Moorings : How to choose the right moorings ?
How to choose the right mooring lines for your boat?
A mooring line is the rope that is used to hold a boat by attaching it to a fixed point such as a dock, pontoon or trunk. Sailors recommend attaching 4 mooring lines to a boat to hold it properly to the dock. Calculating the size of the 4 mooring lines you need is simple: 2 lines should be 1.5 times the length of your boat, and 2 other lines should be the exact length of your boat. For a 12 meter boat you will need two 18 meter mooring lines and two 12 meter mooring lines. You will find in this guide all the necessary information to refine your choice of mooring lines according to your needs. Choosing the right mooring ropes will allow you to properly equip your boat before setting sail!
What are the characteristics of a quality mooring line?
The first criterion determining the quality of mooring lines is their elasticity. The elasticity of the mooring lines allows the boat to support the movements and the pressure of the water, and thus to adapt to its slight distance from the dock. Mooring lines that are sufficiently elastic will prevent the entire rope or other fittings from breaking. It is therefore advisable to choose a mooring and anchoring rope with a high elasticity so that your boat can best follow these marine disturbances.
In order for the boat to remain stable on the dock, a high breaking strength of your mooring lines is necessary. Mooring lines naturally stretch with the boat's movements. It is therefore necessary that they are strong enough to guarantee a good holding of the vessel in case of bad weather or rough sea. The breaking strength of a mooring line is calculated according to the size of the sailboat, catamaran, other pleasure boats and cruising boats. The size guides on the product sheets will tell you which rope and which diameter is suitable for your boat. To be safe, select a larger diameter than the one you want to order to have a greater breaking strength. As soon as your rope is damaged, it loses its strength against this breakage. The resistance of your mooring lines to UV rays and sea salt is also important.
Finally, as a sailor it is unthinkable not to be able to splice your mooring line, so each time you order your mooring line make sure that the mention "Easily spliced", This is why each time you order your mooring line, please make sure that the mention "Easily spliced", "Loop spliced at one end" or "Easily spliced" are written as for the .
Which rope construction for your mooring lines?
There are two types of rope construction to choose from for your mooring lines: braided and stranded.
Braided Moorings
Braided mooring lines provide great flexibility. They are less voluminous than stranded lines and this does not affect their resistance to breakage and abrasion.
Stranded mooring lines
A strand is a collection of twisted wires that form a rope. In addition, your sailboat can be equipped with ropes containing 3, 4 or 8 strands. A 3-strand polyamide mooring line has an elongation capacity between 18% and 25% but it will easily deteriorate due to the sun's rays. On the other hand, a 3-strand polyester boat line is UV resistant. So if you live in a sunny area, it is recommended that you choose this 3-strand equipment made of polyester. Concerning the 8-strand rope, it is a rope that has an increased quality of elongation, in addition to being aesthetic and compatible when assembled with a mooring chain. This is notably the composition of the . Finally, if you prefer splicing to knots, stranded ropes are easier to splice.
What kind of rope fiber do I need for mooring lines?
The mooring ropes available on the market are made of a different fiber depending on the model you choose. You can find polyester, polyamide (i. e. nylon), and polypropylene mooring lines. The polyester fiber is used for its elongation, while the polyamide fiber is preferred for its resistance to UV rays. Polypropylene fiber is known for its watertightness.
Choosing polyester fiber mooring lines
Polyester is the all-purpose fiber. It has such an elasticity that it is perfectly adapted to the marine environment. Known for its great resistance to abrasion, sea salt and the aquatic environment, the polyester fiber present on the has a remarkable life span. Finally, this fiber has considerable drying qualities that make it a very appreciable material despite the fact that it is not buoyant.
Choosing polyamide fiber mooring lines
Polyamide has an elongation of between 15% and 20%, depending on the brand, and offers greater elasticity than polyester fiber and can absorb occasional shocks. In other words, polyamide is more flexible than polyester, so you don't have to buy mooring springs or shock absorbers to keep your boat stable and secure at the dock. However, it is a non-buoyant material that absorbs water, which can make your mooring line heavy and difficult to handle once submerged. In addition, polyamide wears more than polyester rope, and over time this fiber becomes difficult to handle. Rest assured, the research and development departments of the brands are now working to improve these products and make these defects disappear day by day. Moreover, the has this very dense and shock-resistant fiber.
Choosing polypropylene fiber mooring lines
Polypropylene is a lightweight fiber that has the quality of being buoyant since it does not absorb water. More generally used for towing, this hydrophobic material is nevertheless only slightly resistant to UV rays. In addition, it has a weak resistance to breakage. Therefore, you are advised to equip yourself with this type of fiber only when it is essential for you that it floats. The is then ideal for this use. In addition, it is best used in harbors sheltered from sea movements, as the breaking strength is lower than that of other fibers.
Thus, these fibers have advantages and disadvantages to consider before purchasing and installing them on yachts, ships, etc...
What diameter for the mooring lines?
Easier than the cross products, multiplications or divisions you used to do at school, to determine the product to order for your boat end, this is a simple operation that should not be a problem for you. Add 4 to the length of your boat and you have the perfect diameter.
Example: your boat is 18 meters long, 18+4 = 22, so you should go with 22 mm diameter ropes.
The calculation method is perfect to determine precisely the circumference to choose for your ropes and we recommend this technique.
Nevertheless, here is a general table which gives you an idea of the diameter to choose according to the length of your sailboat, catamaran etc... and the fiber composing the end.
|
Length of the boat in meters |
Polyester
|
Polyamide |
Polypropylene |
|
6 m |
Ø 10 mm |
Ø 8 mm |
Ø 12 mm |
|
8 m |
Ø 12 mm |
Ø 10 mm |
Ø 14 mm |
|
10 m |
Ø 14 mm |
Ø 12 mm |
Ø 16 mm |
|
12 m |
Ø 16 mm |
Ø 14 mm |
- |
|
14 m |
Ø 18 mm |
Ø 16 mm |
- |
|
16 m |
Ø 22 mm |
Ø 18 mm |
- |
|
18 m |
Ø 24 mm |
Ø 20 mm |
- |
|
20 m |
Ø 26 mm |
Ø 22 mm |
- |
|
22 m |
Ø 28 mm |
Ø 26 mm |
- |
What length to choose for the mooring lines ?
To know which length to choose for your mooring lines, it is necessary to refer to the displacement and size of your boat. Thus, when you click on the size guides on the product sheet of a mooring line, you can find a guide to help you make your choice of mooring line. However, you should know that for optimal safety in your boat, it is recommended to have and use 4 mooring lines. The general recommendation is to have 2 mooring lines that are twice the length of your boat, with the other 2 lines measuring the same length as your boat. Moorings measuring twice the length of the boat are recommended and useful since they can be used as a trailer, or as a complementary mooring for more security.
Example : your boat is 16 meters long ; you must have 2 mooring lines of 16 meters and 2 mooring lines of 32 meters (=16*2)
For more information and advice, do not hesitate to use the chat or contact us by phone at 04.78.41.79.31 !
The Nautisports team
