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Spring line defined

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/05/2003 : 12:28:19

I have always cleated my bow lines on the stern end of the dock. They are cleated so that they allow the bow to come about four feet from the bow end of the dock. I Pull the eye splice of my Stern lines through the center of the dock cleat on the forward dock cleat and loop them over the horns. Then I put a couple wraps on the cleat for good measure. When I dock I simply hook the bow lines over my boat's bow cleats. I take the tails of the stern lines to my coming winches and winch the boat up until the bow lines are tight. This creates crossed lines on each side of the boat and when we get to the boat I simply release some line on the opposite side of the cockpit and pull up the slack on the side we board from. The boat stays "sprung but pulled over for easy access. I have always seen the rubber segments in the stores but have never seen them on a dock. Am I "springing" my dock lines? My boats have made it through serious storms that have broken the slips off their moorings and destroyed lots of other boats. (My lake will never have a rapid change in water depth.)

Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

Edited by - fhopper@mac.com on 09/05/2003 12:34:41

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2003 : 13:25:10

Frank and Martha,

I have two bow lines that connect to osmepneo's bow cleats and then on the docking side I run another line to the bow cleat. That line is a spring line and keeps the boat from getting to close to the dock in front of the bow. I also have a stearn line, that runs between the after part of the dock and the boat. This arangement keeps the boat off the dock, and works very well.

If i understood what you have done, I'd suggest a bow line, for your boat, that would define the maximum distance from the dock the boat can be while she is docked.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2003 : 17:28:48

1) You should never push the eye of a line through the center of a cleat. In an emergency and with tention on the line you will not be able to remove it. If a eye wont stay on a cleat there is something wrong with the cleat design.
2)Mooring your boat with what sounds like spring lines only will also eventualy land you in trouble. Bow cleat to bow dock cleat and stern to stern. Spring lines can be various ways. Center dock cleat to each bow and stern, center boat cleat to both bow and stern dock cleat.
3)When passing another vessel a line or dock you should always pass the eye and take in your own line as needed. This puts you in control of your own boat. Watch the commercial boys. If you put the eye on your vessel and pass the bitter end you become liable for any misshap to person or property.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

joe keith
1st Mate

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USA
26 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2003 : 19:53:48

If you have the eye of a line just over a horn cleat and there is tension on the line you won't be able to get the line off the cleat either right?

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2003 : 00:55:44

If its just over the horn you can push down or up on the line to bring it tighter. Then use the slack you have created to slip it off of one end of the horn. If it is threaded through the eye you have no chance to do this as the line will return to original possition while your playing with the eye trying to pull enough slack in it to unthread. Its just advise you don't have to take it.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2003 : 11:32:17

Frank and Martha... The main problem I see with your arrangement is that you're using the tension you create by winching the spring lines to hold the boat from moving sideways. That's unneeded stress, especially if there's any wave action (including small boat wakes). Spring lines are meant to position the boat fore-and-aft, while the bow and stern lines recommended above position it laterally. There shouldn't be tension on any of them--each should be just snug enough to keep the boat from moving too far in the opposite direction. Your idea for slackening and tensioning to position the boat for boarding, however, is fine.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - on

deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2003 : 12:14:19

Thanks, Doug, for your timely reminder about dock lines and who should be in charge of what. The eye should indeed always go on the dock cleat. If you have to separate from the dock in an emergency (a fire for example), you have to be on the boat, and an eye wrapped over the cleat horns cannot be released by you on the boat. Also, the captain is the one who should do the final tensioning of dock lines, and that is also more easily accomplished from on board. On a mooring the eye should be laid over the cleat and then tied off with a safety (you'd be amazed how many sailboats are lost because they slip the mooring in the night when it begins to blow and the mooring line jumps off the cleat).

One further quick point: the winches should never be used as part of your tieing-off strategy. It's OK to winch yourself into the dock as you describe, but then the dock lines should go to the appropriate cleat.

Dave on "Wood Duck" (#2616)

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2003 : 12:38:46

Spring Line Defined...

The "Spring Line" for 2004 will focus on a fresh, youthful look consisting of bold colors, short skirts, plunging necklines, and stilletto heels... <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2003 : 13:51:25

Remember the old saw for clock adjustment "Spring forward, Fall Back ?" Same deal for lines, the bow technically has forward bow spring and aft bow spring, the stern technically has forward stern spring and after stern spring. In each case the forward and aft rtefers to the direction the spring is led: the forward bow spring is lead forward from the bow point of attachment, to prevent the boat from going forward, the after bow spring is led aft to prevent the boat from going sternward. In normal practice it may be unnecessary to have forward AND aft spring lines at each of the bow and stern stations, this applies more to large vessels. The bow and stern line keep the boat off the dock, the spring lines locate the boat forward and aft. When cruising, it is wise to hasve at least the following: Two lines for the bow, so that one can be lead from each bow clweat; Two lines for the stern, to lead from each stern cleat (maybe crossed, in places wher tidal rise is a factor) and four lines that can serv as spring lines forward and aft on each side. This allows you to be secure in a slip between pilings, OR to lie at a dock on one side or the pther. Many experienced cruisers carry more...we used to, when cruiding. As to using winches as a point of attachment, there are occasions when you might lie in a slip that has a heavy surge, where the boat moves back and forth, where you would adjust with the winches because they are the strongest belay points you have, and also because you can adjust even under heavy load. God bless and fair winds, ron at SW FL Orion sr sk #2343

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2003 : 06:51:51

The simple scheme of a short bow line perpindicular from a forward deck cleat to a bow cleat and a short stern line perpindicular from a aft deck cleat to a stern cleat has always seemed odd to me. Vertually every boat I have ever seen is tied up that way, but when you watch them in a blow the lines yank and jerk. My cross line system has the boat under a constant load that allows the boat to react to the wind and water but does not let the boat ever get yanked to a hault. I find it hard to believe that I am stressing the boat hardware, rather I think the constant load prevents a sudden clash of opposing forces which should be easier on the boat cleats. (IMHO) I use Golden Braid that has a nice stretch to it. I forget the size but the eyesplice takes effort to get threaded through the bow cleat. The comments regarding lines at sea are welcome advice. We lake sailors often are clueless when we raft up or need to be assisted.

Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

Edited by - fhopper@mac.com on 09/12/2003 06:52:55

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