STERN TIE UP LINE

[canuck]

We are planning to spend a couple of weeks in Desolation Sound. Any suggestions as to how much yellow three braid poly we should carry..400..600'?
Should we go 5/16" or 3/8"? How are you attaching the spool to the stern of the boat?
Thanks.

[waterdog]

200ft should be plenty.   300 would be the absolute max.  5/16 is too skinny.  Go 3/8 or better.   

[Joe Kern]

Ok...so I am curious.  Is this to tie up to shore?  Another boat?  A lighthouse?  To pull a water skier?

Signed a curious Florida sailor.

Joe

[canuck]

Once we have anchored with the main hook, we take the stern line ashore with the dingy and attach the stern line to a rock, tree et cetera, to keep us from swinging in a crowded anchorage..

[Jack Hutteball]

Also, in some anchorages the water is very deep, even very close to the shore.  To get any kind of scope one would need hundreds of feet of line out.
Jack

[Stu Jackson]

Waggoner's Guide, the Pacific NW book, recommends a minimum of 600 feet.

[waterdog]

We've done Desolation many times.   Never had more than 200 feet and we always run the line to shore around the tree (or mooring ring, rock, whatever) and back to the boat so that it can be released without having to go ashore.   600 feet would be fine if you have the space to stow it, but I can think of no reason why you would need it.   If you had 300 feet of line between your boat and shore, you present a navigation hazard to other vessels.   

[Ron Hill]

Can : Ever think about using 2 anchors off the bow.  That's what us "right" coast sailors do in a crowed-ed anchorage!!