Regal 32 EXPRESS, Owner'S Manual

Page: 188 / 364

7
Vessel Operation
The bow and stern lines should be relatively at a 45 degree
angle with the dock. The stern line can be attached to the
near-shore quarter cleat, but will work more effi ciently
to the offshore quarter cleat. The longer line will allow
the boat fl ow with the tide with less time checking the
vessel.
DOCK LINE SIZING
Most dock lines today are made of nylon, either of
twisted rope or braided core and cover. The most often
used material is nylon because of its stretching abilities
absorbing shock loads. It is chafe resistant for extended
life and is easier on bare hands.
The line’s size varies with the vessel. Normally, a vessel in
the 50’ range will use 5/8” diameter nylon lines.
Dock lines need to have the strength to hold the vessel and
have enough density to resist chafi ng. They shouldn’t be
too heavy that they lose their shock-absorbing capabilities.
Use the right size line for the vessel since a line too large
for the boat will pull hard against the vessel since it won’t
be forced to stretch. If the line is too small for the vessel,
there is no margin for wear and chafe when under strain.
SECURING LINES
When mooring your boat, make sure the dock lines are
secured at both ends. Depending on your situation you
may need to loop the eye splice of the dock line around a
piling. Sometimes the mooring line will lead down sharply
from the piling to the deck cleat. Loop the eye splice around
the piling twice to keep it from being pulled up off the
pile. Pull the line through the looped eye if the mooring
line is too small to go around the piling twice or too small
to fi t over once.
If you must drop a line over a piling that already holds
another boat’s line, run the eye of the line up through
the fi rst eye from below, then loop it over the pile. This
will allow either line to be removed without disturbing
the other. If another line is dropped over yours, simply
reverse the process.
Secure a little slack in the other dock line, then slip your
eye up through its loop and over the top of the pile. Your
line can be dropped through the other eye.
Note: Never use the swim platform cleats for permanent
mooring cleats.
DISEMBARKING-LEAVING THE DOCK
When debarking from a dock, it is easier to release the line
from a cleat or piling, from on board the boat, as soon as
you leave the dock. Loop a long line around the cleat or
pier and leading both ends on board you can release the
line easily. Slip one end around the cleat or pile, the pull
it back on board. Release the line without the eye splice,
so it will run freely from around the pile without hanging
up on the splice.