Knot for Docking in BC

[Tedd]

Horn cleats are rare on BC docks. Generally, we just have a raised toe rail along the edge of the dock. What knot do you use when you tie up to a dock like that? I've tried a few different things but I feel like there's probably something better out there I haven't thought of doing.

 

[jssailem]

Good question. i am not sure I am comfortable with my system either.

I usually try to find the posts that raise the rail above the deck. The stub posts stop the line from sliding along the rail.

I pass a loop under the rail and back up to the line from the boat. With the tail of the line, I pass it through the loop and then tie half hitches back on the line to the boat.

My idea is to make it solid enough to hold the boat in place yet easy enough to untie when leaving. The loop saves me from having to unwrap a lot of line around and under the rail.

In my experience, the rails are all rough-sawn. They leave splinters in my dock lines, and the dock lines tend to hang up on the rails.

 

[Tedd]

Thanks, John, I'll try that. It sounds a bit like a trucker's hitch, is that right?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Do an internet search on docking with bull rails. There are many video how-tos out there.

 

[jssailem]

Yes

 

[jssailem]

Happy New Year Stu.

Happy New Year to you as well, Ted. I'm looking forward to doing some docking together this year.

 

[Tedd]

Hi John,

I haven't managed to get my cabin heater working yet but it's next on the list. If I can get that working I'm going to go for a sail right away. Hope to get together some time this summer.

 

[jssailem]

Enjoy the beauty of nature.

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Tedd. Been docking to BC bull rails for years and have never had a problem. What I do is make a long loop to the dock line where I want to secure it to the rail. I pass the long loop under the rail and over to the boat line and make two half hitches and tighten them up. Always holds and easy to untie. If stinky weather and I need a spring line, I will use a separate line from the midship cleat and do the same where the bull rail attaches to the dock.

The video first describes the Douglas hitch, which is close to what I use here: