Chafing Gear

[ebb]

Protecting line going thru chocks to moorings, anchors and marina tie-ups is one of those perennial exercises. There never seems to be a sure way to protect line in all conditions.

Visited the cruiser forum
http://www.cruiserforum.com/forums/f...gear-3768.html
this AM and ran into something new or something I probably have missed.
(sorry, address doesn't compute)

Some of the guys there think that a good solution to mitigate chafe from cleat to chock (especially on the foredeck) is to custom a super strong, super chafe protected connecting piece that you shackle your anchor warp to immediately outboard the chock. You can still rig a snubber if desired, etc.
That's what I think they are proposing.

Seizing leather to the anchor rode where it goes over the chock is as good as it gets with the traditional method. But can get moved - attached to the line - and at the worst time your line has stretched and is sawing and melting on bare metal.

If you made up an eye for the mooring cleat or bit and have it go to the rail chock and super protect it with hose and leather, whatever, and you have a hard eye there to shackle the anchor line to - there would be no chafe to the warp itself. And the chafing wraps at the chock would not move - certainly not as much - being attached with the short piece on deck. In the worst case scenario there probably would be less heat build up in the oversized line, and less heat build up by friction over the chock.(?)

Seems to me that these thru chock connectors could be semi- permanently rigged. If there were someway to protect them from UV and the environment.*
Always wondered why sailboats have such inappropriate chocks designed into them. Even thru the great bronze age of yachts rope leads had unforgiving edges!
Designing chocks that are easy on cordage is the challenge. Designing chafing gear that might be attached to the chock rather than the line is also worthy of thought. Until then the Cruiser Forum's rope chafe gear may be a good solution.

What would you call this connecting piece?
Safety tail
Chafing guy
Mooring dog
C. F. R. C. G.

Anybody think something like this is a good idea?
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________
*Galvanized plowsteel 6X7 wire rope used to be available. Basic eye splicing is a salty art. Parceling, serving and leathering are fun to do. And anti-chafe tails done that way would last forever - without the worry of any plastic rope.