Docking aid gizmo

[Randygh]

Check out the "Dockwand" http://www.dockwand.com/index.html

Looks like a gizmo for docks with cleats. I'm going to make one but going to think of a way to make the wand also act as a snubber so there isn't much jerking when the spring line pulls tightly.

[SomeSailor]

I thought she dropped it in the video. :)

Looks like he's gonna have a hard time keeping people from people from copying it at home.

[Randygh]

Last night I ordered a giant (Beau size) Kong dog toy. I'll thread a spring line through the Kong and tie several knots to secure it. Still thinking how to make a handle that acts as a snubber too.

[coolchange]

I wonder how well that would work from a larger boat that is much higher up from the dock?

I bought one of the heavy metal "gizmos" that look a little like a question mark on the end of a 20' (more or less) line...it can catch the other side of a finger pier, a 4x4 rail, drag and grab a cleat...I single hand a lot and this is always nearby if there is wind or current and saved my bacon more than once. I'm sure someone handy with a welder could knock it off.. but why not reward innovation?

[Randygh]

I've seen those question-mark shaped hooks and was wondering how well they would work. Thanks for the info. I know the Admiral would like both the cleat ball and the question mark hook. Since she broke her ankle 10 years ago, she isn't into jumping onto docks and is very cautious when on deck.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Randy, we did not see those docking gizmos at the show..

[SomeSailor]

Last night I ordered a giant (Beau size) Kong dog toy. I'll thread a spring line through the Kong and tie several knots to secure it. Still thinking how to make a handle that acts as a snubber too.

They sell those little floats over here if ya need one Randy. Lemme know.

[Papa Charlie]

Last night I ordered a giant (Beau size) Kong dog toy. I'll thread a spring line through the Kong and tie several knots to secure it. Still thinking how to make a handle that acts as a snubber too.

Randy, It looks like the handle is nothing more than a piece of PVC tubing. It floats on the line that passes through it and is not acting like a snubber at all. Interesting idea but as some else pointed out, this is so easy to copy that he will have a difficult time marketing.

[Randygh]

Ok folks. Here's the deal. I'm cheap and like to tinker with stuff. Yesterday I designed a gizmo that won't rust, acts as a snubber and fits inside a piece of PVC. I tested a prototype yesterday. It worked great. I hooked up the snubber to my Bronco and lawn tractor. I put the tractor in forward and moved about 2mph and let the tractor "hit" end the line. No jerk!! The plastic hose absorbed the shock very well. I even showed the Admiral and she was impressed because there was no jerking at the end when the line tightened. (When showing the Admiral something I invent, she usually rolls her eyes and walks away, but she thought the this gizmo worked very well.) I could see the hose compress when the line was pulled taunt. The snubber was so strong, I was able to pull my Bronco. It seemed to work so well that last night I ordered 15' of 3/8 line so I can make a final spring line product.

The photos below show line that is color coded so you can see how it works.

For my boat I'm using 5/8" ID water hose. The water hose will act as a snubber by compressing it. Snake wire through the snubber and hook it around the line to facilitate threading through the water hose.
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After threading the line through the hose pull one line and note which line is moving at the opposite end of the hose. Mark the line appropriately. Cut the loop and tie a knot on the red end. Then go to the other end of the snubber and tie a knot at the end of the green line.


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[Randygh]

After marking and tying knots at the ends of the red and green lines I tied a line to simulate a spring line. Then hooked up between Bronco and lawn tractor.

[Randygh]

So the snubber worked well to dampen the jerk when the line was pulled very taunt. The next step is to insert the snubber inside a pvc "wand" as described in the commercial product. I prefer to call it a handle that will facilitate looping the line with the stopper around a cleat.

For the handle I'm going to use 3/4" electrical conduit PVC. For the finished product I'l probable cut the handle 4' long. The snubber has to be threaded inside the PVC so I pulled the red and green knot ends away from the water hose so the knots will slip inside the PVC snuggly.

[Randygh]

The snubber is then pulled into the 3/4" PVC pipe.

[Randygh]

Final comments.

This unit is dirt cheap to make. Don't know what they charge for the commercial product, but it doesn't have a snubber and I bet it is more expensive than this homemade gizmo.

The water hose inside the pvc is not so tight that it can't "bunch up" when the spring line is pulled tightly. There is probably 0.5 mm space between the OD of the hose and the ID of the pvc pipe. The knots will hold the snubber inside the pvc, but if the water hose is "bunched up" after snubbing, I'm sure the rebound of the water hose is strong enough to force the knots "out" so the hose regains the ability to absorb shock. The knots are snug enough to hold the snubber in place but not so tight against the inside of the pvc that the hose won't be able to move them back to a relaxed position.

The knots will definitely not pull through the water hose snubber. They didn't pull through the hose when tested between the Bronco and lawn tractor.

Nothing in the entire set up will rust. The 3/4" pvc handle is rigid for good control of the ball at the end of the line.

I don't know for sure if this setup will work on a larger scale for larger boats, but I think the design is good, so it would depend on the size line, water hose and pvc. I think the 3/4" pvc handle would be rigid enough to work for a handle longer than 4'.

After I receive my Beau-dog size Kong and new line, I'll make the finished product and show it on this thread.

[2859er]

Did you get a patent? Very cleaver.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
I am wondering if when the line is pulled tight that the hose might bind inside the PVC pipe, and not re-extend itself when there is no longer tension on the line. Also how will you keep the hose inside the PVC pipe, what is keeping it from sliding up or down the line?

Oh I just reread your last post, the knots will keep the hose inside the PVC. I am interested to see how it works with the PVC.<O:p</O:p

[Randygh]

I should have the final product made in several weeks. Unfortunately, it will be several months until I'll be able to try it on the boat in a real life situation. If the weather warms up this spring, I'd like to take the boat out in March or April for sure. I'm getting boating fever and a boat trip fix is a good remedy. Good thing we won't be going to the boat show. I've got my boat set up well enough that there really isn't anything I have to have, however at the boat show there is always something that I never thought of and must have.

[Papa Charlie]

Randy,
If keeping the whole assembly in the PVC tube becomes an issue, you can drill a hole in the end of a couple of end caps and put them on the pipe. that will retain everything in its place just fine.

Nice job. I admire your forethought in this. Very cool.

[Randygh]

Great idea Pat. End caps with a hole for the lines to go through. If necessary, I'll follow your recommendation.

[Fred P]

A good one Randy. How much stretch per foot does it have? I think that the snubber would also work on an anchor line.

Fred P..............

[CARL TENNING]

I wonder how this would work with the momentum of a 16,000 or 20,000 lb cruiser?

[2859er]

Randy,
If keeping the whole assembly in the PVC tube becomes an issue, you can drill a hole in the end of a couple of end caps and put them on the pipe. that will retain everything in its place just fine.

Nice job. I admire your forethought in this. Very cool.

My thought exactly, you beat me to the post. :)

[Randygh]

When I pulled the rubber snubber between the lawn tractor and Bronco the water hose compressed about 2" on each end. When I took off the tension, the hose expanded back to it's orginal length. (I should have measured the hose length when compressed and not compressed.) I think the amount of shock absorbing value would depend on the length and diameter of the hose, and ambient temperature. I don't think the hose would work as well as a metal compression or expansion spring, but rust is a major concern. Are springs ever made of stainless steel? If so, they would be much more expensive than a piece of water hose.

Since the gizmo will only be used to "grab" a cleat while docking, as noted the the commercial product's video, there won't be much strain on the line. I always approach a dock very slowly and only use power when challenged by a current or wind. I ordered 3/8" braided line to make my gizmo. The 3/8" line will be plenty strong for my boat. For a 16,000 pound boat I'd want to use at least a 1/2" or 5/8" line.

[SomeSailor]

Yeah... it's only gonna be as strong as the line and cleats. If you're hitting it with the full weight of your 20,000 pound cruiser, you're gonna break something no matter what you do I suppose.

[Pack66Dad]

I bought my wife one of these...... just in case. Seems to work, we practiced with it a few times and she never missed from about 5' away from the dock.
http://www.landingloop.com/
http://www.landingloop.com/images/index2.jpg

[voyager]

Actually I like that idea, the admiral will not be able to miss she just has to drop the line over the cleat.she does not have to think about anything just drop it on the cleat. Sort of idoit proof.

[Go Aweigh2452]

I dunno, maybe OK on big boats but I'll continue to do the ole "smash and grab" method of docking and tie up... Been successful so far and not that many dings in the hull... well, none too bad to fix... ;}

[voyager]

Normally I do not need any help but one of those landing loops would come in handy at Everett. It is almost always windy and always blowing inland so it blows me away from the guest dock. Once I get the stren line on a cleat I can bring the boat in. I think the landing loop might help by extending the reach.

[Randygh]

The net looks like a gizmo too. We have a deck pole that expands, but the Admiral has had problems extending it then moving around the boat with it. I have received my dock lines, but I'm going to install a retractable deck cleat aft of the mid deck cleat so the Admiral can loop the gizmo line without leaving the cockpit and going on deck. I'll post photos when I install the deck cleats and make the gizmo.

[coolchange]

Doug...as a fellow "smash and grabber" 95% (or more) of the time I am still glad to have the "heavy question mark thing" for those times that a few seconds does make a difference...and I can throw it at a cleat, 4x4 bollard, across the finger to opposite edge, etc. It's versitile, easy to store and so far never taken more than one toss. (used on 2855 and now the 26' Mac)

[Randygh]

I received my 3/8" docking line and made the docking gizmo. I made 2 changes from the prototype: 1. I drilled holes in the water line hose and the PVC for drainage and ventilation, 2. Applied end caps

My mid deck spring line deck cleats require the Admiral to get up on the gunnels in order to loop the end of a spring line. I don't want the Admiral to get up on the deck to secure the gizmo, so I installed two retractable deck cleats just forward of cockpit. That way the Admiral can secure the gizmo's loop very easily. (I still haven't figured out how to properly post).

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[Go Aweigh2452]

Randy, I looked at those kind of pop up cleats but decided against them due to the possibility of water intrusion. I went with flip ups that only need you to tap the clip outward with your foot and it pops up and can be laid down by pushing on it sideways, again with your foot. Hopefully, you can drain any water from those?

[Randygh]

1805After installing the new deck cleats I made the gizmo today. I made the "shock absorber" of 2' of 5/8" ID water line. I drilled numerous holes in the hose and PVC to allow for ventilation in case the gizmo is dropped in the water. The PVC is thick-walled 1".

I pulled the new 3/8" line through the water line. Notice that the line is marked with tape.

[Randygh]

The length of PVC is 3'. I left extra line beyond the knots in case I need to adjust the length for the Admiral. I haven't glued the end caps in case I need to modify the PVC handle.

[Randygh]

The water line shock absorber worked extremely well. When I stretched between the Bronco and lawn tractor the line and shock absorber stretched 12" beyond the resting state. I know some of the stretch was in the new line, but most of the stretching was due to compression of the water line within the handle. The job supervisor is in the background watching the stretching.

I hope to try the gizmo next month when the weather is warmer. The Admiral doesn't like to do cold boating (below freezing). After we try it, I'll give follow up and try to get some video.

[2859er]

Randy,

Your gizmo looks very well made. I like the pop up deck cleats too. Now al the Admiral needs is a little practice with her new tool.
BTW your pooch looks very impressed!!!! :)

Nothing like an off season boating project to chase way the winter blues.

[Papa Charlie]

Randy, Nice looking setup. I noticed that the dog was smart enough to give a wide berth from the test area. hahaha

[Go Aweigh2452]

Nice set up Randy...

Tell Willow that Orion says hi and is ready to run again...especially in the water where your gizmo may help get him back on board... ;}