Dock Lines

camp guy · 06-01-2012, 06:39 PM

One technique that I used several times when at an away port was to hand off to a person on the dock a line with a reasonable loop at the dock end and have the person on the dock simply drop it over a piling. Then I just adjusted the length at the boat end and cleated it off. I say, with some humility, that I generally trusted my own skills with a line more than I trusted a well-meaning stranger on the dock. Using the loop method allows two boats to be tied to the same piling and either can disengage without disturbing the other. At my own dock I had measured lines attached to the dock with snap hooks into eye bolts at the dock end and spliced eyes at the boat end. This made for very easy get-a-way, and fall put-a-way was equally as easy, as was spring set up. I think tying a boat is a matter of listening to others and their methods, and then doing what works best for you in your personal circumstances.

Kamper · 06-02-2012, 06:20 AM

Try this...

Put a short piece of ribbon through the line, a few feet from one end. Place the ribbon against the cleat and use the trailing end to secure to the cleat. Secure the other end to the other cleat. Adjust it until perfect, mark where that line meets the cleat and add a ribbion there too. Make up another line to match.

You can also use shrink-wrap or marker. Adding ribbon or shrink-wrap will give you something you can feel which will help you when it's dark.

I added an indicator like this to my anchor-rode so I know the chain is just about to scratch my finish. There's another a few feet from the bitter.

Good luck!

06-01-2012, 06:39 PM	#1
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,194 Thanks: 303 Thanked 529 Times in 296 Posts	Dock lines One technique that I used several times when at an away port was to hand off to a person on the dock a line with a reasonable loop at the dock end and have the person on the dock simply drop it over a piling. Then I just adjusted the length at the boat end and cleated it off. I say, with some humility, that I generally trusted my own skills with a line more than I trusted a well-meaning stranger on the dock. Using the loop method allows two boats to be tied to the same piling and either can disengage without disturbing the other. At my own dock I had measured lines attached to the dock with snap hooks into eye bolts at the dock end and spliced eyes at the boat end. This made for very easy get-a-way, and fall put-a-way was equally as easy, as was spring set up. I think tying a boat is a matter of listening to others and their methods, and then doing what works best for you in your personal circumstances.

06-02-2012, 06:20 AM	#2
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,309 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	Try this... Put a short piece of ribbon through the line, a few feet from one end. Place the ribbon against the cleat and use the trailing end to secure to the cleat. Secure the other end to the other cleat. Adjust it until perfect, mark where that line meets the cleat and add a ribbion there too. Make up another line to match. You can also use shrink-wrap or marker. Adding ribbon or shrink-wrap will give you something you can feel which will help you when it's dark. I added an indicator like this to my anchor-rode so I know the chain is just about to scratch my finish. There's another a few feet from the bitter. Good luck!