Lassoing Bollards

[contrail]

I met a guy in the Chesapeake about ten years ago who was a retired rodeo roper and he lassoed (sp?) pilings at the drop of a hat. Almost never missed. Preferred it even when he had other choices, just for the effect. He had to maneuver the lines clear of rigging as he twirled it over his head, but he was just like a nautical Roy Rogers. Sailed a Contest 40 something.

[IdoraKeeper]

The problem with bollards is that they won't stand still. They wobble and weave and and do anything they can to avoid being lassoed. I once tried to lasso one up near the bow and before I knew it the dang thing ran down the dock and out of reach off the stern. I concluded that a rifle powered heaving line (either to shoot the line or sometimes the pesky bollard) was indicated by the situation. In any case, lots of fenders are needed if bollards are in the equation.

[BigBoater917]

I used to deck on a tugboat and you had to be handy with a line. I'll try to describe my technique but everyone does it a little differently. Remember practice makes perfect. I use only 3 strand or 8 strand line but it should work with braided line too.
Rather than type it all out check out this guys technique it's nearly identical to how I do it.

https://youtu.be/Dj3whBBeIac
https://youtu.be/-2TC5c5-wNE

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by BigBoater917

I used to deck on a tugboat and you had to be handy with a line. I'll try to describe my technique but everyone does it a little differently. Remember practice makes perfect. I use only 3 strand or 8 strand line but it should work with braided line too.
Rather than type it all out check out this guys technique it's nearly identical to how I do it.

https://youtu.be/Dj3whBBeIac
https://youtu.be/-2TC5c5-wNE

That's exactly what I want to be able to do.

He does not spin it over his head like a cowboy, and the line is not stiffened in any way.

How does he keep the loop open???????

[BigBoater917]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

That's exactly what I want to be able to do.

He does not spin it over his head like a cowboy, and the line is not stiffened in any way.

How does he keep the loop open???????

It's a combination of 2 things. The correct setup holding of the eye and having enough slack. If you don't have enough slack the eye will snap shut on you. Look carefully in the second video he grabs the eye just behind the splice. His eye is too big so he takes a small loop out of the eye and puts it in his hand. If you're throwing some distance you can take additional loops from the running part and put them in your hand in front of the eye and more in your left as well.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by BigBoater917

It's a combination of 2 things. The correct setup holding of the eye and having enough slack. If you don't have enough slack the eye will snap shut on you. Look carefully in the second video he grabs the eye just behind the splice. His eye is too big so he takes a small loop out of the eye and puts it in his hand. If you're throwing some distance you can take additional loops from the running part and put them in your hand in front of the eye and more in your left as well.

....and a big eye.

The small loops in your throwing hand create slack so the eye, with some inertia, can stay open. Let the line go taught and it slams shut.

[BigBoater917]

Too big of an eye is a problem too. It's a PIA to throw and is really good at catching on stuff other than the bollard while you're throwing it.

[svmariane]

Stiffen the last two metres or so of the line's distant end with what you have.... wax, cow dung, whatever.

Rig as shown:

[BigBoater917]

Originally Posted by svmariane

Stiffen the last two metres or so of the line's distant end with what you have.... wax, cow dung, whatever.

Rig as shown:

That will work for getting it on. Half the job is also throwing it off too, and eye that is cinched down like that will be nearly impossible to throw off.


It's a cruddy day here but I'll make a video for you guys soon.

[jaybird1111]

Guy is putting some spin on the loop/eye, not unlike throwing a cast-net. He's done that before.

[captain58sailin]

That video was pretty close to what I was trying to describe. I turn my body about half way away from the bitt and turn with the travel of the line, never had to put anything on the line to stiffen it.

[belizesailor]

The issue I see with using a modified line of some sort, whether stiffened with dung, or wax, or corrugated hose..., is that you now have a single purpose line unless you do that to all your docklines.

Whereas a line with a big eye, or with no eye, can be thrown over a bollard with good technique and no modification and is still suitable for a general purpose dock line.

[Badsanta]

Hold both ends throw the middle over the cleat, bollard. Pull tight and tie off.

[hellosailor]

Of course there is another way to go, without throwing a loop over the bollard at all.


Same way that I'd throw a line "over" a horn cleat on a dock. I'll hold the bitter end, throw a belly of the line past the cleat, and then tighten it back up, making fast on the boat--and never to the cleat or other object.


That also means if I'm shorthanded and planning to cast off solo? I can cast off each line from aboard the boat, no need to have anyone on shore doing it, no need to go back and forth.


Just saying.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Badsanta

Hold both ends throw the middle over the cleat, bollard. Pull tight and tie off.

See post #11.