Stern reel for smaller boats

In the Pacific Northwest we have a unique need for the stern reel.  Given our summertime light wind and always present tides, boats can swing on their anchors.  To minimize the amount of space that a boat takes up in an anchorage, it is customary to put out a stern line to shore to keep the boat from swinging around the moorage unnecessarily.


Generally the line will be 1/4", 5/16" or 3/8" polypro.  Poly is inexpensive, it floats and is normally in a highly visible color.   The 1/4" line may be appropriate for many boats as it is doubled up between the boat and shore.  The line gets fed from the boat, around a fixed object on shore and is brought back to the boat so you can easily retrieve the line when you are ready to depart.

Here is a recent discovery that may be great on smaller boats (up to 40-footers?) as it can carry about 400-feet of 1/4" poly line.

Alert Stamping 7000WR Pro-Reel Cord Carrier

This cord reel was purchased from Amazon and sells for under $30.  We were able to load about 400-feet of 1/4" poly line.  There were four screws we replaced with stainless in order to make it better for the marine environment.  Quality was good, and it is made in the USA.


My last post with a stern line generated much interest.  Since that time I have heard that Mr. Brooks no longer makes his reels.  See: http://americantugnews.blogspot.ca/2012/11/stern-tie-reel.html.  That reel held more line and was appropriate for larger boats or those wanting to carry larger diameter line.


The new reel has been sent off with a client aboard his American Tug 395 for field trials in Desolation Sound.  A report will follow later in the summer.


We still are looking for the best stern line reel solutions.  Please submit your solution to: steve@americantugs.com.


Thank you,

Steve