that wants to grab a line, get the black one, its the one there with blue specs in it...

As for securing the lines to the piling you can either cinch the line around the piling through the eye of the rope and then secure the bitter end of the rope to the cleats on the boat with a 1/2 hitch, this allows you to adjust the lines from the boat. Or if these are permanent lines you can secure the bitter end to the piling with a clove hitch, wrapped around the piling and secure the bitter end with a bowline. Leaving the eye to secure on the cleats on the boat... Up to you..
 
Last edited:
ChuckW said:
It does make a difference if your dock is floating or not, which you didn't mention. Two spring lines is overkill unless your expecting massive wakes and/or a gale. In which case you need more lines anyway.
Click to expand...


I've always thought a little overkill is good. I've been out many times when storms come up in the middle of the night. It's kind of funny to get up and watch people running around in the dark shouting instructions on how to add extra lines. Great entertainment.

I'm not sure what floating has to do with the configuration of your lines. A four way tie and a spring fore and aft works the same on floating and fixed docks.

We had 100mph winds in our area several years ago on a Memorial Day weekend thousand of trees a quite few houses blew down. We lost 7 100 year old Oaks, but the boat was fine with a four way tie and fore and aft springs. Cockpit cover even stayed on undamaged.
 
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