If those hop balls can survive a 6 year old, they should be able to survive just about anything...

Some whips around here - they are only found near the real wavy section of our lake. Why these used and not lifts ? They wheren't that available when these where all bought...so, yes, they can last a very long time.

Not related, but if you back in your boat to dock, make sure you don't have a sea wall or big rocks on the waters edge that will redirect large waves right into the back of your boat and into the tailpipes.

Throw in a huge cement mooring/buoy and tie it so it will never hit the dock.. Bumpers will do nothing when a real storm comes. I like a mooring off the side rather than whips for 2 reasons. Whips are always in the way and they will bend and bend until it hits in big wind.

My preference would be to drive two pilings about 12 feet away from your dock, and create an alley. You suspend the boat between the pilings and the dock, and it never touches anything. Invest in nice dock bumpers and a roller at the corner.

Done.

some enjoy the residual markings...that 'day after' warmth, memories of that evening run down the lake, glass smooth as she just begins to rise up on the pad listening to growl of pistons pumping, the moan of the hull enduring the stresses...

Even better if can afford

This is what I came up with
[IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/...pstf2ixikk.jpg[/IMG]

So important once or twice a year..

Exactly ... it's a 4 point tie up. Easiest and least expensive is to auger in 2 posts of 2in diameter galvanized pipe or even 2in diam. aluminum into the lake bottom off the dock about 4ft wider than your boat and apart about 4ft longer than the boat. Add 4 Kwik Tec bungee (Amazon,West,Ebay) and your all set. Let's the boat do it's natural thing when wakes go by.

I have had mooring whips for over 20 years, i keep the boat in all season on our river lots of wave action and wind and my boat looks great. and they do last a long time, its the only way i would tie my boat up in a windy and high traffic area.