Dock Lines for Boats

About Dock Rope

What Is A Dock Rope?

Strong, durable, and flexible dock ropes are used to tie boats to a dockyard or other boats when rafting. Before you go ahead and purchase a sturdy dock line for your sailing adventures, there are a few things you must consider, such as type, size, length, diameter, and much more.
The second thing you must consider is your dock line material. There are two common types of materials available for line ropes:

§ . Nylon Dock Line
The most common material used for boat dock lines is nylon, and for good reason. Nylon has many incredible characteristics which make it preferable.
It is incredibly strong and yet stretchable to just the right extent. This means that even if your boat surges and the line becomes instantly taut, it won’t snap off easily. The slight stretchiness will help absorb sudden shock and return to its normal size when the shock subsides.
Similarly, nylon shows resistance to UV rays from the sun, meaning it won't easily get damaged in the sun. It also shows resistance against fuels and chemicals commonly used around boats.

§ . Polypropylene Boat Dock Lines
Polypropylene is the less desirable material of the two but is used nevertheless. Most people tend to choose Polypropylene for their dock line rope because it is a lot cheaper than nylon.
However, this material tends to deteriorate a lot more easily under UV ray exposure. It is also not considered a good material for dock lines since it lacks the ability to stretch and absorb shock as nylon does.

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- Dock Lines for Boats
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What Rope Is Best For Dock Lines?

Dock lines, also known as mooring lines, are vital to keeping your boat landed. You need to choose a suitable rope for your dock lines since these will help keep your boats in place at all times.Dock lines must have a superior combination of strength and stretch:
§ . For simplicity, nylon is suitable. Both three-strand and braided construction are common. Three-strand nylon stretches more than polyester, is very abrasion- and snag-resistant compared to polypropylene, and is more affordable than high-tech alternatives. Braided nylon is also a great choice, ofering extra strength, has a nice "hand" feel, and often is available in various colours.

§ . Polyester is typically of higher strength than nylon, but has less stretch. Therefore, polyester rope is unsuitable for dock lines. However, when an external dock snubber - or better, an internal shock absorber - is implemented, you can receive ample stretch with huge strength! The extra strength of polyester will give you piece of mind; if a severe storm suddenly blows in, the polyester is more likely to endure than nylon. In this scenario, the rigid properties of polyester may cause minor damage to your boat's (or dock's) hardware in this case, but possibly far less damage then you would incur having your boat blown onto the rocks if your dock lines fail.

Types of Dock Line Ropes
Double Braid
Mega Braid
What Material to Choose For Your Dock Lines?

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Information Centre

What You Need To Know About Dock Rope

Dock ropes come in three main categories, each of which has its own set of benefits:

§ 3-Strand Twisted Nylon – This rope has a simplistic, 3-strand structure and does not have any cover. These boat ropes are easy to splice, stretchable, easy on the pocket, and resistant to any sort of abrasions.

§ Braided Nylon – Known for their strength, braided nylon ropes ensure that you do not injure your hands when docking your boat.

§ Double Braid Nylon – Having a classic visual appeal, these mooring lines boast a braided core, cover sheath, and are known for their ease of use as well as controlled elongation.

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What Size, Length, and Quantity Of Dock Line Do You Need?

Your dock line should have 1/8" of diameter for every 9' of boat with a minimum size of 3/8". This means a 20' boat should use 3/8" lines. A 40' boat should use 5/8" line. You can use a bigger line and often boaters prefer this because a larger line is easier to grip and handle than a smaller line (5/8"-3/4" line is the easiest line to grip in our experience).
For length, transient dock lines should be close to 2/3 of the boats length if being used on the stern or bow of the boat. For spring lines, they should be equal to your boats length. Ideally, you should have two stern lines, two bow lines, and two spring lines on board. At a minimum, you should have one bow line, one stern line, and two spring lines. As the diagram at the end of this article shows, you don't always need to use two bow/stern lines, but you should have them on board regardless, because there will likely be a time when you do need them. When you're expecting heavy/stormy conditions, consider doubling up your lines.
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Range Of Premium Products

They are all manufactured according to the strictest international standards. Our products have received favor from both domestic and foreign markets.
They are now widely exporting to 200 countries.

What Size Rope Do I Need For My Boat?

A dock line or mooring line will keep your boat in one place when you are done sailing for the day. However, in order for your dock line to work well with your boat, you need to choose the right length and size of rope to use.
The size and length of rope you use for your dock rope depend on your boat's size. Here we will be discussing the general length and sizing for dock lines according to some boat sizes that you may use as a guide.

What Is The Optimal Size Of a Rope For Dock Lines?

The diameter or size of your boat rope depends on the length of your boat, although other factors may also weigh in, such as the time your boat will remain docked. The length, however, remains the most critical factor, so we will be going over that primarily.
As a general rule of thumb, you should be adding ⅛ inches to your docking line for every 9’ length of your boat, with a minimum starting size of ⅜.” This means every additional 9 feet should lead to a 1⁄8 inch increase in size for the dock rope.
According to this guideline, if your boat is 20’-30’, your dock line should be sized at ⅜.” If your boat is 40’, your dock line should be ½," if your boat is 50’, your boat rope should be ⅝" and so on.

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What Length Is Ideal For Your Dock Line?

The next thing you must consider is the length of your dock line. How long should the dock rope be to securely keep your boat docked? The calculation of your rope length is a lot simpler.
It all comes down to the amount of time you will be keeping your boat docked. If you keep your boat docked for short periods, you can keep a docking line that is roughly 2/3rd the length of your boat.
On the other hand, if you are going to be keeping your boat docked for more extended periods, you can choose a dock line length equal to the length of your boat. However, this all will also depend on the type of dock line you are using.
There are three general types of dock ropes used on a boat. The spring lines, the stern line, and the bowline.
There are two spring lines used, usually equivalent to the length of the boat. Along with the spring lines, a single stern line and bowline are used. These are usually 2/3rd the length of the boat.
The number of boat ropes you end up using can vary according to needs, but you should always keep a minimum of three dock lines with you; you never know when they might come in handy. You should also double up your dock ropes when you expect heavy rain or storms, as they will keep your boat more secure.

Planning & Development

The close working relationship with customers enables our team to deliver a bespoke service that is second to none.
Pre-production Sample

Our dedicated design team and production team are capable of providing customization solution to suit.
Planning & Development

The close working relationship with customers enables our team to deliver a bespoke service that is second to none.

Custom Rope Manufacturer

We are a professional rope manufacturer since 2004. We are looking forward to cooperating with you.

01 Various kinds of specifications
Various kinds of customized sizes and colors can be made according to customer's requirements.

02 Different designs and demands
Customized packages and labeling are available to match different designs and demands.

03 Different versions of accessories
Accessories such as ribbon, velcro, and the hook can be supplied to adapt to the needs or various applications.

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