It attaches to the dock and boat the same way as a standard boat whip system. Steel Boat WhipĪnother type of boat whip system has steel arms with line and a steel base. The base attaches to a dock, and the spring lines attach to the boat. Your standard boat whip system has a flexible fiberglass pole and spring lines. The differences lie in the materials used in construction and the way they're used. While they all basically provide the same services, there are a few different types of boat whip systems.

Some can be broken down into two pieces for easy winter storage.

Vertical storage when you're out for the day.

Strong and unobtrusive (doesn't obstruct the view like a boat lift).

Inexpensive alternative to boat davits and lifts.

Provides protection from high winds and other boat wakes by keeping the boat from bumping against the dock.

Easy to attach to the boat and un-attach when you're ready to go.

Here are a few benefits of the boat whips system:

A quick word of advice, though: If your anchorage space is in really rough waters, a boat whip system may not be the best way to go.Īdditionally, they may not hold well in hurricane-strength winds. Benefits of Boat Whip SystemsĪ boat whip system is a great choice for lakes, protected marinas, canals and low wake zones. You'll see two of them: one for the bow and one for the stern but some larger vessels may have a third boat whip to secure the middle.Ī boat whip's spring tension allows them to keep a boat safely secured and away from the dock, creating a 'safety zone' where it could get scratched or damaged. That's because boat whips, also known as mooring lines, consist of a line (or marine rope) that's hooked onto a flexible pole, which is then mounted on the dock. You might've even mistaken them for a fishing pole (Or maybe that was just me). You've probably seen boat whips at some time along a dock.

If you want to know more about these handy boat whips, here are some tips and seven boat whips you can purchase today. It also offers a more stable 'safety zone' that works better in certain conditions. Well, have you considered a boat whip system? Unlike davits or lift systems, boat whips are a fairly inexpensive alternative for boaters who want to secure and protect their vessel. Mine have been set up for 2 months now, and there's zero indication that my rub rail has ever met the pilings.Desperate for a more secure way to keep your boat protected from scratches, dents and dings while at the dock? Davit systems and boat lifts, while both excellent options for protecting your investment, give most boaters some sticker shock.Īnd yet you kinda want more than just padded dock bumpers and boat springs and dock lines. If you don't have enough pressure pulling the boat away from the pilings, it's gonna hit them under high wind and wake conditions. My boat can't move more than a few inches fore and aft.įinally, don't be afraid to snug the whips down. Remember, the goal is to keep the boat situated so your cleats remain as close as possible to a 90 deg. You MUST have spring lines properly placed to limit fore and aft movement of the boat. My cleats are exactly 20' apart in a straight line, so I mounted my whips exactly 20 feet apart on the dock. You MUST mount them so that they are directly opposite your bow and stern cleats. Seems to me that people who have issues with them don't have them set up correctly, or don't keep enough tension on them. That siad, a couple people here (including me) are using the Taylor whips. If your tying up broadside to a flat bulkhead, you don't need whips or wake watchers- that's what fenders are made for. it's a situation in which fenders won't work because they'll just ride between the pilings and not protect the boat. You ARE docking broadside to a 'navy pier', right? That's a type of dock in which there are vertical pilings to the OUTSIDE of the bulkhead. Sorry, but I have no experience with the Wake Watchers system.įirst, a silly question. Re: Whips versus wake watchers mooring system

Dockmate mooring whips