Mooring whips, often referred to as boat whips, are a fairly inexpensive alternative for boaters who want to secure and protect their vessel. Like davits and lift systems, mooring whips offer boaters a secure way to keep their boats protected from scratches, dents, and dings while stationed at your dock. When you want more than just padded dock bumpers and boat springs or dock lines, but don’t want to spend the money to invest in a boat lift, mooring whips are your solution. Boat Lift Warehouse is here to give you the 411 on mooring whips, including how they work and the benefits they will provide.
How Mooring Whips Work
Mooring whips consist of a line, or marine rope, that is hooked onto a flexible pole, which is then mounted on the dock. There are typically two of them, one line for the bow of the boat and one line for the stern, but some larger vessels may have a third boat whip to secure the middle. These spring-action poles are made out of fiberglass and are very flexible to allow bending with the tides and wind. The spring tension allows them to keep a boat safely secured and away from the dock, creating a “safety zone”, so it won’t get scratched or damaged. At the end of each pole is a roller-tip, which is a gear-like mechanism that the line threads through to attach to the boat. It keeps the line moving to allow the boat to rock away from the dock while keeping a stronghold on it.
Benefits Of Mooring Whips
Besides being a more affordable option compared to boat davits and lifts, mooring whips also offer several other benefits to boat owners:
- Makes docking and setting sail a breeze.
- Provides protection from winds and other boat wakes by keeping the boat from bumping against the dock.
- Strong and unobtrusive, so your view will not be obstructed as it would be with a boat lift.
- Vertical storage when you’re out for the day.
- Most can be broken down into two pieces for easy storage when not in use.
However, it should be noted that if your dock is located in rough waters with strong tides and currents, mooring whips may not be the best way to go. Additionally, they should not be used during hurricanes or storms where high winds are expected.
Boat Lift Warehouse
Boat Lift Warehouse offers a variety of mooring whips, ranging from 8 feet to 18 feet in height, for boats as large as 48,000 lbs and up to 46 feet long. Shop our website today, or call for more information!
