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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Dock Lines

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Jared
1st Mate

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USA
70 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/13/2003 : 08:28:04

We are putting our boat in the water for her maiden voyage over to the marina and will be keeping her in slip. I need to buy some dock lines this week and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on size? I was planning on buying the plain-jane three strand rope from West Marine or some place, but didn't know if I should get 3/8" or 1/2" line? Also, for spring lines, have you guys attached a mid-ship cleat, or do you use the bow and stern cleats?

Thanks.

Jared Jamison
86 C25 #5354 FK/TR "Saba Rocks" Richmond, VA

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2003 : 08:54:53

Don't know your dock configuration, but I use 1/2" three strand vanilla dock lines 15 feet with rubber snubbers on each. This allows me to bring all ropes tight and still have enough stretch for tide changes and waves caused by passing smug pots. I do not use spring lines except when a hurricane is coming. When cruising I use 3/8" double braid nylon 25 feet and a 35 foot three strand vanilla for a spring. Since I don't have the snubbers available at visiting marinas the spring is a must. I spring off the for/aft cleats.
I am sure you will get a lot of ideas on this one. So good luck, welcome and by all means join the association. It will be the best $20.00 you every spent and will help this web site to continue. I know I would be lost without it.

Frog and The General
<img src="http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/3f514bcf_339f/bc/boats/__tn_Pretty+Penny.jpg?bc2LWU_AhL8DufLw" border=0>
79 Wing #1166
Pretty Penny

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matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2003 : 09:11:09

Jared:

Personally, I think that 3 strand is fine. Braided line looks better but doesn't stretch as well as 3 strand. Stretch is a good thing for dock lines.

3/8 should be fine for a 25' boat. You don't need 1/2 unless your slip is really exposed to high wind and waves.

The big thing to plan for is chafe. Protect your lines where they can potenially rub against the boat or dock. Use chafing gear (pads, a short length of hose, etc...) to protect it where needed.

I only use one spring line from about mid-dock to my bow cleat.

I second what Frog said, a big advantage of owning a Cat-25 is this association!

John Matsche 1985 TR/FK #5171

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PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2003 : 13:17:09

I have installed cleats about 1/3 back from the bow or just forward of where the jib sheet track ends on the rail. They are handy in some docking situations and for attaching spring lines. However, they have snagged a jib sheet in certain tacking situations.

Paul C25FK Sparky
'PZ' W7JVY KFS/KTK/KLB/KOK/WNU/KPH/WCC/VAI/VAJ

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2003 : 17:04:39

I have some sliding eyes on my genoa track for spring lines. 3/8 line is plenty. 1/2 inch line does not fit well on the cleats (at least on my 1978).

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2003 : 21:13:01

I use 1/2 inch Golden braid and spring from bow aft and from stern forward. It would seems that I am the only person in the world who does that.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/smstarspring.jpg" border=0>

I thread the bow cleat so it will never come off.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/smbow%20cleat.jpg" border=0>

I tension with the winch and belay to the stern cleat, it works really well at a lake.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/smspringwinch.jpg" border=0>

The consensus is that this is a mistake but it has worked for me for years. Lots of boats around me have been damaged by storms but mine have always been unhurt.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/sigbow.jpg" border=0>Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2003 : 21:47:44

I use 3/8" for my dock lines, having two bow lines and one stern line. I have a spring line that goes from mid dock to my bow cleat. I also have 1/2" lines that I use to tie up at other docks, or for towing. They bearly fit over the cleats. They do, but just bearly. Since I have two lines going to one of the bow cleats, the 1/2" lines would not fit. The lines are three strand nylon, and when I tie up to a dock, I merely drop each line over the appropriate cleat and leave it. I've never had any trouble with this in four years of dock experience.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce31b3127cce8f8c0cbf1bca0000001010 " border=0>
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
On the hard

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2003 : 22:28:27

Jared,

Dock line length and location depends on the individual docking situation. I tie my C-25 along side a 40' long dock which features alternating pilings and cleats every 4'. I use a total of four docklines, a short one perpendicular to the dock at each end of the boat, and a much longer spring line at each end of the boat, angled in opposite directions.

For dock lines, I use 3'8" nylon double braid. I have two sets, one with rubber snubbers stays attached to the dock. The snubbers are great, I highly recommend them. Where my permanent dock lines loop around the dock pilings or cleats, I threaded the line trough a 2' or 3' section of 1/2" or 5/8" reinforced flexible PVC hose. This completely prevents chafe where the hose is used.

I think 1/2" line is probably overkill on these boats, and doesn't fit the cleats as well as 3/8" does. However, I did increase the bow cleat bolts to 5/16" diameter, and added stronger cleat backing plates.

I don't have midship cleats on this boat, but have had them on previous boats, and they were quite handy for tying up.

Like Don Peet, I just drop a loop tied in the end of the dock line over the cleat. I've never had a problem with any of them coming loose.

-- Leon Sisson

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