MOORING BOATS PROPERLY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Mooring lines are essential for every boat: they are not only elementary for the safety of the boat, but also for that of the passengers. The rope is particularly suitable for securing a boat to the pier or to other boats. With the help of the mooring line, your boat can remain calm and safe at the berth in the future. Therefore, every boat needs reliable mooring ropes. But what types of mooring lines are there and what are the advantages and disadvantages of the different types?
Topseller
Twisted cordage
Whipped cordage is characterised by the fact that two or more rope fibres are twisted around each other. This is why it is also referred to as "twisted cordage". This type of cordage has many advantages: it is cheap to buy, particularly elastic and can be easily spliced. Disadvantages arise from the fact that twisted cordage can form kinks after a while and is also very stretchy.
Square braid
The square braid is also known as "square line". The main advantages of square braid are its high elasticity and suppleness. The cordage can also be laid well without jamming or snagging. However, a common disadvantage of the square braid is that it tends to pull threads.
Core-sheath braid
The core-sheath braid is considered to be a robust and at the same time supple cordage construction. However, the stretchability always depends on the material, but this is usually less pronounced than with square braids.
Customised mooring lines
Fasteners made of polyester
While mooring ropes made of polyester are particularly UV-resistant, break-resistant, non-slip, inexpensive and resistant to shrinkage and abrasion, they only have a low elasticity. Accordingly, either a jerk damper or very long mooring lines should be used. Polyester mooring lines with a square braid are particularly grippy, kink-free and elastic.
Polypropylene mooring lines
Polypropylene is the lightest textile fibre of all materials. Because it absorbs virtually no water and is buoyant, it is less likely to be caught by the boat's propeller when manoeuvring in the harbour. In addition, the material is very resistant to chemicals. Disadvantages result from its lower UV resistance and propensity to break. In addition, the material is less abrasion-resistant and not as durable as the other mooring lines. If you are looking for buoyant mooring lines, preemptively order them with a larger diameter (than actually needed) and only use them on protected moorings, a mooring line made of polypropylene is the right choice.
Mooring lines made of polyamide
Fixing lines made of polyamide offer up to ten percent more stretch compared to polyester and are therefore very elastic. Lines made of this material are considered the most stretchy of all mooring lines. Since polyamide absorbs a lot of water, it used to quickly become stiff and therefore unmanageable. In the meantime, however, polyamide lines have been optimised.
Mooring lines by the metre
Accessories for mooring lines
What safety precautions should be taken when handling mooring ropes?
- Use of protective clothing
- Checking the mooring lines
- Avoiding knots
- Secure and correct fastening of the line
- Avoidance of overload
- Distance from engines and propellers
- Distance to other boats and ships
Frequently asked questions - FAQs
What does a mooring line do?
Mooring lines are suitable for mooring a boat to a pier or to other boats. With the help of the mooring line, the boat can remain calm and safe at its berth. A good mooring line not only withstands moisture, wind and waves, but also UV radiation. It should also be elastic so that the boat doesn't press so hard into the fittings.
How long do mooring lines last?
Festmacherleinen sind wie andere Materialien auch nicht für die Ewigkeit bestimmt. Die Lebenszeit kann jedoch durch eine hochwertige Pflege verlängert werden, jedoch können Faktoren wie Schmutz, Salz, mechanische Belastungen und UV-Strahlung die Lebenszeit verringern.