GL: Tying in locks

[Ralph Yost (home)]

I heard about this fan belt idea for floating bollards last year and I 
initially thought it was a neat idea. However, a little more analysis and 
thought and I have changed my view.

I havent done a test but I would like to see just how long it takes to cut a 
fan belt....I bet the rope could be cut faster. Fan belts are VERY tough 
material. as a follow on to that, I only use GATES Green Stripe fan belts as 
they are the best according to Nigel Calder (see page 89).

I do like the fan belt idea for another reason: when you want to lift it off 
the floating bollard, the fan belt is STIFF and will lift right up, whereas 
the rope requires a little finesse to flip it off.....or, simply release one 
end at the boat and pull it through. I think it would be SAFER to cut the 
line close to the boat rather than leaning out to cut the fan belt.

When it comes time to do The Loop I doubt I will bother with this fan belt 
idea and will probably just use straight rope.  Less to hassle with when 
pulling up to the lock, will be a more consistent system for my wife and 
therefore probably systematically easier to deal with.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John & Judy Gill" <jjgill at twojscom.com>
Subject: Re: GL: Tying in locks


> John, Randy and List,
>
> The other general rule is to always have a very SHARP KNIFE in
> readiness just in case the line becomes jammed or tangled.  If you
> must tie, remember the knife rule!!!
>
> Several years ago, we heard of a boater on the Heartland Rivers who
> had a cleaver way of "tieing" to the floating bollards.  He used a
> small fan belt which he looped over the floating bollard post and
> then looped his line through the fan belt and back to his mid ship
> cleat  - if there was a problem he could cut the fan belt and not an
> expensive dock line.
>
> John and Judy Gill
> Two Js V
> Sassafras Harbor Marina, Georgetown, MD
> AGLCA Loopers