Need new mooring lines

[sailbleu]

Heading back from Lampedusa to Malta today , also a nice and fairly cheap place to do some boat accessory- shopping.
As my old , stiff and non cooperative 3 strand mooring lines were severely chafed whilst being pounded by heavy winds for a few days on a old , rough , concrete pontoon at the island Linosa it's time to buy some new.
I was thinking of buying the good , flexible , multi strand black polyamide lines , the real stuff so to speak .
That would also be the end of my wife's struggle when - on arrival - throwing the lines to the marina pontoon , where most of the time they wind up falling short into the water instead of reaching the hands of the pontoon-man.
The question is , what diameter and how long should I have each line , I need two on the bow and two on the stern as you well know ?

I realize there is a standard of using the lenght of the boat to determine the lenght of the mooring lines .
In my case that would be around 12 to 13 meters .
Would love to know your view on the matter gentlemen ?

Thanks
Regards

[MartyB]

Mine ones are about 1/2 the length of my boat, or 15'. BUT, with that said, I do have some 50' lock lines, and some others that are around 25' or so.

All frankly have a purpose depending upon where I am etc. Home slip the short ones work. Sometimes at visiting marina's, I find the 25' ones work best. I've even used the 50's on the front of my 30' so I can hold while taking off, then can unflip off the cleat as I leave from being backed in.

I would not want one set and size frankly.

Marty

[hoppy]

Does the length of the boat really dictate the mooring line length? I think not Ok maybe for a springer it does but for the other lines, I don't think so

In the med, it's perhaps more related to how far out you tie up from the dock. I don't have any formula for that.

Anyway I have 2 of the hard and nasty 3 strand lines with the rubber springs permanently tied to the dock. It's my main mooring line "at home" and fairly short (5m perhaps). I also have 10m of 16mm soft and elastically mooring line with an eye that is used when away from home. That line is good because it tends to be quiet, so no squeaking at the dock.

As my nice stuff is a few seasons old, I have some brand spanking new replacements in the form of 10m of 16mm of this
www.liros.com/en/products/productfinder/details/detail/liros-handy-elastic-2.html So soft to touch



With the 10m I've never been found wanting more. Once tied up, usually only half of it is used (normally from cleat to dock and back) and it allows me to get a few meters further out from the dock. If I need longer for any reason, I've got other lines (like a couple of 50m anchor lines)

For arriving/departing a dock med style, anything longer than 10m is just a pain.



and now I reread your mail

I'd get two 16mm x 10m liros-handy-elastic and two 14mm x 15m-20m of similar. I figure that if you are using 4 lines to secure the boat, then the extra 2 lines don't need to be as strong as the load is shared by more.

[rene460]

Hi sailbleu,

Those black multi-plait lines look so good when you are nicely tied up on a sunny day at a floating dock in a marina, but I have found them to be a disaster.  They are made for tying knots and do it at any attempt to throw a coiled line.  You cannot see them if you happen to find yourself tying up in the dark.  And if, like me, you often tie up to a jetty with wooden posts, they are made to  collect splinters which they do at nearly every use.  They seem to be able to create splinters even on smoothe painted well used posts!

I have found plain white nylon lines so much more user friendly and have relegated the beautiful black multi plait ropes (which the Jeanneau agent so kindly provided), to those occasions when we need just one more to get extra length, or to set up on the other side in case of a last minute change of mind on which side to tie up. 

On diameter, I used the same size as recommended for my anchor rope, a 100 m reel provides adequate anchor and mooring lines in our location.  But some extra lighter ones are easier to use for a short stay on a calm day.

On length, I think it depends on your preferred method of tying up.  I prefer to take a bow line to the dock, a quick clove hitch, then back as a spring line.  Spring lines around a boat length suit me, but on a larger boat your spring lines may not need to overlap so shorter ones could be enough.

As lake sailors our journeys are probably shorter than most, but it means that we tie up often - three or more times in a day not unheard of.  But when we tie up for overnight, the forecast can include strong fronts which have been known to break inadequate lines, so I try and be cautious.

hope this helps,

rene460

[sailbleu]

Arrived at Malta this morning and after a few hours of sleep I read your feedback , thanks alot guys.
This helps , although it was a bit of a disappointment to notice that Rene isn't that keen on the fancy ever so flexible blackies.
I will be going for as flexible as possible though , because I would welcome some relaxation every time I see my wife pick up the mooring lines to throw them on the pontoon ( and usually miss )
Will certainly keep your advice in mind , and take it with me when shopping on monday.

Thanks again
Regards

[MartyB]

For throwing, a smaller diameter might be better. Ie like what I call dock lines as they were sold to me to the local locks. MI.e are 50' and 3/8" diamond 3 braid. Something like this to me would be best. THEN have a bigger diameter li.e for holding.g oneself at the dock. I've down this a few times. Works well for me any how.

I prefer braided lines generally speaking.g over 3 braid.

I have thought of the what i know to be megabraid here in states for anchor rode.

Off to breakfast, than back to dock and enjoy the NW jeanneau-owners owners rendezvous.

Marty

[ianpowolny]

We have what we call ' summer lines'. There just plain 3 strand which I spilled eyes in to. 3 different lengths for bow, mid ships and stern. I color coded them as well. Now my wife has no problem getting the correct line to each cleat and making them up to the cleat on the boat and no problem throwing them. We also carry long the black mooring lines 22mm which we use in the winter or if a storm arrives when we're in a marina. Ian

[Deleted]

On our 37 I bought 4 new lines of 15m each. I chose the multi strand expensive ones but blue. They are really good and money well spend. My advise is to use lines between 1 and 1,5x boat length. Mines are 15 meter. It is ideal to use them double with 1 line. And in a lock they are forgiving if one misses to tie up to the wall.