Stern tie spool for 32' pilothouse Pacific Northwest

[deblen]

Rode storage ideas https://www.google.ca/search?q=ancho...0E9GCOXuFOEnM:

[rbk]

With your hull shape chances of getting your prop wrapped are pretty low and if you did ,the dingy and a boat hook should be able to make short work of it. I just use a danforth chain and rode. Heave it or take it out and place it and take up any slack. However I also keep 300’ if floating in the locker that never sees service even in some really tight spots.

[Macblaze]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

In the PNW, 3/8 poly lasts forever and is plenty strong enough.
The UV factor is negligible up here.

Sure, 3/8 poly is plenty strong enough. :-)

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Macblaze

Sure, 3/8 poly is plenty strong enough. :-)

That's chafe damage.... not simple 'breakage'.

[Macblaze]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

That's chafe damage.... not simple 'breakage'.

It was meant a bit toungue in cheek.

But seriously, all the talk of doubling lines increasing strength has some pretty severe caveats. As you say, it's not the strength of the line which is gonna be the problem in most cases. My 5/8 double braided didn't chafe through in the same conditions.

[senormechanico]

Which is why always wonder why the big push to stern tie in the first place?

I'll never forget the time we anchored (alone) in Effingham Bay in Barkeley Sound BC.
This bay is not HUGE, but it's BIG.

We anchored in the back, and a couple hours later, a small sailboat anchored about two hundred feet away, very near the shore, put out a stern line to a tree and turned on a STROBE for an anchor light.

Why bother with a stern line? No swell, LOTS of room.

[Jd1]

Stern ties work in the northern part of the PNW because of the situations often encountered. Those being a rapid drop-off in the ocean floor and a fairly busy summer period. Sometimes it is common courtesy to use stern ties so that instead of 1 or two boats in a tiny anchorage you can fit in 8 or ten.
I have always managed to avoid stern ties but I also avoid high season.
There are some spots where you just don't have a choice short of carrying on to the next anchorage.

[Cheechako]

The bottom line is that stern tying is most often done in protected places where there is little room for boats to swing. You dont want to be stern tied in a hard blow anyway because the odds of that blow coming from direct astern or direct from the bow are very low. If you are stern tied, or even stern anchored astern and bow, and it blows hard off the beam, your anchor will drag and you will have a mess. Been there done that. Doubling the line around a tree or etc works because you can retrieve it on a moment's notice without leaving the boat. Nothing wrong with 1/2" poly as it handles a bit better. But worrying about loads is not a concern as if you get into a high load situation you need to pull that stern tie in! A big garden hose plastic spool on the stern pulpit works great for storage.
Here's a typical situation in the PNW:

[OZwingle]

We bought one spool of Samson MFP Floatline. I cut that in half to create two 300' stern lines. Be sure to use a needle whip on any of these lines, as they are slippery and will be wet.

In a close mooring, such as Princess Cove on Wallace Island, in the Gulf Islands - stern lines can be doubled through rings, or other holdfasts, ashore. This enables retrieval without going ashore again as already mentioned

In a more open anchorage, such as Aitutaki, Cook Islands - stern lines can be tied ashore, coconut trees in this instance. The full 300' length will be appreciated. This requires going ashore again. Or asking a friendly cruiser or local ashore to untie for you often works.

We stow each 300' segment in white-water rafting 'bow bags.' A mesh bag with draw string opening and webbing reinforcement designed for stowing line on rafts. Works great and takes up much less space than spools or reels, soft and cheap. And can easily be stowed below. The line is only in the sun when in use. Just flake into the bag in such a way that the line can be pulled out without tangling. You-tube this technique.

Floating line for shore lines is valuable for a number of reasons. Mostly, it can be nearly impossible to drag a sinker line (nylon or dacron) ashore. Even if flaking it all in the dinghy first. If the line sinks, it will pull out of the dinghy faster than you move shore ward. Very difficult if rowing. Might tangle in the dinghy prop if motoring. Secondly, during this whole procedure the main propulsion engine is likely to be running. And someone on deck may need to use it to hold the boat in position. Again, sinking line threatens to foul the main propeller. Thirdly, the line is highly visible to everyone else.

Have fun in the Gulf Islands. Don't miss Burgoyne Bay if it's not blowing from the west.

[senormechanico]

I figured I might as well look on eBay for a stern anchor webbing reel.
The picture is a bit deceptive of the product imho.
Here's what I found:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schellenber...gAAOSwuaFZ3ice

[Pelagic]

Lol!.... Hefty price!.... As a teenager all it cost was a drive in movie and the back seat of a 56 Rambler

[Jd1]

Decisions decisions .... now what do I install for a stern tie line ???

[Dave Webb]

quick line reel
have had one for four years in the Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound and the Broughtons
Used it 6 times last summer probably 30 times total
Expensive but worth the money
Extremely well crafted piece of stainless

[desodave]

I'm one who probably overthought the issue. We're in the northern islands and Desolation Sound most of the time and I've stern tied once in 3 years. I have 500' of 3/8 poly on the reel it came on - length of abs pipe fits through it and sits nicely in the rear entry between the seats. I have a shoreline reel with 300' of smaller pilot line on it with a carabiner clip on the end of it. The admiral can easily and quickly pull the shore tie back to the boat and secure it. Easy enough to wind the shore tie line back to the boat just using the stock reel on the pipe.

I think smaller boats stern tie often because of the deep waters here in BC. They have short pieces of chain and would wander all over the place with a mainly rope rode - nevermind a probable manual pull.

I wouldn't stern tie if a likelihood of crosswinds. I think it's a positioning device, both for small coves and deep water.