Mooring and Anchoring

Here you will find durable ropes and pre-spliced lines (with thimbles, eye splices, or springs) for leisure boats and commercial shipping.

While often grouped together, mooring and anchoring require different rope properties. A mooring line needs high elasticity, often found in traditional laid rope, to absorb shock loads from wind and waves. An anchor line, however, needs to sink and provide weight (often paired with a chain) to keep the pull angle low and hold the anchor securely.

Choose the right quality and dimension

When mooring all types of boats (and for other applications), it is important to use high-quality ropes in the correct dimension. A mooring rope is subjected to different types of wear depending on where it is located, how it is moored, and the external stresses it faces. The cost of a mooring rope or a heavier hawser is minimal compared to the value of the vessel, making it worth spending a little extra to minimize the risk of damage to the boat.

How thick should your mooring rope be?

The boat's weight determines the dimension you need for your mooring line. Use this as a general guideline for leisure boats:

• Up to 1 ton: 10 mm
• 1–3 tons: 12 mm
• 3–4 tons: 14 mm
• Over 4 tons: 16 mm or thicker

Do not oversize unnecessarily. A line that is too thick loses its built-in stretch and rarely fits the boat's cleats. Only go up one dimension if the boat is moored at an unprotected dock with heavy swell.

Maintenance and lifespan

A mooring rope should be inspected regularly and replaced when wear becomes noticeable. Out at sea, lines are constantly exposed to UV light, saltwater, oil, fuel, and heavy loads. This places high demands on durable and chemical-resistant materials.

To ensure your ropes last as long as possible, it is important to:

• Wash the lines with fresh water and mild dish soap when the season is over.
• Store hawsers and anchor lines dry indoors during the winter months.