CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

[HappierWet]

I don't get it. I really don't understand how people go out and buy even a cheap used boat and then tie it to a dock, however briefly, using anything less than a decent mooring line. They just use whatever piece of junk is lying around, like there's no such things as wind or wave or wake. And DON'T get me started on the useless tangles that are supposed to pass as knots.

OR am I just being hyper-critical?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

really proper lines, do not fit in many peoples budget.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

I don't even know what a "decent mooring line" is. I've been using some kinda rope that I got a Walmart for about 2 bucks for the past dozen or so years.

 

[j_martin]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

I use line I buy at Wal-mart or Menards. It's cut into the lengths needed and eye spliced at the ends for utility. I also teach anybody on my boat how to flip in a clove hitch with a flick of the wrist. Comes in handy in a little wind.

When they get frayed or lumpy, they get replaced.

I got in a windstorm in the wilderness in Voyagers National Park. 12 miles from anything, and 20 hours of gale and full gale winds. Boat was tied to a partially sheltered dock, with stays and springs that would make any sailor proud.

Boat suffered very minimal cosmetic damage. 2 tents were destroyed. A couple of fishing rods on the boat blew into the mooring lines, and were destroyed.

my 02
John

 

[scipper77]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

I took off one of my mooring lines, looped it around some large bushes in front of the house, tied off to the hitch of my truck and pulled out the bushes. It took everything my truck had to get those bushes out but the mooring line is fine. I'm confident that those two lines are strong enough to hang my boat from.

The irony is that I trailer so I could get away with the kite string

 

[_chris_]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

I have a couple of old shoe laces tied together.

I was out on the lake a couple of weeks ago and the guy next to me had nothing of rope, he asked me to hold onto his boat while he ran to his truck. He didn't even have an anchor line.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

I have a couple of old shoe laces tied together.

I was out on the lake a couple of weeks ago and the guy next to me had nothing of rope, he asked me to hold onto his boat while he ran to his truck. He didn't even have an anchor line.

Well, at least I'm not the only who sees it.


BTW how do those shoelaces holdup?

 

[_chris_]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

Well, at least I'm not the only who sees it.


BTW how do those shoelaces holdup?

They have been holding up great and colorfull too.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

They have been holding up great and colorfull too.

Yeah? I'm actually sitting thinking about the laces kids had back in the 80's and 90's that were about half an inch wide and all the colors of the rainbow. I saw a towline for a tube that was all different colors when we were at Cabela's. Now, maybe I can make some kind of statement at the ramp. Maybe I can start a cheesy mooring line craze.

 

[QC]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

Pet peeve of mine too although I do make my own custom length lines out of decent quality line or rope that I buy in bulk wherever I can get a good deal. Doesn't matter to me if I get it at Wal or K mart or Depot or the swap meet. High quality nylon is good regardless of where I buy it.

I can't stand things like a loop simply thrown over a cleat instead of pulled under and looped back around . . . Pulling from over a cleat and looped back under that pulls from the top, Ps me O too . . . I also like Flemish Flakes (spiral on the dock), proper clove hitches for some things, bowlines etc. Knotted/tangled up stuff is ridiculous . . . A cleat with all of the line wrapped endlessly around and around makes me puke too. Takes forever to get it off when it's time to go. Dumb . . .

 

[v1_0]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

We can't afford such luxuries as rope. I use my children - one at the front, one at the back. They put their feet on the dock and hands on the boat.

I told them that there are sharks, piranha, alligators, and leaches in the water near the dock so they better not fall in or they will be eaten by at least three of those.

They hold on pretty good.

The only downside is I can't anchor for very long, nor where it is deeper than a few feet.

 

[pmat1]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

My good line keeps disappearing, so i am using a old tube rope that it rated for over 4 thousand pounds. Keeps the boat there pretty well. I would be more worried about my cleats pulling off the boat.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: CLOTHESLINE, SKI LINES and KITE STRING

I agree too! When we first got this boat, we went to a public dock and had the old 3 strand nylon dock lines with us. (Only 2) However, we needed 4 lines to properly tie up buy we got away with using a knotted up old ski rope and got away with it. :redface:

Before we went out again, we got two 15' and two 25' premium dock lines. Plus the old two as spares, I never go anywhere without 6 docking lines. Haven't need them all yet, but in case I do, I will have them.

A good dock line is worth its weight in gold!