Dock whips

[winterh]

My new place has dock whips already installed on a permanent dock. I have never used them before as my old place had a boat lift. I loved the lift but don't want to spend the money right now. Will the whips work well for a 5000 pound boat. First season in the new place and it looks to be fairly well protected but I assume it can get rough at times. Don't want the boat smashed up against the dock or have the whips torn out if it gets rough. No way to tie down on both sides so am a bit nervous about these things.

[LIforrelaxin]

The simple answer is that it depends on the whips. Whips don't come in a one size fits all format. If your whips are rated for the weight there is no doubt in my mind your boat will be fine.

I have used whips for years, mainly because it was just to much work to put my entire U shaped dock in, mainly because finding help isn't always easy.

If your whips are two small for the application, you boat will not always be fended away from the dock, and the could potentially snap. I would call someone like Center Harbor dock, that sells whips, to come out and take a look at what you have, and make sure it is adequate.

[DRH]

That's good advice from LIforrelaxin. I've used dock whips for many years with good results, but there are short whips, long whips, light-duty whips and heavy-duty whips. The weight, length and beam of your boat are the primary factors in deciding what type of whips you need, as is your degree of exposure to rough lake conditions. As LIforrelaxin suggested, I'd also advise you to contact a "pro" who can advise you properly.

[camp guy]

I fullt agree with both LIforrelaxin and DRH with respect to making sure you have the correctly sized whips, but, please don't get "seduced" by whips and think they are all you need to safely tie up your boat.

I used whips while living on the Lake, but I also had a bow line, with in-line rubber snubber, leading to a forwartd tri-pile, to provide additional safety, and both stern and bow lines from boat to dock, and bumpers. Overkill ? - not when you are protecting your investment in a boat and in a dock.

[winterh]

Thanks for the advice. All makes sense. I bought a lift this morning and then spent the day watching the ice and wind rip my dock in half.

[DRH]

Originally Posted by camp guy

I fullt agree with both LIforrelaxin and DRH with respect to making sure you have the correctly sized whips, but, please don't get "seduced" by whips and think they are all you need to safely tie up your boat.

I used whips while living on the Lake, but I also had a bow line, with in-line rubber snubber, leading to a forwartd tri-pile, to provide additional safety, and both stern and bow lines from boat to dock, and bumpers. Overkill ? - not when you are protecting your investment in a boat and in a dock.

camp guy is right, never secure a boat only with whips. I use bow and stern lines to maintain the correct distance between the boat and the dock. I also use spring lines in an "X" pattern which prevent the boat from moving fore and aft ... that keeps the whips perpendicular to the dock at all times. Just for some extra insurance I also have inflatable fenders tied to two dock posts so in the event of a heavy squall the boat won't hit the dock. As camp guy said - you're protecting your investment so "overkill" really isn't an issue.