Using Halyard as Dockline?

[NewEnglander]

There's a storm headed in tomorrow (40ish knots), and I noticed another boat has its jib halyard secured to a dock cleat. I've never seen this before. Is this a trick I'm not aware of?

[klmmicro]

Sounds like someone did not have an extra dock line and improvised. You could use just about any line as a dock line. Stay safe in the stormy seas there!

[NewEnglander]

To be clear, he detached the halyard from the jib (or rail), tied it to a cleat, and winched it in. So this improvised dockline goes to the masthead. And he seems to have plenty of normal docklines, so it seems odd. I will try to get a photo.

[KASHMIR]

Maybe he is planning on cooking pancakes, they would be very uneven cooked in a crosswind like we have now, gusting 55 knots.

[skipmac]

Have never seen this done but my guess is your neighbor is expecting surge at the docks and is using the jib halyard to keep the boat from rolling too much.

Let me know if it works.

[markpierce]

Bad idea. This could create severe strains on mast and rigging.

[Ex-Calif]

I certainly would not want the top of my mast taking significant bending loads in an effort to stop the boat rolling. This sounds like a bad idea.

We have a lot of natural surge and rolling where I keep the boat. 1/2 inch nylon docklines last 3 months. I added snubbers and they now last almost a year.

Trying to stop the boat from moving is a fool's errand in my opinion. The jerking and snapping put tremendous stress on the boat cleat. We unseated two cleats before I got the snubber clue.

Our best success over time is with the boat tied off "loosely" in the middle of the slip with snubbed dock line lengths adjusted so the boat can't hit any part of the dock and then let it move around. With double slips and no center post this is really hard to achieve.

In a storm I can see the need to cinch it up tighter but I certainly would not consider securing it to the top of the mast.

[fjwiley1]

Using either Jib or Main Halyard for Kedging off is one thing but to secure your boat during Surge is bad. I agree with Excalif...
The strain from storm surge exerted through the mast will be hard on the shrouds as well as could prove fatal to weak chain plates...this is a time Not to copy the neighbors.....


Life is good if you Keepa Smilin......




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[AndytheSailor]

The only use for a halyard other than its primary use is if you are drying out alongside a quay or as suggested to kedging off when aground. Using it for surge control is madness, the damage to either mast or shrouds could be very costly not to mention having to replace the halyard.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

...
We have a lot of natural surge and rolling where I keep the boat. 1/2 inch nylon docklines last 3 months. I added snubbers and they now last almost a year. ...

There must be lots of positives to put up with that surge.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by markpierce

There must be lots of positives to put up with that surge.

Well the only real positive is location - 15 minutes from the house...

SAF Yacht Club is on the southeast corner of the island and faces into the straits. Everything rocking along at 20kts send surge into the marina.

[Seaurchin2]

As a manager of a marina we have strict rules on line types for berthing, the worst is any sailing braid as it has no ability to stretch and therefore reduce the shock loading. If a storm is forecast by all means check your lines, check the angle of the rope to the cleat (45 degrees is preferred) add an extra line with a little more slack as a back up, but never use sailing braids

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Seaurchin.

[ozskipper]

Ouch... My brain says that there will be a snapping motion at the top of the mast as the bow rides waves- even the small ones in a marina. Thats a constant jerk jerk jerk at the mast head. Hopefully, the back stay is on tight and it will take some of that shock load. A loose back stay on the other hand would allow the mast to bend forward and well, dare I say, possibly snap.

I will admit I am no engineer or rigger, but common sense tells me that that idea is far from the norm and could lead to a small disaster. Perhaps the guy needs a new a rig and is well insured .. Ehem.

[ggray]

I suspect I'm not the only one who would be interested in seeing a picture of this....