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How to choose your dock lines ?

In the rope category, dock lines, also known as mooring lines or hawsers, are not the star products of the rope family. Yet, with so many fancy names, the must play an important role.Which dock lines should you choose for your boat? First, we examine the rope’s materials and construction.

My dream dock line

In the ideal world, a dock line should combine elasticity (to absorb jolts), robustness, resistance to various types of aggression (abrasion, UV, salt, humidity), limited space requirement and low water absorption.  In real life, you have to make some compromises according to your priorities.

Materials:my dock line is made of…

In terms of materials, you can choose between monofibre ropes (100% polyester or 100% polyamide) or mixed ropes with a polyamide core and a polyester cover

polyester
The polyester darkens under the flame and forms a ball by melting.

Polyester has two main properties: resistance and lifespan (it is UV and chafe resistant).

The polyamide melts without blackening and forms a long thread when pulled.

Polyamide is a useful fibre for dock lines because its elongation, or elasticity, is substantial. A polyamide dock line offers a very good shock absorption but has a lower lifespan because of the low resistance of this material to UV and water.

polyamide
Polypropylene is recognized by its very “plastic” appearance.

Another material is polypropylene. Despite its very low UV resistance, polypropylene’s advantage is its buoyancy and very light weight. During a sailing a trip, a large spool of polypropylene is always handy in case you need to pass a line ashore.

Construction:braided or stranded line?

You must then choose between two rope structures (or constructions): braided line (single braid or double braid) or twisted (3-strand)

Braided mooring lines are more robust and have a lower shock absorption capacity compared to stranded lines, regardless of material.

dossier comment choisir ses amarres

Our dock lines either cut to size or sewn

Our dock lines catalogue contains a selection of ropes suitable for docking.  It’s up to you to decide if you want to focus on shock absorptiondurabilitystrengthlightnesscompactness, etc. For each mooring line, you can choose between two types of products:

  • cut to size: you select the length and diameter of the dock line
  • ready-to-use You select the length, the diameter and our riggers will make a large loop (eye splice) at one end and a constrictor termination at the other end (to prevent the rope from fraying). The eye splice is protected from chafing by a polyester cover that extends the lifespan of the dock line.
Nos amarres à la coupe ou matelotées Notre catalogue d’amarres comprend une sélection de cordages adaptés à l’amarrage : à vous de savoir si vous voulez privilégier l’amortissement, la longévité, la résistance, la légèreté, la compacité etc. Pour chaque amarre, vous avez le choix entre deux types de produit : • à la coupe : vous sélectionnez la longueur et le diamètre de l’amarre • prêt à l’emploi : vous sélectionnez la longueur, le diamètre et nos mateloteurs se chargent de réaliser une grande boucle (œil épissé) à une extrémité et une terminaison constricteur à l’autre (pour éviter que le cordage ne s’effiloche). L’œil épissé est protégé du ragage par une gaine en polyester qui prolonge la durée de vie de l’amarre.
Find our shock absorbers on the online shop

Like chafing, jolts can be devastating to dock lines! If your boat stays in the water for a long time, we recommend that you equip your dock lines with shock absorbers. This French-designed, highly resistant, innovative model (made of natural rubber) works in compression to improve shock absorption and to avoid breakage of the snubber.

Like chafing, jolts can be devastating to dock lines! If your boat stays in the water for a long time, we recommend that you equip your dock lines with shock absorbers. This French-designed, highly resistant, innovative model (made of natural rubber) works in compression to improve shock absorption and to avoid breakage of the snubber.

créer mon amarre sur mesure
Product *Material(x)ConstructionResistanceShock absorptionLifespanLifespanClutter *Water absorption*
3-strand polyamide dock line> Polyamide

> Three strands ★ ★ ☆☆☆ ★★★★★ ★ ★ ☆☆☆ ★ ★ ☆☆☆ ★ ★ ★☆☆ ★ ★ ☆☆☆

3-strand polyester dock line> Polyester
> Three strands
★ ★ ★★☆ ★ ★ ★☆☆ ★ ★ ★☆☆ ★ ★ ☆☆☆ ★ ★ ★☆☆ ★ ★ ☆☆☆
Single flat braid polyester dock line> Polyester> Single braid
★ ★ ★☆☆ ★ ★ ☆☆☆ ★ ★ ★☆☆ ★ ★ ★★☆ ★ ★ ☆☆☆ ★ ☆☆☆☆
Dockline polyamide core and polyester cover> Polyamide (core)
> Polyamide (core)
> Double braid ★ ★ ★★☆ ★ ★ ★★☆ ★★★★★ ★ ★ ☆☆☆ ★ ★ ★☆☆ ★ ★ ★☆☆

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