How to Make a Dock Snubber

Relieve constant stress from your dock and boat mounts with a dock snubber. A dock snubber is a piece of rope that is coiled around a piece of rubber. The rubber resides in the middle of the rope, while the ends are tied to the boat and the dock. When the boat floats away from the dock, the rubber absorbs the shock by stretching. When dock snubbers aren't used for docking boats, a jolt is felt in the boat. This jolt isn't beneficial for the mounts on the dock or the boat.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Drill
  • 1/4-inch drill bit
  • Rubber cylinder, 1-by-12 inches
  • 1/4-inch rope
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure 1 inch away from each end of the rubber cylinder and drill a 1/4-inch hole at these measurements. Your rope will fit through these holes.

    • 2

      Thread the rope through one of the holes on the cylinder. You will want the snubber to be centered between the boat and the dock so however long you need the entire snubber to be, take half this measurement and add 12 inches. Coil 24 inches of rope around the snubber and thread the rest of the rope through the last hole.

    • 3

      Tie one end of the rope to the dock and tie the other end to the boat. When the boat pulls away from the dock the rubber will stretch, allowing the boat to come to a gradual stop rather then a sudden stop.