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The 6 Best Dock Lines (and Boat Springs) for Securing Vessels
MaOne of the most essential elements of any boat is the quality of the dock lines. They stop your prized possession from drifting away from the jetty and into the great beyond.
A good dock line will keep your vessel secure in all weathers and will last no matter what the elements have to throw at them.
So, if you're looking to upgrade your dock lines or are simply trying to make the right choice, look no further and read this article to get the lowdown on the best dock and mooring lines for boats.
How to Choose the Best Dock Line for Your Boat
Choosing the right dock line comes down to four elements: the size of your boat, the thickness of the rope, the length of the rope and the configuration you use when docking.
Once you've established these four things, you can be sure that you have chosen the best dock line for your boat.
Boat Size vs. Rope Thickness
The general rule of thumb for choosing the best size mooring line is roughly 1/8 of an inch in diameter for every 9 feet of length. For smaller craft, this is an easy decision.
There aren't any rules that state you can't have a dock line that's twice the required thickness. After all, whatever happens, it isn't going to snap.
In relation to rope thickness, here's a basic rule of length and weight to consider:
- Boats 19.5 - 33 feet - 2,200 - 20K pounds | 10 - 14 mm thick
- Boats 39.5 - 59 feet - 28 - 55K pounds | 16 - 20 mm thick
- Boats over 59 feet - 55K pounds | 24 mm thick
How Long Should My Dock Line Be?
It's generally accepted that you should keep four lines on your boat: two the same length as your boat and two lines at 2/3s the length of your boat.
For example, if you have a 26-foot vessel, you should have two 26-foot dock lines and another two at roughly 17 feet in length.
Let's Talk Dock Line Configurations and Springs
There are many ways to configure your dock lines to secure your craft and spread the load apportioned to each rope. But here I'll share the most common.
Referred to as springs, they act as a damper to a boat's forward and backward motion as it moves against waves or passing vessels. A good spring enables the load placed on the dock line to spread the weight and movement, preventing the boat from clattering violently back and forth or hitting the dock sides.
Take a look at the several springs you could deploy:
- After Quarter Spring - This is where the dock line is fed from the stern of the boat, in an outward direction away from the vessel at roughly 45 degrees.
- Quarter Breast Spring - These lines run at right angles to the dock cleats.
- Forward Quarter Spring - This is where a dock line is fed from the stern and secured to a cleat located in the center of the pontoon. Again, the rope is at a 45-degree angle.
- After Bow Spring - This is the reverse of the Forward Quarter Spring, with the dock line reaching from the bow at 45 degrees, and meeting in the center of the vessel.
- Forward Breast Spring - This is the same as the Quarter Breast Spring but tied from the bow of the boat at a right angle.
- Forward Spring - A rope is tied at a 45-degree angle, heading away from the boat.
Springs are important, but you wouldn't want to employ all of these at the same time. Not only would it be time-consuming, but it would also be completely pointless and considered overkill.
You should tie one at the bow and stern, and then use a Quarter Spring both fore and aft.
The Important Cleat Hitch
The cleat hitch is widely accepted as the best knot to secure your boat to a jetty or mooring where there are cleats. It's one of the easiest knots to tie, but far from simple if you want to get it right. Done properly, it would take a minor disaster for your vessel to become unhitched.
Pass the line entirely around the base of the cleat under the horns. Then, make a figure-eight over the left and right horn. To secure, turn the rope under itself to make a half hitch.
You should not require any further winding or looping as it does nothing to improve the effectiveness of the knot. In fact, should you need to cast off in an emergency, you run the risk of making it harder to unhitch with over-complicated twists. Just leave it as it is in its own simple and elegant state.
Best Rope Material
Two materials are best suited to dock and anchor lines: Nylon and Polypropylene. However, Nylon is the runaway favorite among the boating community.- Nylon - This is by far the best choice for dock line as it's relatively cheap compared to other types, is elastic enough to absorb the weight and movement of your boat and is UV resistant. All in all, if you want excellent shock absorbency, choose nylon.
- Polypropylene - This dock line is the cheapest of them all, and it shows. It does have attributes. It floats, for one thing, making it ideal should you need to retrieve it from the water. It does offer some UV resistance. However, it doesn't last as long as nylon and lacks the elasticity needed to absorb all that movement. Polypropylene is a great alternative if you're looking for the cheapest option, but it could be a false economy.
The 6 Best Dock Lines for Securing Vessels
It comes as no surprise that the best dock and mooring lines I have featured are all nylon, given its popularity and reasonable cost. It's also the material I prefer for my dock lines.
Through this list, I'll demonstrate that nylon dock lines don't have to break the bank. Although more expensive varieties are available, I have divided the ropes into budget and premium sections.
Editor's Choice
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Better Boat Dock Lines are a secure way to keep your boat safely attached to the dock. Add in snag-resistance, easy knotting action and non-scratching and you've got a top-notch dock line for a variety of boat sizes. |
Check Price on Amazon - Made of marine-grade double-braided nylon, Better Boat Dock Lines have a working load of 950 lbs and a breaking strength of 4,939 lbs.
These 1/2 inch dock lines are 25 feet long and have a 12-inch heat-treated eyelet at the end. Superior shock absorption and elasticity keep boats secure in high winds and rough waters. You can even use it to hang boat fenders or for tent tie-downs while camping.
This dock line falls nicely between a budget and premium dock line in price, so it's really a win/win as far as quality, price, strength and durability go.
- Material: Nylon
- Thickness Range: 1/2 inch
- Length Range: 25 ft
Runner Up Dock Lines
Shoreline Double-Braided Nylon Dock Line
Check price on Amazon Shoreline dock lines are available in four colors: black, blue, gold and white. Without kinking or rotating under pressure, they have a dedicated loop on one end and a straight end on the other. This lets you decide what configuration you want to use when tying the boat to the dock.
Soft to the touch, these lines won't rub or scrape your boat. And because they're double-braided Nylon, they're super-strong with a load capacity of 1,140 pounds and a tensile breaking load of 5,700 pounds. That's enough to weather heavy conditions.
- Material: Nylon
- Thickness Range: 1/2 - 3/8 in
- Length Range: 15 - 25 ft
Crown Sporting Goods Double-Braided Dock Line
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15-Foot Double Braided 3/8" Thick Nylon Dockline - Marine Rope Line with 10" Loop for Boat Mooring - Jet Ski & Watercraft Accessories, Tools, & Essentials (Blue)
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These Crown lines are available in black, blue, red and white, making them easily visible as they match your vessel's color combinations.
This rope is available in a 3/8-inch diameter and a length of 15 feet, which means it's ideal for a boat of a maximum size of 25 feet.
The double-braided Nylon construction can withstand load pressures of up 3,200 pounds and is also UV, abrasion and mildew resistant.
I like this rope, especially for docking smaller craft.
- Material: Nylon
- Thickness Range: 3/8 in
- Length Range: 25 ft
Seachoice Nylon Dock Line
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SEACHOICE Double-Braid Nylon Dock Line 3/8" x 15' 40291 Black
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This Seachoice range is available in eight color combinations, ranging from vibrant red to black.
It's been designed to absorb dynamic shock loads, spreading the load's distribution through elasticity. It's mildew and mold resistant and comfortable on the hands.
This line has a working load capacity of 800 pounds with a maximum tensile load of 4,000 pounds, making it capable of securing a vessel of around 4,400 pounds.
- Material: Nylon
- Thickness Range: 1/2 - 5/8 in
- Length Range: 20 - 35 ft
Amarine Made Nylon Dock Line
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These Amarine lines are available in black, blue, white and a white/gold combo and have a load capacity of 968 pounds with a breaking capacity of 4,840 pounds.
This line is resistant to chemicals, acids, saltwater and UV rays, making it an ideal line for securing small to medium-size vessels.
- Material: Nylon
- Thickness Range: 1/2 in
- Length Range: 25 ft
Premium Dock Lines
SeaSense Double-Braided Dock Line
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SeaSense Double Braid Nylon Dockline, 1/2-Inch X 15-Foot, Black
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This SeaSense dock line is intended for use with vessels that are at the lighter end of the spectrum (think: dinghy or small fishing boat). It has a 410-pound load capacity with a breaking strength of 3,900 pounds.
The eyelet is 10 inches in diameter. This rope offers the elasticity that all good nylon ropes should have.
It comes in black, blue and a gold sheened white, making the springs and lines easily visible in poor conditions.
Because it's inexpensive compared to other lines, it may be the ideal choice for beginner boaters.
- Material: Nylon
- Thickness Range: 1/2 - 3/8 in
- Length: 15 - 25 ft
Norestar Double-Braided Dock Line
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Norestar Double Braided Nylon Dock Line/Boat Mooring Rope, 50 feet by 3/4 inch, Black
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Norestar lines are extremely robust and have a high breaking strength. The 1/2-inch diameter rope has a breaking load pressure of 8,300 pounds, while the 3/4-inch thickness has a tensile load capacity of 19,100 pounds. That means it will hold a vessel of over 18,000 pounds!
These dock lines are also abrasion-proof and UV resistant, so they should withstand the elements.
- Material: Nylon
- Thickness Range: 1/2 - 5/8 in
- Length Range: 15 - 50 ft
Final Thoughts
Never underestimate the importance of a good quality dock line. It's one of the most important tools any boater can have.
Choose a cheap dock line at your peril, especially if you leave your boat docked for the winter when the weather is at its worst.
In addition, consider the boat docking or mooring line's best working capacity, maximum breaking strength and shock-absorbing qualities.
Once you have all this checked, make sure that you remember the rule about 1/8th of an inch in diameter for every 9 feet of boat length, and you won't go wrong.