When setting up a dock line for your boat, you need to use a rope you can trust. Dock lines, of course, play the important role of keeping a boat in place while docked, and insufficient performance from your ropes can lead to damage to your boat or other boats. This article will help you understand what kinds of ropes work best for dock lines and how you can pick the right ones for your needs.
No matter what types of rope you decide to use for your dock lines, SEACO is the right place to shop. We have an extensive collection of quality products, great prices, and helpful customer service. Reach out today to get exactly the right ropes for all your boating needs.
The Right Characteristics for Dock Lines
Any rope shopping process should start not by thinking about specific types of rope, but rather by thinking about what you are going to need the rope to do and what characteristics it should possess. Once you have this profile laid out, it will be easy to sort through the inventory here at SEACO to order the right product.
So, what is it that dock lines need to be able to do?
- Deal with the conditions. You’ll dock your boat outdoors, of course, so any rope that you decide to use for this job needs to hold up to the conditions nicely. That not only means, dealing with the effects of water, but also sunlight. UV damage can degrade some rope materials quite quickly, so those would not be a good pick for a dock line application.
- Handle the load. Depending on the size of your boat, the ropes you use as dock lines need to be fairly strong to deal with the forces applied. Also, boats don’t always sit still when docked – as is the case when the wind picks up and the water sloshes around – so ropes that withstand some dynamic force, and offer give, are preferred.
- Be easy to handle. Coming in and out of dock is a common activity for a boat, meaning you may handle your dock lines regularly. A rope that is uncomfortable to handle or hard to work with will be inconvenient and may lead to a less secure docking of your boat in the end.
The Best Option is Nylon
When ordering ropes for dock lines, you are going to want to start – and probably end – with nylon rope. When you compare the performance characteristics we listed above to the traits that nylon ropes deliver, you’ll find that they match up nicely. And, on the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find other popular materials used in rope making aren’t up for the challenge. Ropes made with natural fibers won’t hold up to the conditions over time, and polypropylene – which creates a similar rope to nylon in some ways – can’t handle the sun.
Nylon is the ideal pick for many reasons, including the highlights below –
- It stretches. A nylon rope can handle the back-and-forth motions that your boat is likely to experience while it is docked, thanks to its inherent stretchy properties.
- Strong enough for the job. There are stronger rope materials on the market than nylon, but a nylon rope with the right thickness is strong enough to hold your boat in place at the dock. If you need a particularly strong version of nylon, opt for a double braided rope design to boost the strength rating.
- Easy to use. You’ll like the way nylon rope feels in your hands, so working with it regularly to tie up and untie your boat is an easy task. There are also tons of color options available, so you can pick something that will stand out and be easy to see whether you are on the boat or on the dock.
Every boat needs good dock lines on board, and that all starts with ordering the right ropes from SEACO. Feel free to explore the options we have available here on our site and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help selecting the perfect product for your needs. We appreciate your time and look forward to serving you!