Length of mooring lines

[tidclacy]

I am confused, looking at the web and various posts on this forum there seems to be differing opinions on the length of mooring lines. Dont need to know diameter or type just length for 31ft Jeaneau Sun Odyssey. Plus if slip lines are needed should the ropes not then be doubled?

Keep the boat on a swinging mooring so only need lines when visiting other ports on the East Coast and cruising to the South West in the summer.

 

[AliM]

It's useful to have some reasonably long ones for shore lines when you have to raft up. Mind you, we haven't had to do that often on the East coast, although we have when we venture further afield!

Let's say 2 x 10m for bow and stern, 2 x 15m for springs and (one or two) x 25(+)m for shore lines or strange mooring situations (eg box moorings if you venture across to Holland!).

 

[Searush]

I acquired a 120' ex-climbing rope but didn't want to cut it. I can do fore warp & spring, and aft warp & spring all in one! Not actually that practical if you need to adjust them, but a fun exercise.

I carry 2 warps about 1-1.5 boat length, these are easy to coil, store & handle. As I approach a berth, I fasten one to bow & one to stern bring them outside everything & leave them coiled on the cabin together. I can then pot the boat exactly where I want it & step ashore, climb the ladder or board the inner boat with the fore & aft lines in one hand. These can be temporarily secured & adjusted in my own time. Once I am happy, similar sized springs can be added & shore lines set up.

The big climbing ropes make excellent shore lines, they are soft to handle, long, can be doubled (for releasing from the boat) have plenty of stretch (in case you get it wrong) and best of all, can be very cheap. They will also do as tow lines, safety lines for kids learning to row the tender &, if it doesn't float, as anchor warps.

 

[Twister_Ken]

2 x 1 x boat length for bow and stern
2 x 1.5 x boat length for springs
2 x 2 x boat length for shore lines. (if you're any further out than that you really don't want to be there!). Also usable for tow ropes, extra anchor warp, etc.
1 x as long as you like and lighter than the rest as a heaving line (mine's an old mainsail halyard).

 

[Poignard]

Looking in the inventory for the sailing barge Kathleen (given in 'Spritsail Barges of Thames and Medway' by EJ March), I see that she was equipped with an 80 fathom 'track line' and a 60 fathom 'horse line'.

Could be useful if you need to raft up or have an engine failure, although I'm not sure how easy it would be to find a horse these days. I know things change slowly on the East Coast but .....

 

[LadyInBed]

I would concur with Ken

 

[vyv_cox]

Ken's is a good guide and very similar to my basic inventory. However, you might find that when you cruise the south west the odd longer line might come in handy. When the Irish Sea was my cruising ground I sometimes found a use for a couple of 30 metre lines kept in the bottom of a locker, for long shore lines in massive rafts in Ireland, or in Portpatrick where there is a big range.

 

[VicS]

T.K's advice is as good as you'll get

See also http://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/p/technical/mooring-alongside-diagram

Useful if the breast ropes are long enough to double up for slipping.

Don't ever pass the opportunity to acquire lengths of suitable rope.

You never will have the idea set of ropes for any specific situation so the more you have of various lengths the better off you will be.

 

[alahol2]

I'm sure what it generally boils down to is... several old genoa sheets, several old main sheets, several pieces of different size picked up for a bargain at the boat jumble or the reel-end bin at the chandlery.

 

[tidclacy]

Trouble is that I have so many bits of rope lovingly collected over the years that I need to rationalise. Advice received excellent, thanks everybody.

 

[boaterbaz]

Agree with Vyv Cox, I sail cornwall, tidal range of 4 to 5 metres, high quay walls and often rafted up two or three deep. A couple of long line for shore ropes essential I have one anchor/shore line of 50mtr plus eye splices in the other shore lines so I can join them up when required.

 

[Madhatter]

[/IMG]

 

[sailorman]

2 x 1 x boat length for bow and stern
2 x 1.5 x boat length for springs
2 x 2 x boat length for shore lines. (if you're any further out than that you really don't want to be there!). Also usable for tow ropes, extra anchor warp, etc.
1 x as long as you like and lighter than the rest as a heaving line (mine's an old mainsail halyard).

the last time this question arose some smart arse thought 2 x boat length for a narrow boat was excessive.
my boat is like a maritime outlet for Jimmy Green

 

[LadyInBed]

my boat is like a maritime outlet for Jimmy Green

Tell me about it! I can't resist picking up any length of disguarded rope or cord that's not polyprop, cut out any worn bits and make up the ends and give it a wash.

 

[Searush]

Twister Ken said;
2 x 2 x boat length for shore lines. (if you're any further out than that you really don't want to be there!).

You don't use high stone quays in a big tide area then, do you? 2x boat length would even struggle as springs in Caernarfon. 4 off 3x boat length would be needed in such a situation.

So much depends on where you choose to moor up & how often. Doubling up shorter ropes is OK for an odd occasion, but if it's a berth you visit regularly, it makes sense to set something suitable up. That's why people collect ropes whenever they can & have lots of options.

Another poster decried poly-prop, but it is cheap, often falls off lorries & can be picked up from the roadside & is not a risk if you are aboard, but I'd be wary of long term chafe if it was left unattended for long periods.

 

[dansaskip]

Piddling bits of rope

Short lengths of mooring rope are ok if you never go anywhere but marinas but in proper harbours with high stone walls you need length. Try tying up in Port St Mary on spring tides for example rafted up 3 out with the top of the harbour wall 25 feet above deck and lines only 1.5 boat lengths - well you just can't do it. So i agree with the last post.

 

[Twister_Ken]

You don't use high stone quays in a big tide area then, do you? 2x boat length would even struggle as springs in Caernarfon. 4 off 3x boat length would be needed in such a situation.

So much depends on where you choose to moor up & how often. Doubling up shorter ropes is OK for an odd occasion, but if it's a berth you visit regularly, it makes sense to set something suitable up. That's why people collect ropes whenever they can & have lots of options.

Another poster decried poly-prop, but it is cheap, often falls off lorries & can be picked up from the roadside & is not a risk if you are aboard, but I'd be wary of long term chafe if it was left unattended for long periods.

I'm in awe of you moored to wall types. I'm sure I'd manage, there's 60 metres of 3 strand that Arcona supplied for the kedge, and 150 feet of three strand that I bought at a jumble 12 years ago and is still coiled up in its cable ties. Otherwise, most of my 'acquired' bits and pieces of string were left aboard Indigo for the new owner to scratch his head over.

 

[vyv_cox]

I'm in awe of you moored to wall types. I'm sure I'd manage, there's 60 metres of 3 strand that Arcona supplied for the kedge, and 150 feet of three strand that I bought at a jumble 12 years ago and is still coiled up in its cable ties. Otherwise, most of my 'acquired' bits and pieces of string were left aboard Indigo for the new owner to scratch his head over.

I have a photo upstairs of a raft of boats, taken at Dunmore East in about 1994. I would scan and post it but unfortunately I cannot climb stairs at present. There were two rafts at the time, we were about in the middle of the second one. The one I photographed has 13 boats in it and ours was about the same. I had a shoreline out, something like 50 metres of it, but I was almost alone in this. The boat on the inside of ours was steadily being crushed (wind was force 6-7) and after requesting that more people put shorelines out he gave up, cast his lines off and moved to the outside.

 

[prv]

The boat on the inside of ours was steadily being crushed (wind was force 6-7) and after requesting that more people put shorelines out he gave up

I have no experience in such big rafts (only two or three boats), but how would shorelines help stop inside boats being crushed? Surely you'd need something pulling away from the shore?

Pete

 

[vyv_cox]

I have no experience in such big rafts (only two or three boats), but how would shorelines help stop inside boats being crushed? Surely you'd need something pulling away from the shore?

Pete

Yes, there will obviously be a certain amount of lateral load even if everyone has shore lines but in general this doesn't seems to be excessive (although I can't speak in general for rafts of 13!) The really damaging loads and noises occur when the raft bends backwards due to the combination of fresh winds and the absence of shore lines. Cleats can be ripped out and warps snapped.