After reading so much on
docking, as well as taking a
docking course it is still a high anxiety time for the crew. After reading this
http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2011/august/diy.asp article, I am taking one of the items, and building in a visual barrier with a line. Since I am going that
route, I have a few options and welcome opinions on the plus/minus or new thought.
We are on a finger pier with a
boat on each side. Ours is 35' at 16000lbs and the others run 35-40 and more. If I was going to put in a visual barrier, why not give it some heft for a few dollars more and remove some of the anxiety - bumping my neighbor on the way in.
The 12' diameter pilings are about 25' apart and the line would run just below the rub rail @ low tide.
1. Run a 1.25" ski
rope between them. It seems to be the least expensive multiline option, but strength is unknown
2. Run 3/4" poly line between them
3. Run 1"+ manilla line between them
4. Run 3" webbing between them.
Someone suggested running a beam (2x6), but that is a long span and I am concerned a rub could break it and that would be worse than a bump.
Options 1,2, and 4 have issues with creating enough tension to avoid just flexing into a bump. Option 3 will shrink once wet, but the longevity of manilla
rope in those conditions is unknown.
I was also tempted to run the line high and suspend a
fender, but that appears like I plan to use my neighbor as a rub rail and if I were them I would not like that option.
Thank you.