Docking with a Dock Caddy

[Pat]

I have purchased a dock caddy to hold one of my dock lines (forward spring line)above the dock to aid me in docking. My question is where to place the caddy? I could either place it at the far end so that you can grab the line as soon as you enter or just forward of where you would step off the boat when it is parked. In either case it is out of the way when getting on or off the vessel. Any thoughts?

 

[larry w]

dock it

Place the caddy on the dock where it will be at the boat's port side midship point. You'll want a center, or midships cleat on the boat. Bring the boat into the slip. Stop the boat with the engine. Don't be afraid to use some throttle since the engine has much more power than you. When the two line up, the line and the cleat, (the line should be short, just long enough to come from the dock cleat to the boat cleat) pick the line from the caddy and drop it onto the boat cleat. One short line midships will will hold the boat steady enough for you to get the rest secured in a more or less leisurly manner. Have fun.