![]() ![]() This author's Monarch whips were purchased in 1979 when I was a teenager, and after over 30 years, countless boats, and a replacement of the dock they were bolted to, they're still in excellent shape today. Whips require little in the way of maintenance or care often they get abused and forgotten, yet many are still in service after 30 years or more. They can't bend in two directions at once, so keeping them straight is mandatory. DOCKMATE MOORING WHIPS PLUSThe proper tie-up involves a bow line and stern line plus two spring lines the placement and tension of these four lines are critical to keep the boat properly oriented and the whips from bending sideways. When securing your boat to the whips, follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter when fashioning and positioning your tie-up lines. The most common problem with mooring whips is improper installation and tie-up. ![]() They won't have the strength and tension to be able to keep the hull away from the dock if hit by large wakes or moderate winds, and will break prematurely due to the oversize load. One precaution: Don't select whips that are too small for your boat's length and weight. Some of the more common options are shown below. Today's fiberglass mooring whips are very similar to those offered decades ago, with subtle refinements, and some newer systems don't use tension poles at all. Release the line and the whip's reactive spring force moves it back away from the dock again. Of course it can also be done by simply pulling on one whip's line for a minute, which brings the boat in closer to the dock momentarily so you can board. As for boarding and debarking, that's done with the whips disconnected. Four docklines (two securing lines and two spring lines) and the two whips, and you're done. Never fear - releasing the boat and pulling it into the dock only takes a minute. The entire setup can appear intimidating, not just to hook and unhook the boat, but to board and debark as well. ![]() Properly tensioned, the poles arc downward when hooked to the boat, using that spring tension to hold the boat a couple of feet away from the dock - and keep it there even when wakes come crashing. Most consist of two large, tapered fiberglass poles affixed to the dock at a specific angle, connected to your boat via light nylon lines that can be adjusted. Basically, mooring whips are like big fishing poles mounted to the dock. Mooring whips have been around for many decades, and they're extremely effective. If yours is a single-pier dock and you can't center your boat between two piers so it won't hit either, and a boat lift is impractical for your waters (perhaps it's too shallow), then mooring whips may be your solution to protecting your boat from high winds and passing boat wakes. That leaves a mark - rub rail damage and “dock rash” (gelcoat chips and scratches) that are expensive and tough to fix. Your boat gets tossed like a cork, crashing it against your dock. These are ideal for sailboats and larger, heavier or high profile boats.The boat parade past your dock, towing wakeboards and tubes, sometimes inadvertently trailing large wakes. Premium Mooring Whips are equipped with unique rocker arm bases that return the whip poles to the vertical position when not in use and 1" diameter fiberglass poles. Moderate wake areas Premium Mooring Whips.Standard mooring whips are equipped with fixed angle bases with a 60 ̊ angle, 13/16" diameter fiberglass pole and are most commonly used for ski boats, runabouts, center consoles, and bass boats. Tips allow your boat to return to the dock effortlessly when you want to board.Each set comes complete with all of the hardware necessary for installation. Mooring Whips are made of high quality, solid fiberglass poles, aluminum- magnesium base units, tips, and mooring whip lines. The Mooring Whip system pulls your boat a safe, convenient distance away from the dock thereby protecting it from the damaging forces of waves, wind, tides and wakes. ![]() Mooring whips are a safe way to protect your boat against costly dockside and seawall damage. ![]()
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