S Clips for Docking

[l008com]

The dock at my local public boat launch was rebuilt this spring. The new dock has no cleats. Instead it has this funny 5" high wooden railing around the edge. Which I really don't get. So I use pre spliced dock line and now I have noplace to hook on to. And most of the time, I'm launching my boat by myself. So I figure if I just get some little S clips, I could just wrap the rope around the railing, and clip it to itself. This isn't for any kind of long term parking. This is just to hold the boat at the dock long enough for me to go park my truck. Any suggestions?

One suggestion is to go buy a bunch of cheap cleats and install them myself some night. I may do that but in the mean time.

 

[shrew]

Re: S Clips for Docking

Personally I wouldn't trust an 's' clip. You could put the spliced loop end on your cleats, then wrap the other end of the line around the railing and tie 2 half-hitches. Alternatively, you could use the spliced loop and run it around the rail, then run the line through the loop. either way would work. The former would be easier, while the latter could be a bit more cumbersome.

Another way to go could be to tie the spliced loop to your cleat, then run the line around the rail and back to the cleat, then cleat hitch it to the cleat over the spliced loop. Then when you're ready to depart, undo the cleat hitch and pull the line into the boat in one step. I'd probably end up doing this last option.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: S Clips for Docking

you can also buy brass clips with spring closures; I use them a lot on boats.

If the boards on the dock have spaces, they sell portable cleats that have a base that fits between the boards. I have one.

 

[l008com]

Re: S Clips for Docking

Got links?

 

[Stamey]

Re: S Clips for Docking

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...5_225000000_225006000?hvarAID=shopping_amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Dock-Edge-Portable-Cleat/dp/B000LC5XQ8

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?r=view&i=33140

http://www.perfprotech.com/store/product/EZE-DOCKER-PORTABLE-MOORING-RING-686-2701ZF,126296.aspx

http://www.iboats.com/Dock-Edge-Instacleat-Portable-Cleat/dm/view_id.48039

http://rtkrecreational.com/EZEDocker.htm

Just a few I found with a search. the first one doesn't look as easy to use as the others, but maybe I just haven't figured out how that one is supposed to be used.

I know what you mean about those docks though. I don't know if it's to discourage people from tying up there or what. When it does have a "rail" board I can tie around I usually do a double half hitch around the rail board. It's pretty quick and requires no extra hardware.

Chris

 

[robert graham]

Re: S Clips for Docking

I use some heavy duty 4 Ft. long bungee cords for temporary docking. For overnight docking in tidal waters, wind, strong current or heavy wake conditions the bungees are good in addition to regular mooring lines to sorta hold your boat snug while giving some stretch...pretty handy!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: S Clips for Docking

a couple carabiners might work. I've been thinking about getting a couple for use at the ramp dock at my local lake that is steel mesh with no cleats.

 

[l008com]

Re: S Clips for Docking

I don't think there's enough spacing between the slats on this dock, to fit a porta-cleat between. Also I'd rather find a plastic type clip vs one of those metal ones, so I can leave it on there without it scraping around and smashing into my fiberglass. But as a last resort, I'll get something like that.

 

[l008com]

Re: S Clips for Docking

I found these on Amazon. These are what I'm going to go with:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...17145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B001DZNZZI

Remember, these aren't for permanent "parking", they're just to hole my boat for a few minutes while I park, or go get, my truck.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: S Clips for Docking

Those are meant to hold your keys to a backpack. I'd get a carabiner with a little more heft.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: S Clips for Docking

The railing is designed that way for single person launching.

Tie the line to the boat. Feed the line around the railing and back to the boat. When you're ready to leave, until the line. As you back away, the line will slide thru the railing and then you retrieve it from the cleat.

 

[blifsey]

Re: S Clips for Docking

Why not just a quick release hitch tied to the railing? Here's one I found through a quick google search. I'm sure there are plenty more that would work. In the video, the cleat is used as a rail, the left length would be the line running back to boat which is connected to cleat and the right length would be the loose/bitter end.

Quick Release knot

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: S Clips for Docking

find a new ramp...lol


Seriously though..

I think some docks dont have cleats (my fav doesnt) due to tripping/lawsuits, believe it or not.

 

[americaneagler77]

Re: S Clips for Docking

i vote carabiner. if being used long term or mooring get the type that screws shut and prevents it from opening. but for quick launching a standard one will do fine

 

[l008com]

Re: S Clips for Docking

For now I'm just going to use those S clips. This is a freshwater, virtually current-less river, so even those 5 lb S clips should be fine. And some night I'm going to sneak over there and install a bunch of cleats. I could screw them into the side of the dock, that would make them impossible to trip over.

 

[blifsey]

Re: S Clips for Docking

Don't think I would mount to side of dock...seems that would damage boats unless they had huge fenders out. Better to get some of the type that fold down flat when not in use.

 

[l008com]

Re: S Clips for Docking

I'm trying to find out who owns the dock so I can ask what the deal is. If theres no reason for not having cleats, ill just put them on top.

 

[americaneagler77]

Re: S Clips for Docking

whats wrong with half hitch knots to the post or railing, we dont have cleats on the lake i go on. just 4x4 posts

 

[l008com]

Re: S Clips for Docking

Here's a pic of the dock in case your wondering exactly what it looks like.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: S Clips for Docking

shoot those would be easy to make fast too.... send a loop under the rail and hook over the end,,, then make the tag end fast just as you would on a standard cleat one time on the same end... would work just fine in calm weather for the amount of time it takes to park the truck