www.iFourWinns.com

Hey Gents,

Haven't been around much - been spending my time building my dock (myself) after last seasons bailouts of contractors (grrr contractors).
Anyway a portion is a rock filled crib the rest is a floater on hinges. With prevailing winds and ignorant boaters in the narrows I need a mooring system to maintain a secure positioning of the 35' of floater sections - they are connected with HD hinges.
The solution seemed simple - a pair of 800 - 1000 lb blocks with some 3/8" or maybe 1/2" chain secured at the last hinge - see attatched pic of the model.



Trouble is the wakes - which are sometimes pretty rediculous. I need some sort of shock absorber in the mooring and have had little luck finding any (affordable) product to facilitate this.
I did find these "Shockles" - has anyone ever used (or know someone who has used) these and think they may be suitable?
Even if not - they seem like a really cool item for those of us that moor.



http://www.shockles.com/

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

They work great, actually. There are many different vendors offering similar products with idential end-results.

I don't use them to moor but where we raft/anchor a few boats together I will use these on our lines to dampen the wakes caused by the idiots. Without them there is the bouncing caused by the wakes, then the opposite "snap" effect when the lines reach their max extension and then the final slam back.

These absorbers softened the movement while rafted.

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Vic
"Byte Me"
1989 Vista 245
Lake Norman, NC

oddly enough, that's what I'm selling here:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2602

I swear by them. Keeps your dock and your boat from getting all torn up and jerking around. Gives you that extra 8-12'' of 'give' like a big rubber band.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Hey CC,

Yep, I've seen those before - but I didn't know they stretched - figured the shock was absorbed in the wraps of the rope? They would be great if they worked with chain . . .

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

In place of the Shockle how about using big deflated tractor inner tube like a bungee, this will act like a huge shock absorber and should be pretty cheep if you can find a used tube at the tire store. It would work like a snubber on our tuna hand lines.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

Can't comment on the shocks, although I have seen a few variants and have heard nothing but good things about them. But I do have a question on the dock, why two ladders? - just curious. Back to mooring - I assume that the 'crib' is to secure the dock? The shocks appear that they would work great between a moored boat and the dock when the force pulls the boat away from the dock, but when the force is towards the dock you rely on fenders to protect the boat. Why not fashion a second 'crib' with buoyed mooring lines for the other side of the boat, so you can tie off at both sides? Add shocks on both sides and you should be good.

*edit - just re-read the OP, if your issue is not with mooring a boat to the dock, but securing the dock itself, there again two cribs spread apart on each side of the dock would provide better lateral support of the dock than one crib directly beneath it. My 2 cents.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Hey Jim,

Two ladders mostly because I have a lot of youngsters playing in the yard and I worry of one getting past supervision and falling off the dock. In such a case I don't want them to have to swim too far to get back out. Stats tell me that a large percentage of drownings occur within 50' of shore. The model also doesn't show a pool slide (it was way too much work) that is going on the first section - adjacent the first ladder.
The model is deceiving - the ladders are about 18' apart (the sections are 10' x 16') The South side of the dock is where the boat is slipped and I have mooring whips for that. I may move a ladder to the south side but either way I want the flexibility of only using one section if one becomes damaged or there is a poker run on the lake or something - the thing extends 45' from shore and I have seen a number of idiots ripping by closer than that.

The shocks were intended for mooring the floating dock to the lake bed with chain at the outermost hinge point (again so I have the flexibility of using only one section if desired or needed). I need to secure the dock from side forces while adding shock resistance from some of the rediculous wakes its exposed to.
Second crib is a no-no because I am limited to the repair of an existing crib and cannot enlarge its footprint. Adding a second crib requires many permits, inpsections and costs and time - and frankly would likely be denied.

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

Second crib is a no go, bummer. Then perhaps using the shocks on crossed support lines (each to opposite side of the dock) would be the way to go. Might even be tempting to supplement this with straight up and down support lines. Looks like a very cool plan!

_________________
2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP