Line snubbers

sailor-d · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:51 am Post subject: Line snubbers

Just spent a week doing our Gulf Island shakedown cruise. Met Caryn and Peter (C-Dancer) in Fulford Harbour and Brock (Bambina) in Colburne Passage. Had occasion to anchor at Sidney Spit, it was very windy and lumpy so I reluctantly went to the dock. I docked leeward (that was interesting) rather than getting pounded on the windward side. For the next three hours the boat and us were considerably jarred each time the bow line was blown to limit in the wind - no end of adustment would alleviate the shock. The problem would have been considerably relieved with a rubber line snubber. I think everyone should have one as part of their docking gear - I will be buying one or maybe two before I go out again.

Cheers - Dave

DaveS · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:23 am Post subject: Re: Line snubbers

lloyds · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:54 am Post subject:

I stopped by West Marine yesterday, only because I had one of their vouchers because I spent too much money there previously. The thing I wanted to look at were the snubbers. Without them the heavier boats, especially sailboats will gelcoat crack around the cleats when it really blows and you are tied to the dock. Another hard lesson learned. So I am looking at them and what a surprise, $50 each. No way I am going there. I have some old 12" fenders with attachment points at each end, I may just run the line through those and once around and give that a try. Another thought I had was some heavy truck bungy cords and stitch them onto the lines. Maybe someone else has a good idea. I have better ways to spend $150.

Byrdman · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 12:11 pm Post subject:

Hummm.... going thru HomeDepot the other day and saw a porch swing mounted under its own awning....but the neat part was that the support "chains" had spliced into it a large metal spring..... as to soften the blow when you sit down... Now... all kinds of springs are available at REAL HARDWARE stores...or specialty spring shops... Spray that puppy up with some "Rust Resistant" paint, sew a sleeve from some matching boat fabric (or not..), or, mount the spring in a PVC tube, then cover it with some fabric as to not allow the spring effect pinch the fabric. Yep, it would take a sliced tie line, with some smaller "hold it there" lines for the pvc tube covering the spring...

OK... just wrap the spring in an old towel ya have and duct tape it.... Mr. Green

You are really only going to be using it when ya have bad weather..... or if not... go ahead and fancy it up a bit....or spend the $50 minus the coupond....and those little gift cards ya finally have your family members giving you instead of ties and things you do not give a flip about for Christmas...and things....

gljjr · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 12:35 pm Post subject:

Lloyd,

We used to use the rubber bumpers that way. Once you have passed the line through put a knot in it to keep it from backing out. Wrap the bumper and put another knot just before going through the other side. You now have a fairly inexpensive snubber that can do duel duty when needed!

lloyds · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 12:55 pm Post subject:

Thanks gary, exactly what I had in mind. Tonight, after mowing the lawn. I can remember when those snubbers were $25, and no wise cracks about sasparilla and Model T's. Modern boating is apparently going to require a whole lot more innovation.

Adeline · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject:

I have a pair of these http://www.shipstore.com/SS/HTML/FAL/FALLLM1.html and they are a MUST HAVE when mooring in rough conditions. Big, fat, round fenders also make docking/mooring a soft, squishy breeze.

lloyds · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:34 pm Post subject:

Yep, those be the snubbers. The ones for 5/8" are quite a bit more expensive, but probably cheaper than at west marine. I used to use the round buoys for fenders but they seemed to have a habit of riding up so I quit using them most of the time.

Falco · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject:

I have a pair of the Falcon snubbers (3/8" line). Yes, they are spendy, but the first time I used them (Lake Chelan, Steheiken, WA, docked with a headwind of about 50 mph), I was glad I spent the bucks. Great for sleeping through all the bucking and tossing too...

I spent only $25 each: http://lookleap.com/fisheriessupply.com/a3

Other options: http://lookleap.com/fisheriessupply.com/a4 and http://lookleap.com/fisheriessupply.com/a5

Not sure about the do it yourself approach... Tempting, but apparatus failure would be a bad thing. Maybe overbuilding (with some large diameter rubber rod?) would be the approach.