No one wants their boat to float away. The results can range from embarrassing to dangerous. It’s easy to get complacent and get sloppy when tying up a boat, but if you don’t want to turn around to see your boat coming loose from the dock and smashing into other vessels, then it’s worth learning how to do it properly.
When tying off your boat, there are plenty of ways it can go awry:
Of course, you’ll have multiple lines for tying up your boat, which unfortunately makes for extra opportunities for failure!
Let’s say you went to some boat dealers in Jupiter, Florida, and picked yourself up a shiny new boat. You’d want to keep it safe, right? Let’s dig into some helpful tips for tying off your purchase.
Before you’re even ready to tie the boat, be mindful of how you approach the dock. Consider the wind and the currents, and have your lines ready.
Toss a spring line to someone standing on the dock so they can hold it in place. Then, tie a line from the bow cleat to a forward dock cleat, the spring line angled aft to another dock cleat, and then a line from the stern cleat to a dock cleat behind the boat.
No other part of your boat or the dock should ever be used for securing your boat. Cleats are shaped like horns and are designed for secure tying. They’re also firmly mounted in the strongest places of both dock and boat so that they won’t rip loose.
If you’ve been checking out boats for sale in Jupiter, Florida, you may have noticed that most boats feature six or seven cleats, with two at the stern, two in the middle, and two at the bow. An additional one may be at the peak of the bow. Larger boats may feature more.
To obtain a well-tied line, wrap it around the horns of the cleat three times. Route the line around the base of the cleat and create a figure-8 pattern over the horns. Then, turn the line under itself. This will make a half-hitch that’s strong yet easy to untie should you need to. Your cleat hitch should be neat and clean looking with no strange turns or knots.
Tie them in the right places! If you’re docking in a slip, then you should ideally have four points to tie to. For the stern lines, you’ll want to cross them over each other. So the port boat cleat would tie to the starboard dock cleat, and the starboard boat cleat would tie to the port dock cleat. For the bow, don’t cross over; just use the cleats on the same side.
Also, you want your lines at a 45-degree angle from the boat. If you simply tie it to the nearest cleat, your boat can move around more than you might think. With the lines angled this way, you’re covering every conceivable angle of motion.
If you only can tie to one side of the boat (tying up alongside), you’ll want to have the right number and locations of ties to keep your boat from going astray. But you’ll also need bumpers to ensure you’re not damaging the dock.
If you’re shopping or selling, take care of your boats by properly tying them off. Don’t use inferior lines tied to the wrong places. Protect your investment so you can enjoy many safe years on the water.
