Deck General · Mooring Lines
Chafing gear is fitted on mooring lines primarily to:
- AIncrease the breaking strength of the line
- BProtect the line from abrasion where it passes over rough surfaces✓ Correct
- CPrevent the line from stretching under load
- DMark the line so its length can be measured quickly
Explanation
Chafing gear — canvas, leather, rubber hose, or plastic tubing wrapped around the line — protects it from abrasion at fairleads, chocks, bullnose fittings, and dock edges. Repeated sawing of the line over a rough surface quickly destroys individual fibers, reducing strength. Inspecting and renewing chafing gear is a regular mooring watch duty.
Authority: Deck Seamanship (USCG deck topic)
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