Quote:
Originally Posted by Acres per Second
Just a few thoughts about mooring whips, moorings and spring lines:
1) We make it a point to dock our heaviest boat with the bow "facing the action". (The stern offers too much area to incoming wakes— wakes have caused our dock lines to part  and wakes remain our biggest problem).
2) The effectiveness of spring lines is influenced by the diameter and construction of those lines.
Nylon is "stretchy", especially in the smaller diameters (what I use). Some lines have no stretch at all: watch the "action", and decide for yourself which is best for your situation.
Polypropylene-constructed lines, IMHO, shouldn't be used for anything serious around boats. 
3) Regarding lightweight aluminum docks:
Depending on the depth at your dock, your unused mooring line can be extended from the mooring and secured to the "outermost" hardware on your docked boat. Because the mooring line is heavy and long (and should have some chain on it) it becomes an extra-sturdy snubber that will take the worst punches that a lake can throw at your docked boat.
Secure it loosely to your dock for re-use later. 
Our wake problem: |
APS: You have a problem with wakes at your dock. I would be reluctant to leave a boat at that dock.
There is an alternative. Have a mooring out away from the dock. Have a "Warp" line out to the mooring so you can haul the boat out to the mooring from the dock when you are not using it. When you want to use the boat just haul the "Warp" back in to the dock with the boat in tow. No need to have another boat to "GO Out" to get the boat. No need for whips.
A Warp Line is like an old fashioned "reeled" clothes line... that can reeled out away from the house... and reeled back in when you want to retrieve the clothes off the line.
NB