Breaking Docking Lines

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by jckb

Not theory vs experience. They inform each other. Experience shows the need. Solutions evolve over time - Darwinian stuff. Physics and dynamics give insghts for disruptive ideas, to be tested.

My 60 years include hemp and 75 ton old gaffers, dyneema and RORC circuits, 15 years of laying up charter fleets, at anchor, on moorings, on marina pontoons and concrete quays. That's lots of testing time.

Theory came from 20 years modelling dynamic behaviour as a career. 'til I took to the sea full time . . .

I've still got L plates . . . . never stopped learning.

JimB

[Terra Nova]

jc--bum link.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

jc--bum link.

Easy to fix - good link

http://www.samsonrope.com/Documents/...Manual_WEB.pdf

[zeehag]

theory vs experience......
theory--in big winds your nylon lines will heat and melt inside...
fact--in 215 steady wind with 250 gusts--in MILES per hour, NONE of my docklines exhibited melting heating or destruction . fact vs fiction. i only used 10 lines. might should have used 12. hahahahahahaha
none of my lines broke--one boat had 2 lines break twice--were retied by a dock neighbor crazed enough to remain on board. lovely people. there were 5 occupied boats during our event. 2 boat suffered damages and only one tried to breakaway..his lines were strings, only 1/4 inch. not doubled. donot do that. jerking and tugging of a 34 hunter WILL snap a 1/4 inch yacht braid easily.
theory--tightly tied to dock is best. experience observed those lines break first.
so...as most of the yachties who learn sailing in dinghies tie their boats tight to a dock, they believe more in theory than experience.
if there are no numbers to back the claims, the claims donot exist.
that is ignorance at its most fun to watch, as long as the breakaway does not impact mine, all is well and entertainment happens, once situation is stabilized.
i do enjoy watching the new crop of know it all cruisers as they stumble thru their new misadventures. we all learn by experience and theory usually goes out the window in a stress filled situation.
the unfortunate disasters occur when the theorist refuses to believe in experience and finds failure.

[chuckr]

It was a bad year in the Aegean this year - we have used 3 strand for the 10 years we have been out and never an issue (except for one break during a hurricane Wilma in Miami and only 1 of a whole bunch broke) - but this year we had to cut and get 3 new ones - some due to dock even with protection some just a lot of strain - really lousy year and perhaps our lines were a bit old - not now.


we quit early due to the winds delaying us and preventing us from a slow sail down the Turkish coast so we put into Marmaris for the winter -
Hopefully next year will be better