Stern Lines

[paulw]

Can anyone advise me on the type and diameter of stern line I should use to take a stern line ashore whilst at anchor. I believe that it's a very common practise in the med.

Cheers

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[boatless]

Depends on the size of your boat, but whatever you normally use for mooring is fine. If it's your boat, a few metres of chain to form a loop to drop over rocks will save wear on rope.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Talbot]

welcome to the forums. Additional information in your bio would enable us to give you better advice.

I have a 9m catamaran, and use a 14mm octoplait with my anchor. I have a 3 strand nylon on the kedge at the moment with 20m of 5/16" chain, but after using it for stern mooring last weekend I plan to change this to 7m of 3/8" chain and 12mm octoplait. The shorter chain will still provide nearly the same assistance to the anchor holding power, but will be easier to lug around in the tender, and the octoplait will be far easier to use from the tender than the 3 strand.

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[bob_tyler]

Mooring stern to you should use two warps, one from each quarter.

Be very careful. Many harbour walls have the odd rock or fallen masonry agianst the wall under the water. It can be safer to moor bows on for this reason. It will also prevent the rudder being damaged against the wall if the anchor doesn't hold.

If mooring bows on also use two lines to the wall, spread at about 45 degrees to port and starboard if possible.

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[boatless]

This could become a very long topic... if you're stern-to a quay (in the med) keep your eyes open for outlying rocks, as above, and mind your rudder. You'll see them easily. Moving a metre or two sideways will get around that one, more often than not.

Bow to or stern to? Personally, prefer stern to. Gets the big anchor out and lets me watch the view. Bows to means that you're not being ogled by passers by, and no rudder problems.

In a bay, just one line ashore, from either quarter. Bear in mind that if the wind really gets up from abeam, the line ashore is putting a huge load on your anchor. (Think about the tension in a washing line, if you hung on it). If that happens you need a plan B. This could be to move the shore line upwind, lay a kedge upwind, or simply drop the line and lie to the anchor.

Lastly, two much more important tips. Look out for the sewage outlets and the street lamps. I have an unerring ability to forget these two.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Nick_Pam]

This for a 38ft yacht displacing about 8 tonnes
Long line ashore when at anchor....50m of 16mm Octoplait with a 4m of 10mm chain made into a loop and through a hard eye splice in the Octoplait...stops the rocks/trees etc eating your Octoplait
Stern lines when stern-to on a jetty/pontoon....16mm Octoplait with soft eye through stern cleat and looped over - long enought to be doubled and brought aboard.
Would also sugggest you use 1m of 16mm with a snubber and a chain hook on your bower cable to stop chain noise and load on windlass etc
Hope it helps.
Nick

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