Page 395 - Brion Toss - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

to a forward thwart (Figure 12-5). This will cause
the dinghy to angle out to the side, away from the
transom. Adjust the lead forward or aft for the ideal three-strand
angle at a given rate of travel.
bungee cord rope

MOORING AND ANCHORING

Don’t run aground or drift away—learn proper Figure 12-6A. The Bungee Snubber. Use a 2- to
mooring and anchoring techniques.
3-foot length of bungee cord that is half the diameter
of the three-strand rope. The idea is to insert the bun-
Tom Cook’s Internal Bungee Snubber gee cord in the rope at any convenient point along
Prudent sailors know the importance of a gentle its length. Twist the lay of the rope open enough to
“snubbing” action on mooring lines, to keep a boat work one end of the cord into the middle, and stitch
from fetching up with a jerk in wave action. Slam- with four to six passes of sail twine through first one
ming is hard on deck fittings, on dock fittings, and strand, then the cord, then a second strand. Then lay
on the comfort of anyone aboard. It also leads to the cord into the rope, twisting the lay of the rope
excess wear on mooring lines You can buy bulky, open a little at a time as you go. Fair periodically
expensive rubber sausages that the mooring line by stretching the cord out and milking the line down
wraps around to solve this problem, but light- to over it. The cord should be completely covered except
medium-displacement craft are better off with an where it exits the rope. Work in as much of the cord as
Internal Bungee Snubber (Figure 12-6). you can, then stretch it where it exits the line, using
The brainchild of Seattle-ite Tom Cook, this the same stitching as before. Trim the excess.
snubber is simple, durable, won’t foul on chocks
and hawses, and can be coiled down with the
mooring line. To make it, start with a 2- to 3-foot
length of bungee cord that is half the diameter of
the three-strand rope. The idea is to insert the bun-
gee cord in the rope at any convenient point along
its length. Untwist the strands of the rope enough
to work one end of the cord into the middle, and
secure the end of the cord with a whipping. Next
lay the cord into the rope, twisting the rope strands
open as you go. The bungee won’t sink all the way
in at first—just get it trapped. Fair periodically by
stretching the cord out and milking the line down
over it. When you’ve used up almost all the cord,
it should be completely and evenly covered except
where it exits the rope. Take up moderate tension
on the cord—don’t overdo it—then, while holding
tension, apply a whipping where it exits the line. Figure 12-6B. Tom Cook’s idea works wonderfully
Trim the excess flush. inside single-braid, like this Spectra 12-strand. This
When there’s no load on, the bungeed section can provide a snubbing action for mooring lines,
accordions up neatly. As the boat moves, the cord boom preventers, etc. (Margaret Wilson-Briggs)
stretches to snub the loads.

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