I just need 2 more inches.....

[Bob Quinn]

No, not that kind. I just need to tighten this line 2 more inches, or 4 or 6
Does anyone make a device that will attach to a line and tighten it a little? In the chain world I think they call them chain binders and have different styles, with hooks on both ends and either a lever you pull and it locks over or a double ended screw that pulls the ends together.

What I envision is something a little less complicated that doesn't need hooks or additional lines.
Just something to pull some slack out of a line.

Does such a thing exist?

Below is a picture where it could have really helped. I'm at a transient dock and as you can see the stairway is a real tight fit. With the boat perfectly positioned I have maybe 5" clearance between the poles.

I have 4 lines on the boat and fenders in place trying to keep the boat perfectly positioned, but overnight I felt we were rocking a bit from a light breeze that kicked up. When I got up this morning, the stairway had been grinding on the one pole, you can see on the one pole the gouges it created. I'm lucky no damage was done to the boat or the stairway. If I had been able to have much tighter lines I may have been able to prevent this, and what could have been a lot worse. This pic is after repositioning the boat this morning and re-tightening lines which stretched out a bit overnight.

 

[ageless]

If YOU are unable to get them tight enough, there's GOT to be a deck hand that wants a quick $20 to yank a few ropes. If that's not the case, (blind here) are the ropes age/quality an issue that they were tight enough until they were "needed"? Is there an alternate tie down pattern that may help?

 

[Pascal]

For max leverage to tighten a line, I put a half turn on the cleat, reach over the rail with one hand to grab and pull the line up and then pick up the slack with other and as I release. Repeat. That gives you twice the leverage.

At the stern and bow cleats, which are on deck not on the tow rail, I also take a half turn but then put my foot on the line between the cleat and the tow rail, push down and pick up the slack on the half turn.

I guess you could put on an extra line, and use a ratchet strap to pull the boat, then tighten up the main line.

 

[Bob Quinn]

For max leverage to tighten a line, I put a half turn on the cleat, reach over the rail with one hand to grab and pull the line up and then pick up the slack with other and as I release. Repeat. That gives you twice the leverage.

At the stern and bow cleats, which are on deck not on the tow rail, I also take a half turn but then put my foot on the line between the cleat and the tow rail, push down and pick up the slack on the half turn.

I guess you could put on an extra line, and use a ratchet strap to pull the boat, then tighten up the main line.

I've been doing the same thing. Keep a half turn on the rope and then stand on it with one foot.
I wouldn't want to do that in a wind storm though. When wind it blowing the boat away you have to be real fast to retie!

 

[Bob Quinn]

If YOU are unable to get them tight enough, there's GOT to be a deck hand that wants a quick $20 to yank a few ropes. If that's not the case, (blind here) are the ropes age/quality an issue that they were tight enough until they were "needed"? Is there an alternate tie down pattern that may help?

I added more lines this morning, and repositioned some fenders to tighter spots.
It seems o.k. now, but they are calling for potential high winds and thunderstorms this afternoon.
I may be wise to remove the stairs if it storms.

Anyways, I guess there are no products out there to make this easier. Maybe I should make something - I think I finally figured out a simple way.

 

[Bob Quinn]

I'm wondering if there is some kind of knot loop that can be used to gain leverage.

Any knot experts out there?

 

[Scarlett]

Truckers hitch or make a Spanish windlass where you set up the line so you can put a bar in and twist it to tighten it.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Truckers hitch or make a Spanish windlass where you set up the line so you can put a bar in and twist it to tighten it.

I will look up a Spanish Windlass! That sounds like the trick

 

[brettportzer]

I think it's too tight a spot to use the stairs.

 

[krush]

Use the engines?

 

[Sadey]

I second the stair comment. It looks like way too little clearance for those stairs given the potential damage possible from either wakes (some people don’t care if it’s a no wake zone) or big winds from a thunderstorms, I’ve recorded 87mph at our dock. I would ditch the stairs and build something or buy dock stairs.

 

[Bob Quinn]

I second the stair comment. It looks like way too little clearance for those stairs given the potential damage possible from either wakes (some people don’t care if it’s a no wake zone) or big winds from a thunderstorms, I’ve recorded 87mph at our dock. I would ditch the stairs and build something or buy dock stairs.

We are at a transient dock, just for the weekend.
The storm possibility has passed, so we will get through the weekend. I was prepared to remove the stairs if the winds kicked up again, but we had a nice calm night.

 

[cww]

I wouldn't use my marquipt stairs on a finger pier that's this narrow, you're basically asking for something to happen. They need a foot or two to roll back and forth with tidal variation, wakes, etc. You're going to end up either damaging the dock, or worse, if the stairs fall off the edge of the finger pier it'll rip the wheels off (almost $100/ea to replace) or tear the mounts off the side of the boat. Marquipt makes a ladder for use in these situations, a lot of people carry both.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I wouldn't use my marquipt stairs on a finger pier that's this narrow, you're basically asking for something to happen. They need a foot or two to roll back and forth with tidal variation, wakes, etc. You're going to end up either damaging the dock, or worse, if the stairs fall off the edge of the finger pier it'll rip the wheels off (almost $100/ea to replace) or tear the mounts off the side of the boat. Marquipt makes a ladder for use in these situations, a lot of people carry both.

I agree completely. Use the ladder when the stairs have limited room to move.

 

[Bob Quinn]

I agree completely. Use the ladder when the stairs have limited room to move.

It all turned out o.k. I was able to get the boat tight enough that the movement was limited to +/- 2 or 3 inches.

I would have used ladder, except the admiral has a bad back.

All good, back at home port.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Ratchets straps are the way to go!! Watch the clinometer so when you have a negative list you know your close. REALLY BOB??? Use the chinasteel ones from harbor fright so that they rust up tight after a week or so and then dont forget the high quality aircraft aluminum carabiners for that final touch. Nothing says yachtsman like quality dock tackle.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Now that is funny.

Ratchets straps are the way to go!! Watch the clinometer so when you have a negative list you know your close. REALLY BOB??? Use the chinasteel ones from harbor fright so that they rust up tight after a week or so and then dont forget the high quality aircraft aluminum carabiners for that final touch. Nothing says yachtsman like quality dock tackle. View attachment 76429

 

[krush]

I believe the solution is to procure auto tensioning winches, like the ships use.

 

[Bob Quinn]

I believe the solution is to procure auto tensioning winches, like the ships use.

OMG I literally forgot I have a windlass on the back deck. DUH

 

[Sadey]

Perfect, what could go wrong?