Dock Lines

Our Dock Lines range covers pre-made and cut-to-length mooring lines for tying up alongside – typically nylon for its stretch, which absorbs shock loading from wash, wind and surge rather than transmitting it straight to your cleats.

Nylon is the standard choice for dock lines specifically because it stretches under load, absorbing the sudden jerks from wash, wind gusts and tidal surge that a low-stretch line would transmit straight to your deck fittings – not what you want for ropes taking repeated shock loading. Size lines to your boat’s length and the conditions at your berth: a busy, exposed marina berth needs more line and thicker diameter than a sheltered slip. Fit chafe protection anywhere a line passes through a fairlead or over a rail, since chafe is the most common cause of dock line failure, not the line’s breaking strain.

Carry spares, since lines left rigged permanently in a berth weather and weaken faster than you’d expect.

Frequently asked questions

Why is nylon used for dock lines rather than other rope types?

Nylon stretches under load, absorbing shock from wash and surge rather than transmitting it to your cleats and fairleads – important for lines that take repeated jerking loads.

What causes dock lines to fail?

Chafe at fairleads and rails is the most common cause, more so than the line simply reaching its breaking strain – fit chafe protection wherever a line runs over an edge.