Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

"adding extra dock lines..."
In Response To: getting ready for Saturday ()

OK here is a question for you old salts... what do you do when your boat is only tied to one side dock?

Previously I enjoyed dockage that had finger docks on both sides of my boat, wherein I could tie 4 lines and "suspend" the boat in the water well away from any hard docks.

I am now in at a marina where one shares a larger open dock with another boat, with each of you having side ties, and one cleat at the head of the boat. I really don't like that only inflated fenders prevent damage to my boat from the dock I am tied to. I was just checking on the boat yesterday as we had a forecast of high winds, and sure enough the winds were coming off the land side and were blowing the boat right onto the dock... where only fenders kept the boat from constantly rubbing against the dock.

I have 4 lines set, one from the bow to the side dock, one from the stern to the side dock, one from the bow to the pier at the bow of the boat, and a spring line... which in reality only keeps the boat from moving from my side dock towards the other boat at the dock.

I want something better than just fenders, when the sea and winds are up. I really want the boat suspended away from the hard stuff by a web of ropes. But for the life of me, I don't see a good way to do this.

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