Lash Doubling

Lash Doubling
Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials
Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:
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Could you trust the nylon braided line that you use for docking to protect your boat from costly damage in a thunderstorm, extreme tides, or even a hurricane? Use these 10 tips to give your small cruising boat the best chance of survival in all conditions.

1. Buy Larger Line

Nylon line stretches up to 25%. 200 pounds of pressure on a 1/4" nylon line will cause it to stretch up to 4 feet. If you double the diameter of the line to 1/2", you will reduce the amount of stretch to 1 foot! Choose a larger diameter line for less stretch.

2. Keep Your Line Dry

Wet nylon line loses 15% of its rope strength. This applies to anchor rode, too! Once your line dries out, it regains 100% of its original strength. Wash your line with fresh water after hard use. Dry it before you coil it back down into an anchor well or sail locker.

3. Use Larger Diameter Line

Synthetic line builds up heat from "sawing" back and forth inside a chock. The inner core can get hot enough to melt the line like a hot knife through butter. Choose larger dock line for greater surface area to protect from chafe (also see 7. below).

4. Install Larger Cleats

Install strong, oversize boat cleats at the bow and stern to handle storm lines. Bolt the cleats through the deck and add strong backup plates under the deck to spread the loads over a larger surface area.

5. Match Cleat Size to Line Size

Make sure your boat cleats can handle these line diameters for heavy weather docking or anchoring:

* Vessels up to 35': 1/2" line

* Vessels 35' to 45': 9/16" line

* Vessels over 45': 3/4" line

6. Smooth Boat Chocks

Boat chocks serve as fair leads to direct the line from one place to another. But chocks often have sharp edges that can saw through a line in a storm. Use fine grit sandpaper and smooth the chock base, sides, and arms to protect your expensive nylon braided line.

7. Use Chafing Gear

Install chafing gear anywhere a dock line makes contact with the boat. Use strips of canvas, old fire hose, rubber tubing, or rags. Lash the chafing gear in place with waxed sailmaker's twine. In a pinch, use three to four layers of duct tape as chafing gear.

8. Make Large Eyes in Each Line

Form a two foot diameter eye splice in the end of each dock line. Make five tucks with each strand. For added security, apply a seizing or whipping near the throat of the splice.

9. Lengthen and Cross Spring Lines

Long spring lines and crossed bow and stern lines allow the boat to rise and fall with the tide. Make spring lines twice as long as the length of your small cruising boat. Cross bow and stern lines to form an "X" between the boat cleats and pilings or marina dock cleats.

10. Adjust Lines at Low Tide

Snug up your lines at low water spring tide. These "moon" tides occur twice each month, on the day of a full or new moon. Center the boat in the slip and allow just a bit of slack in each line. Mark each line with a permanent marker where it touches the boat cleat. This takes the guesswork out of where to cleat the line the next time you tie up.

Keep your small cruising boat safe with large, well placed nylon braided line, chafing gear, and strong deck equipment. When the next coastal storm blows through your marina, you'll be glad you did!

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Captain John Jamieson shows small boat cruising skippers how to reach their sailing dreams today! Get his popular free report "Save $100's on Marine Ropes for Sailing with These Seven Tips" at http://www.skippertips.com/public/231.cfm

John offers free reports, videos, tip-of-the-week, and a free ezine with subscription ===> http://www.skippertips.com

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