Dock line chafe protection

[DoubleD]

I’ve been playing with different dock line chafe protection methods. My marina had some 6” fire hose for free, so I striped the outer cover from the rubber and draped the canvas over the galvanized dock cleats and zip tied at the end of the horns. It was a quick solution with an impending storm on the way. Generally I would had made a sleeve around the line, but just covering the cleat seemed like a quicker solution. I’ve not seen any reference to this application on the internet, so what am I missing? I still plan to make sleeves for the boat side chocks, but may just ride out the winter with the dock cleats draped with the canvas.


DD

[DefinitelyMe]

Do I understand that you're trying to protect your lines by putting chafing gear on the cleats?! That won't work I'm afraid. The line will just chafe on the canvas instead of the cleat. The line is the dynamic part, so that is what needs to be protected, not the cleat!

[Hartleyg]

Best anti-chafe I've found.

Hartley
S/V Atsa

[Rumrace]

If you need anti chaffing gear for your boat I make two. One for wide Toe rails and one for the aluminum slotted rail. They are both designed to handle two lines.
Both snap into place remove easy to stow.
I have the data to make your own locally if you like.

[Sailer_Med]

Originally Posted by Hartleyg

Attachment 266866

Best anti-chafe I've found.

Hartley
S/V Atsa

…ditto…

[Don C L]

Usually lines chafe where they pass through something. Your lines were chafing on the cleats they were fixed to? If so, yes, the chain photo is the solution.

[Rumrace]

I was working at the wrong end of the line. No tides in the Great Lakes so boats tend to stay stationary on their spring lines. Chaffing happens more when lines pass over the gunnel tying up to peer or rafting with another boat.
The chain I’ve seen used on mooring pin.
This is the narrow mooring chuck. Snaps on. I print it in TPU

[CaptTom]

Fire hose makes great chafing gear at the chock. Boat supply stores sell canvas sleeves for the same purpose, so the idea isn't out of line. I always keep a few short lengths of fire hose in the deck box. If I were leaving it for any length of time I'd wire-tie it or stitch it to the line.

[SVTatia]

Climbing tubular webbing works well for docking lines, and at a reasonable price.
Practical Sailor did a test which included webbing.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/boa...or-fiber-rodes

[DoubleD]

Originally Posted by SVTatia

Climbing tubular webbing works well for docking lines, and at a reasonable price.
Practical Sailor did a test which included webbing.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/boa...or-fiber-rodes

SVTatia, thanks for the tip of climbing tubular webbing. I have several feet of 1" webbing I'm no longer using for what I bought it for. It should fit over my 1/2" mooring lines. Less work than striping the rubber off the 6" fire hose I have

[DoubleD]

Originally Posted by Hartleyg

Attachment 266866

Best anti-chafe I've found.

Hartley
S/V Atsa

One of my dock neighbors is using this technique. I have some extra chain. but not the mooring lines with eye splices

[Hartleyg]

DoubleD: "I have some extra chain. but not the mooring lines with eye splices"

Acquire yourself an appropriate fid (I have several of these in small & large - cheap and reliable: https://www.defender.com/product3.js...9491&id=33502#)

People of even moderate dexterity (like me) can easily learn how to splice 3-strand line with a fid like the above - I made all the docklines for our boat (with the aforementioned chain loop ends) in an enjoyable afternoon with my lawn chair on the dock.

Be warned, however -- splicing is addictive/habit forming, and leads to all sorts of deviant behavior (like buying a hank of rope to see how to splice it) - but its rewarding, too

Hartley
S/V Atsa

[JAFO]

Originally Posted by Hartleyg

Be warned, however -- splicing is addictive/habit forming, and leads to all sorts of deviant behavior (like buying a hank of rope to see how to splice it) - but its rewarding, too

I can confirm this... when I first learned eye-splicing, I kind of went on a splicing spree for several weeks!

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by DoubleD

SVTatia, thanks for the tip of climbing tubular webbing. I have several feet of 1" webbing I'm no longer using for what I bought it for. It should fit over my 1/2" mooring lines. Less work than striping the rubber off the 6" fire hose I have

Just out of curiosity, why do you strip the rubber out? We use the fire hose as it is, seems better lasting.

[DoubleD]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Just out of curiosity, why do you strip the rubber out? We use the fire hose as it is, seems better lasting.

There is a theory, supported by testing at Practical Sailor, where anything that retains heat, such as rubber inside a fire hose, can lead to line failure. It may not always be the chafing that causes failure, but overheating of the line. I am prone to analysis paralysis, so the overheating may be an extreme case that I don't need to worry about. And may be something you don't need to worry about either, but.....


DD