Rope/mooring lines set up for boat.
Submitted by joycey on Sun, 2012-08-26 22:46
Hi guys,
I am a newbie and have a query regarding rope set up for my boat ( I have a 5.3m cuddy cab.)
Just after advice on how to set up ropes/lines on the boat for launching and for returning to the boat ramp ( I generally use Woodies ramp).
Cheers for the advice.
Michael.
 (2).thumbnail.jpg "Kalbarri pink from 16 metres of water.")
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
The setup I use, is that I
The setup I use, is that I have two ropes, I acturly made them up for a 5.3 cuddy and are now a bit short for my present boat, but they are about (2x)10m long, and have a spliced loop on each end. both ropes I keep permanently mounted on the boat. Both ropes attached to the bow bollard, then each goes to the stern cleat port and stb respectivley. I have mounted another cleat on the gunwhale on each side about midway, but within reach of the driver sitting and leaning out. This allows 1/ the surplus rope to be wound about it and brought inboard to keep the boat tidy when not in use. 2/ the skipper can on his /her own tie up at the jetty without leaving the controls.
The idea of the single ropes with a loop at each end attached to the boat for and aft, is that the boat can be manuvoured off the trailer and down the jetty or vice versa when loading, pulling the rope at either end allows the boat to be steered by the person on the jetty with out the risk of dropping the rope. Keep some spare ropes on board for tying up at the jetty etc as well (springers).
The ropes kept on either side allows you to come into a jetty either side at short notice, and not have to reset up the ropes.
Justo82
Posts: 482
Date Joined: 17/10/11
2 ropes. One on each side
2 ropes. One on each side running from bow to stern. Easy to tie up to a jetty and easy to get on/off the trailer.
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
These are the different types of mooring lines
With a description of what they all do. As the other posters have said, probably just need two lines, but never hurts to understand what they are supposed to do and carry more lines in case of bad weather.
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
If you are launching and
If you are launching and recovering solo, you just need one long line, tied off at bow and aft. lt must be long enough to allow the boat to come off the trailer, when its over a couple of pylons, without getting hung up. I use the cheap poly lines that have a weaved sheath, you can get them at Bunnings (50m length) for less then $10.00. Doubles as a great mermaid line if you dive.
The set I have have been on the boat since 2008 is still good.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Be careful with those
Be careful with those bunnings ropes. The batches vary a lot and while some are good, some are complete rubbish. Several months ago bunnings had a recall on some of them too. The ones you get in the bins on special not in the rope isle can be really crap. There's no cord inside, just bulk "cloth". Rarely UV protected too. As said, some are quire fine, but some are junk that should never be used for load (someone used one of those ropes for a swing and it snapped causing injury). My last rope snapped pulling it on the trailer. Wasn't too bad, as I just got wet retrieving it but in a packed marina, you might have your boat hit another or draft off in a stiff breeze if the rope snaps. Can't use it for a tow if needed if not strong enough either.
BCF have double braid soft poly rope (red, blue, etc) for under $2/m.
Two tips are do a single rope and make it loooong (as per Iana said). I have a 4m boat and use a 10-12m line (10 would be fine). You at least want your boat length plus 4m. If longer you can always knot and shorten it to a perfect length. Some will say its too long but it's really useful being that long. As mentioned you can pull the boat on the trailer a lot easier with a single long rope (attached front and back). Get the angle do you're inn front of the boat. Kick the rear off with a foot or use te wind. Pulling on the rear line pulls the boat in square, front one pulls the nose in.
If launching and retrieving yourself, a long rope allows you to loop it round a bollard as you push it off. With a deckie, they don't need to stretch out and lean over the jetty to grab the line particularly on ramps like ocean reef. A long line cab make it useful retrieving your boat alone too.
On the jetty, a long line allows more flexibility for bollard choice. I like the lines boat hearing away from the boat like the pic above. Loop around with half hitches (or just loop and with good rope control you can flick them off). My rope is quite long so I tie a slipped overhand loop. This won't release when the ends pull but if you pull the bight in the middle of the line it slips free easily and you get. Fair bit of slack. Then "lasso off".
At the ramp before launching, a monkey sinnet stores the line away from the wheels but pulls off smoothly.
Storing the rope, you can do the figure 8 storage. Grab the line in your thumb and go under rope with left hand, lift, then right hand and lift and so on . Then at he end you wrap around the loops. Pulling the end you started with and it'll all come out easy and untangled
joycey
Posts: 251
Date Joined: 28/05/11
Cheers guys
Cheers guys