Check Your Nuts!

[steve77]

I should have posted this prior to Zorba, but didn't think about it. Here in the Med, springs similar to this one are very popular for the lines to dock cleats. I have some myself.

These units are held together with four nylock nuts. It is not that uncommon for these nuts to back off. I was always under the impression that these nuts, when used only once, were very secure and would not back off. I personally have had two of these back out, and a walk around the marina identified four other boats that were missing at least one nut.

Just an FYI to alert you of something to check occasionally while at the dock. And I'm sure someone will post that there should be a chain or additional line in parallel with the spring to take the load in case it fails. But the purpose of this post is just to give you something else to worry about.

Cheers!

Steve

[JPA Cate]

Thanks for the "heads up" Steve. Our boat likes to undo screws and nuts, and usually catches them if they fall off, so we can't get too angry. However, over the past 15 years, we've learned to check all of them regularly. Shaft coupling, too. Safety wired the gooseneck and boom vang attachments, as well. Anything that can vibrate at all, can back off nuts and screws. Who would have guessed?

Thanks for the information.

[CaptainMCT]

And this is why the forum is great—just sailors, helping sailors.

[LoudMusic]

I've seen these used in the same role and find them a far more reliable installation.

Mooring Line Snubbers : Attwood Marine

Essentially no critical points of failure. And no squeaky dock lines. Likely cheaper too