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Gear Owner's Guides Anchoring & Docking Owner's Guides   Go Back All Gear Guides Email to a Friend Printable version Chafe Gear Author: MariSafe Docklines and anchor rodes keep your boat in place, protecting it from bumping into pilings, other boats and the hard edges of land. Most cordage used for docking, anchoring and mooring lines is made of nylon which is incredibly tough stuff. But the weak spot in nylon ropes is their susceptibility to chafe, caused by rubbing against solid or abrasive objects. And since a boat in the water is constantly in motion, alternately tensioning and relaxing its lines and changing the direction of pull, these lines all need protection with chafe gear. Chafe gear is sacrificial—it should take all the wear and abrasion that would ordinarily fall on your expensive lines. If it's doing its job, chafe gear will wear out and need to be replaced from time to time. What lines should have chafe gear? The right answer is all of them. Even if your boat is docked or moored in a quiet spot normally free of wave action and wakes, eventually a big storm will blow through and damage the lines. One good storm can ruin an entire set of docklines beyond redemption, putting the boat in jeopardy. Chafe gear is simply cheap insurance that protects the expensive cordage which, in turn, protects your even more expensive boat. Chafe gear can be made of any material that can take wear without damaging the line. Here are some common types: Tape is often used as chafe gear, though less than ideal. In an emergency, that is, when you forgot to put the chafe gear on the lines in the first place and the storm is upon you, a roll of duct tape makes a fast set of temporary chafe gear. But you will pay for it later. The gooey mess left behind is nearly impossible to remove from lines without damaging them and the chafe gear is left in a fixed spot. Cloth and rags can be wrapped or tied to docklines, anchoring or mooring lines. I have often used old dishrags as anchor rode chafe guards, but they're hard to keep in place, often squirming out of the chock and blowing away. Towels or other pieces of cloth must be taped in place, defeating the purpose. Leather dockline guards are considered the classic solution for classic yachts. Without a doubt, leather is tough chafe gear that retains its good looks for several seasons. But leather must be cut to fit precisely, holes punched down both sides and be sewn onto the rode. Baseball stitching of leather guards can be a pleasant task. Several kits on the market can save on the actual leatherwork; still, it's a time-consuming task and even when the job is done, the chafe gear is locked onto one spot on the line—if you back the boat into the slip the next time, the chafe gear can’t be moved. Vinyl or plastic hose can sometimes make good chafe gear. Ordinary garden hose is usually too small for all but the smallest boats. Hose that's too small to draw the line through must be split its entire length and then taped onto the line, so buy a big size.  Some hoses are sticky inside, making installation somewhat frustrating, while others retain a curved set from the roll that makes it difficult to keep in place. Clear vinyl hose attracts mildew and stains, eventually becoming quite unattractive. Firehose is a favorite for chafe gear. Many local fire codes specify that firehose from commercial and public buildings be replaced every few years, even if it's never been used. Thus a 50-foot piece of firehose may be found free for the taking. Firehose has a tough, white fabric outer shell and an equally tough   All Gear Guides Email to a Friend Printable version Anchoring & Docking Owner's Guides   Go Back

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