How to fix a rope round my boat?

[roger]

We are off to the Baltic and box moorings. I want to wrap a thick rope round the boat to protect the top edge (unprotected outward facing fibreglass corner) with a 2" dia rope. My problem is finding a suitable fixing method that is reasonably tidy and keeps the rope right up to the corner.
Do you know who can supply suitable widgets? A possibility is to use small eyebolts and string but there may be a more elegant method.
Motor boats use them with a SS wire core at vast expense. Has anyone got any ideas?

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[pvb]

Vetus...

Vetus sell a vinyl rubbing strake designed to take a rope of 65 or 80mm diameter. The rope still needs to be tensioned, but the strake will help to hold it in place.

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[Evadne]

I presume drilling small holes in a line and "sewing" it in place with wire is unsuitable?

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[seaesta]

After finding a massive think rope floating off Watchet and wondering what the hell to do with it I decided to put it round my tender as an all round fender. I drilled small holes and used electicl flex to tie on the rope. It has lasted 15 years so far.

These days I would use cable ties of suitable colour and pulled into the lay of the rope so they dont wear or show much. I suspect fitting a rubber rubbing strake as on fishing boats would be a better but more expensive bet.
Martin of Seaesta of Whitby

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[Forbsie]

Like this but tidier?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/forbsie?&page=1>My Project</A>

 

[Guest]

The old way was

to drill small holes in a line and then use single strand twistable wire around the rope ... through the hole and twisted up.
Today I would use electrical plastic cable ties ..... rot proof !!

Remember whichever method MUST hold it absolutely tight against the hull - otherwise its wasted.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[roger]

Many thanks for replies

Many thanks for your replies folks. I think I'll go with the small holes and line method though I'm a little worried about waterproofing the holes. The hull/deck joint is a tin lid arrangement giving an upstand (bulwark) and I dont want water getting lose in there. I presume a wipe of epoxy would be useful.
I had a nice method suggested by a fellow member of my club which I will here relate:-
make up L shaped hooks.
Thread the longer end.
Sharpen the shorter end.
Force short end through rope
Pull long end through hull hole with washer and nut.
The result, says club member, has been success for ten years.


<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[quaelgeist2]

Re: Many thanks for replies

I wouldn't drill holes either and I have seen a number of alternatives, but then again I have a berth in Holland, where box-mooring is the standard thing ;-)

1) From Compass in Germany (and potentially from their UK outlet) you can get readymade bumper-lines of thick rope with smaller rope at both ends. Tied to push and pull pits and you are done.

2) Quite some boats, with a hull shape of broadest area at the toerail, fix a thickish rope with cable fasteners directly to the toerail (needs obviously holes in the toerail)

3) Take a 1/2" rubber hose from the garden center and pull a 12mm line through it (mouseline!) - tied to push and pull pit it should do the trick, to. Don't use a black one
;-)

hope it helps - don't forget your fender board, as you will have quite some BAltic harbours with a rough wall where you fenders do not protect you sufficiently.

chris

Experience shows, that it is not the corners that need protection but the middle ;-)

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