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Docking a boat is a vital skill for any boater, and one that is often done poorly, even by experienced sailors. Knowing how to secure your boat can prevent damage to your vessel and others. One of the most important aspects of docking is tying your boat to a dock piling. Dock pilings are long pieces of timber that come up from the pier or dock, often with attached cleats. If there are no cleats, you can still use the pilings to secure your boat. There are several knots that can be used to tie a boat to a dock piling, including the clove hitch, the bowline knot, and the pile hitch.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Docking technique | Tie the front of the boat to the dock's cleats or pilings first, then secure the back of the boat. Finally, tie a spring line from one end of the boat to the opposite end of the dock. |
| Angle of approach | When there's no wind or current, approach the dock at a 20-degree angle. When the wind or current is pushing toward the dock, approach with your boat parallel to the dock. |
| Lines | Use bow lines, breast lines, spring lines, and stern lines to secure the boat. |
| Knots | Use a simple cleat knot, cleat hitch, or clove hitch depending on whether you're tying the looped or unlooped end of the rope and whether you're tying to a cleat or piling. |
| Docking gear | Check that your boat has cleats on all sides. Use fenders to protect your boat from scratches and damage. |
What You'll Learn
The Bowline Knot
Step 1: Create a Small Loop
The first step to tying a bowline knot is making a small loop near the end of the rope. This initial loop is often referred to as the "hole" in the popular saying about the rabbit (the working end of the rope) and the tree (the standing end of the rope).
Step 2: Feed the Working End Through the Loop
Next, feed the working end of the rope through the underside of the loop. This step is about making the "rabbit come out of the hole."
Step 3: Wrap Around the Standing End
Now, wrap the working end around the main part of the rope, or what is referred to as making the "rabbit go around the tree."
Step 4: Go Back Through the Loop
Feed the working end back through the loop, but this time, go in the opposite direction.
Step 5: Tighten the Knot
Finally, pull the standing and working ends of the rope to tighten the bowline knot. Ensure that the loop is secure but not too tight.
Additionally, if you want to keep the knot from sliding down a dock piling, you can wrap the line once around the piling before tying the knot. This makes the bowline knot an excellent choice for tying your boat securely to a dock piling.
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Clove Hitch
The clove hitch is a tenacious slipknot that can be used to temporarily hang a fender from a rail, attach a line to a piling, or secure a spring line. It is a useful knot when you need to make frequent changes to the length of the rope.
To tie a clove hitch, start with a bitter end long enough to wrap around the piling twice (with enough line left over for two half hitches, if necessary). Wrap the bitter end around the piling. When you come back to the working part, pass under it. Immediately cross over the wrap you just made so the second wrap is on top of the first. Make the second wrap in the same direction as the first. When you come to the crossing, pass the bitter end under and pull tight.
On the back side of the knot, the two wraps should be parallel and tight. On the front side, the crossing should go from the bottom turn across both the bitter end and the working part to the top turn.
To make the knot more secure, you can make a round turn with two half hitches. First, pass the bitter end over and around the working part and back up and around the working part, and between the bitter end and the clove hitch. Draw it tight. The bitter end should now be trapped between itself and the clove hitch. For the second half hitch, pass the bitter end over and around the working part in the same direction. When you come to the crossing, pass the bitter end under it and pull it tight.
When you see an X in the knot with the line coming straight out at both ends, you’ve done it right.
The clove hitch is a very useful knot for temporary mooring, but it is not as stable as the bowline knot and cleat hitch. If you use the clove hitch for an extended period, secure the bitter end with two half hitches.
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Bow Lines
To tie a bow line, start by pulling your boat up alongside the dock or into the slip. Maneuver the boat so that it is parallel to and about 1-2 feet away from the dock. If there is no wind or current, approach the dock at a 20-degree angle, then bring the boat parallel when you are close enough to step onto the platform.
Once you are in position, it's time to tie the bow line. First, tie the front line, or bowline, to a cleat on the bow of your boat. If there is no cleat available, you can use a dock piling instead. To do this, wrap your line around the piling and tie a clove hitch or a bowline knot. The bowline knot is strong, quick to tie, and easy to break, even when pulled tight. Here are the steps to tie a bowline:
- Step 1: Bring the rope around the piling.
- Step 2: Make a small loop with the long end by crossing that end over itself.
- Step 3: Take the short end and insert it into the small loop.
- Step 4: Bring the short end over the line and into the small loop once more.
- Step 5: Pull to tighten.
After securing the bow line, you can move on to securing the stern line and spring lines. Remember to always leave enough slack in your dock lines to account for the rise and fall of the tide.
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Stern Lines
To tie a stern line, start by preparing your boat. Put the stern lines on the cleat, coiled and ready to be thrown to someone on the dock or pier. Slowly back your boat into the mooring spot. When you are close to the dock, throw the stern line on the side of the boat that is away from the dock (the "windward" side) to someone on the dock, then throw the line on the side of the boat that is closest to the dock (the "leeward" side).
If there is a crosswind, you may need to add more power to the engine to keep the boat secure and aligned. You can then put the engine into forward gear so that the stern lines get tensioned. This will keep the boat secure even in a crosswind.
If you are docking without assistance, you can use a hook to grab the stern lines and loop them around the cleat. Alternatively, if the conditions are calm, you can jump off the boat and onto the dock to secure the lines.
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Spring Lines
The forward spring line connects from a stern cleat on the vessel to a cleat on the dock at least half the vessel's length and towards the bow. This limits aft movement. The aft spring line is attached from the bow of the vessel to the dock, with a line of at least half the vessel's length towards the stern of the boat. This limits forward movement. With these lines running along the ship, the motion of the vessel should be extremely limited.
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Frequently asked questions
Pilings are long pieces of timber or metal that are driven into the bottom of a body of water. They are the foundation of the dock structure and are used to secure a boat when there are no cleats available.
A cleat is a horn- or T-shaped piece of hardware on a boat or dock that is designed to secure lines.
The bowline knot is a good option as it is strong, quick to tie, and easy to break. The clove hitch is another good option, but it may come undone when there is no pull on the line.
To tie a bowline knot, first, wrap your line around the piling. Then, make a loop with the main line and put the tag end through the loop. Bring the tag end over the knot and through the loop again.
To tie a clove hitch, bring the line around the piling with the short end under the long end. Wrap the short end over the long end and go around the piling one more time. Tuck the short end between the two intersecting lines and pull to tighten.
