yacht mooring lines

SECURING YOUR VESSEL: A GUIDE TO CHOOSING MOORING LINES

Mooring lines  are the unsung heroes of boating, silently ensuring your vessel stays safely secured when docked or anchored. But with an array of materials, thicknesses and lengths available, selecting the right ropes can be daunting. Here, we explain the crucial factors to consider when choosing mooring lines for your boat. 

Marlow Ropes has been the leading rope brand in the yachting industry for over fifty years, with a heritage in rope making going back over 200 years.

“Historically, we’ve found that mooring lines are the most over-looked ropes on any yacht. This is something we’ve always found baffling, especially when you consider that these are the most important ropes for securing your beloved boat. Sailors and boat owners often look at price first when buying mooring lines, which results in low quality, low durability and much shorter longevity.  “At Marlow, we manufacture a range of  mooring lines  to suit all budgets – each with their own unique specification to suit the requirements that we often come up against. It’s worth sailors and boat owners being aware of the unique construction characteristics of the various mooring lines on the market.”  Paul Honess, Leisure Marine Director

STRENGTH IS PARAMOUNT 

The primary function of mooring lines is to withstand the forces exerted on your boat by wind, waves, tides and currents. These forces translate to breaking strength, the amount of weight a line can hold before snapping. The key is to choose lines with a strength that significantly exceeds your boat’s weight. Consult your boat’s manual or manufacturer for its displacement (weight) and factor in a safety margin of at least 3:1. 

MATERIAL MATTERS

• Nylon:  Offers high elasticity, crucial for absorbing shock loads and preventing snapping. Bear in mind, it is known to degrade under UV exposure, resulting in reduced strength over time. 
• Polyester:  Known for its strength, and resistance to abrasion and sunlight. It has a lower stretch than nylon, so consider using mooring shock absorbers for additional give. This is the most reliable material for mooring lines.  
• Polypropylene:  A budget-friendly option with good buoyancy and moderate strength. Bear in mind, it stretches significantly and degrades quickly in sunlight. Only to be considered for its floating characteristics. 

MARLOW RECOMMENDS:   

3-strand Nylon  

Multi-plait Nylon  

3-strand Polyester  

3-strand Polyester Pre-stretched   for greater strength and durability 

Marina Grande  

Blue Ocean ®  Dockline   – sustainably manufactured from GRS certified rPET and available pre-spliced  

3-strand Nelson  

FINDING THE RIGHT SIZE

Mooring line diameter is directly linked to breaking strength. Use the breaking strength recommendations as a guide. Also, consider consulting a marine store professional for specific sizing based on your boat and typical mooring conditions. 

LENGTH MATTERS TOO

Mooring lines come in various lengths, with specific applications in mind: 

• Bow and stern lines:  These should be at least half the length of your boat, ideally longer, to allow for mooring at different angles and absorb wave action. 
• Spring lines:  Designed to prevent your boat from swinging excessively, these should be the entire length of your boat or even longer. 

The marine environment is harsh, so consider factors that can degrade your mooring lines: 

• Abrasion resistance:  Friction against docks, pilings and other boats can wear lines. So look for materials with good abrasion resistance or use chafe guards at potential wear points.  
• UV resistance:  Constant sunlight exposure weakens most mooring lines. So choose materials with good UV resistance or consider adding a UV protectant spray. Polyester is best, with nylon a reasonable second and polypropylene a distant third. UV stabilising techniques help, but don’t significantly alter the general comparable resistance values of each material. Counteracting UV deterioration should be a major consideration for yachts, especially in sunny climes such as in the Mediterranean and the Tropics. 

COMFORTABILITY CONSIDERATIONS

• Creaking  mooring lines is a bugbear for many sailors and boat owners plus those living or working close by. It’s often not known what causes the dreaded creak – but chafe, caused by salt water, or the fibre quality degrading over time may be factors. The addition of chafe covers or a lubricant coating may help. Nylon shrinks when it’s wet, which can result in a tightening of the rope strands, thus creating a harder, stiffer rope. This may lead to creaking, but a stiffer rope may be of greater benefit for permanent single purpose warps. 
• Handling  – Rope construction and diameter will make a difference to your comfort. Braided docklines, such as Marlow’s  Marina Grande  and  Blue Ocean® dockline , not only look good but feel good too thanks to their flexibility and smoother finish. This makes them much easier to handle, especially in the stressful situation when coming alongside.  
• Coiling and hanking  – For good rope maintenance, storing your mooring lines is vital to ensure their longevity and ease of use when it’s time to moor. A rope’s construction will dictate how it should be hanked. 3-strand ropes need to be rolled around your thumb to keep the lay in regular form. Whereas braided and plaited ropes should be formed into a figure of eight, to ensure twist is not imparted into the rope which puts undue pressure on to the fibres.   

INSPECT YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Mooring lines are a safety-critical element. Regularly inspecting them for signs of wear is good practice – replace them promptly when they show signs of deterioration. When in doubt, consult your local rigger or chandler for recommendations specific to your boat and mooring conditions.  

By making informed choices, you can ensure your boat stays securely moored, giving you peace of mind while you’re off enjoying the water. 

To buy your mooring ropes and docklines, find your nearest Marlow dealer here .

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