Whether you plan to spend the hurricane season on anchor, on a mooring, or at a marina,
here are items that increase your safety and comfort when trying to hold on or fend off.
BLUE OCEAN Dockline, made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, is exclusive to Marlow’s Mooring Series. This premium Dockline is made from rPET (recycled polyester yarn). Available on reels and pre-spliced in 12-16 mm diameters in lengths from 6 m to 12 m. Its unique construction offers the same popular attributes as Marlow’s regular Dockline, including good abrasion resistance and shock absorption with soft and supple flexibility and zero strength loss or shrinkage. Available in black or white silver, both with a distinguishable Blue Ocean fleck.
Marlow Pre-spliced Dockline has a 50 cm factory-spliced eye with chafe gear and a whipped end.
UNICORD Twisted Nylon is ideal for mooring, docking, or anchoring because its traditional construction gives strength and elasticity that allows it to absorb sudden shock loads. It’s easy to splice and resistant to rot, abrasion, mildew, marine growth, gasoline, and oil. Swivel fittings are recommended on single point, rotating moorings.
It is sold by the foot or by the roll, as well as a ready-to-use pre-spliced pack with a hand-crafted eye splice.
Doubling lines is one way of tackling the problem of chafe during a storm. Make the second line slightly slacker than the first, so that when the primary one fails, the back up line, which has not taken quite so much force, is there to take its place.
Chafe guards for docking and mooring lines can be a DIY project. Threading your line through a section of clear hose, which is then fixed to the rope with cable ties, is one way. A better option is to obtain an offcut of used fire hose and stitch it in place, providing tough, flexible protection less likely to break away from the high chafe area.
Polyform has been producing their heavy- duty F Series fender for over 50 years. Boat owners and captains rely on their extensive size range with secure vinyl valve seal, ribbed reinforced rope holes and twin-eye design for vertical or horizontal deployment.
Polyform Guides on fenders and buoys give information on how to calculate the correct size for your boat, and tips for using them when docking, storing, rafting or mooring your boat.
Taylor Made Big-B Fenders have a centre rope tube (3/4” hole accepts up to 5/8” rope) allowing end-to-end line passage – useful for horizontal hanging against pilings in tidal change areas. Their seamless construction and moulded ribs minimise roll. Available in 6-, 8-, 10- & 12-inch diameter sizes.
Taylor Made Flat Fenders are made from closed cell EVA and will not puncture or absorb water. Their flat design keeps them from rolling or riding up and can be fastened together to create a modular system. Easy to store, they also double as a knee pad or seat cushion.
Carib Marine Inflatable Fenders have a single heavy, high-denier polyester bladder that is UV protected and PVC coated inside and out. Lightweight and easy to deflate when not in use, they are available in 30, 35, & 40 cm diameter sizes.
Removable, washable covers keep fenders UV protected, clean, and neat. Regular application of fender cleaning products will help prevent grime, slime & grit from the water scratching and fouling your hull, or transferring to deck, cockpit, and storage lockers.
Making sure you have the right number of fenders, properly spaced, hung at the correct height from the water with the perfect knot, is something every new crew member learns – often the hard way. Fenders have a way of floating off or flipping up and leaving topsides vulnerable. In severe conditions, tying your fender top and bottom with a long rope right under the hull to the other side may be the only way to keep them in place.
Low profile or flush mount fender cleats that pop up or lift in just the right position when required, are a neat solution that will not stub toes.
Boat Hooks are essential items when dealing with fenders, buoys, and ropes. They unfortunately have a strange way of going overboard sometimes, or never being in the right place when you are looking for them, so always keep one or two spares.
Telescopic boat hooks are easier to store but may be less rigid than fixed boat hooks. A good way to keep them neatly stowed on deck or down below is to use a couple of spring clips/tubing clips.
Taylor Made Dock and Post Bumpers are made of closed-cell foam encased in a soft polyester textile cover to protect your boat against contact damage. It will not deteriorate in the sun or mar your boat. Flexible 1″ tab allows for standard “Top-of-Dock” or unique “Fold-Over” mounting, which conceals the top row of fasteners. Flexible enough to mount on curves or around corners. Attaches easily with #8 or #10 screws and finish washers or nails (sold separately).
West Marine has excellent docking advice at the link below.
