Loose or tights warps in a storm?

[liverpool]

Car tyres make excellent shock absorbers inserted in a split/2 piece shore line but, not where they can rub on the hull.

+1 for car tyres - I see many of the pro crewed super yachts using them in Malta where there is frequently a lot of surge; also chains shoreside. For genoa furling lines may be worth securing on a side deck cleat rather than relying 100% on jammer (especially if line/jammer is getting rather old and not gripping well).

 

[Richard10002]

Saggy breasts and tight springs?

 

[jimbaerselman]

+1 for car tyres - I see many of the pro crewed super yachts using them in Malta where there is frequently a lot of surge

A car tyre gives you about 20cm spring as it elongates. Same as a rubber snubber or metal spring. And if you use tyres, as with metal springs, don't forget the chain bypass to take the strain when the rim wires or springs break through fatigue!

When chandlery rubber snubbers weren't available, I used ' Halfords roof rack ' style bungee shockchords, tied to the berthing lines with a rolling hitch either side of a loose bight of line about 1' long, if that makes any sense !

Yes, it does. For smaller/lighter craft. It's the same principle as the twin line idea - using bungee (instead of a light nylon line) to allow "roaming room" so the forces applied are much lower than otherwise. Good one. Same idea as using tights as warps - per OP and Ken.

But the forces needed to "spring" 7 ton displacement or more will be 200kgf and upwards, depending how little roaming room you can allow the boat before it has got to be brought up short. That's a very fat bundle of bungees! Hence the evolution of my views towards the elasticity combined with strength of nylon. Just tough elastic really.

Saggy breasts and tight springs?

Concisely put, sir!

 

[Seajet]

Jim,

I have owned and tried this homemade snubber technique on 30' and other larger boats, it still worked.

 

[onesea]

Saggy breasts and tight springs?

Firm and springy breasts are best surely??

Although I find she is happier with her moorings a little long and loose to let her move a little. You just have to watch for chafe , it can leave embarrassing lasting marks that are hard to cover up.

 

[Chris_Robb]

I agree with what you say Jim, but the only problem with Nylon seems to be that it goes very hard, presumably because of the Ultraviolet/sun damage. Does this hardness then cause a reduction in the stretch factor?

 

[jimbaerselman]

Hard ropes in the Med are usually caused by salt deposits. Fresh water rinses are the cure. Polyamides (nylon) and polyesters (terylene) both have good resistance to UV degradation. Nylon is a little more prone to chafe - because its stretch makes it work back and forth through fairleads. Polypropylene (much cheaper) is the stuff which falls apart after too much UV.

 

[jimbaerselman]

I have owned and tried this homemade snubber technique on 30' and other larger boats, it still worked.

I'm sure it does. Large is relative. I learnt to sail on a 75ft Brixham trawler, then slowly worked down through various sizes until living aboard a 10 ton displacement cruiser. Under 40ft seems small to me! So I have a judgement bias compared to many cruising folk. Apologies!