I am using two lines to secure my boat to the dock as I have parted lines during storms. I have only one cleat. Is there a best way to secure two lines? Can I just combine the two lines and go through the normal cleat hitch? Or should I use two cleat hitches seperately tied? Thanks!
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While it's best
to only have one line tied to one cleat, we've all found it necessary to tie a second line on a single cleat now and then. In those cases, I would would use two separate cleat hitches. A lot depends of course on how big your cleat is. Some cleats can take two lines easily, some cannot. Be thinking about adding another properly backed cleat when you can.
to only have one line tied to one cleat, we've all found it necessary to tie a second line on a single cleat now and then. In those cases, I would would use two separate cleat hitches. A lot depends of course on how big your cleat is. Some cleats can take two lines easily, some cannot. Be thinking about adding another properly backed cleat when you can.
Small cleats
My O'27 has small cleats and to put 2 lines on it is pretty tight. When I need too, I take the first line that needs to be cleated and put it through the bottom of the cleat (between the mounting bolts?) and make it fast with a bowline. This leaves the horns of the cleat completely free for another line to be cleated. It works for me every time although I am sure it is scoffed at
but at least it does not have a clump of line on it that is falling off the horns. Cheers, Dave.
My O'27 has small cleats and to put 2 lines on it is pretty tight. When I need too, I take the first line that needs to be cleated and put it through the bottom of the cleat (between the mounting bolts?) and make it fast with a bowline. This leaves the horns of the cleat completely free for another line to be cleated. It works for me every time although I am sure it is scoffed at
but at least it does not have a clump of line on it that is falling off the horns. Cheers, Dave.
I would NEVER depend on just one cleat to secure my boat. Go buy a couple of deck cleats and install them on your dock. One just forward of the bow, one at mid-ships, and one just aft of your stern. The mid-ship cleat can be used for both fore and aft spring lines.
What size boat and what size lines?
Try to remember that a 1/2inch nylon line can pull two 1/4 inch bolts out of your deck. Chafing will distroy a line long before you come close to the rated load. Parcel and serve the lines where they can chafe. Look for sharp edges on your cleats and chocks. Increase your line size.
Try to remember that a 1/2inch nylon line can pull two 1/4 inch bolts out of your deck. Chafing will distroy a line long before you come close to the rated load. Parcel and serve the lines where they can chafe. Look for sharp edges on your cleats and chocks. Increase your line size.
Two hitches
Our boat is on a floating dock that has one finger pier shared for every two boats. We use three cleats on the boat and 4 cleats on the dock. Starboard bow cleat to main dock cleat. Port bow cleat to inner finger pier cleat and forward spring line back to midddle finger pier cleat. Port stern cleat to outer finger pier cleat and stern spring line up to middle finger pier cleat. Therefore, our port side cleats have two lines attached, each line is cleat hitched on top of each other. Also, the middle finger pier cleat is double cleated. We have been thinking of ideas for chafe protection of lines on these doubled-up cleats. If we can figure out a proper installation of a mid-ship cleat on the boat, we'll have only one cleat doubled-up.
Our boat is on a floating dock that has one finger pier shared for every two boats. We use three cleats on the boat and 4 cleats on the dock. Starboard bow cleat to main dock cleat. Port bow cleat to inner finger pier cleat and forward spring line back to midddle finger pier cleat. Port stern cleat to outer finger pier cleat and stern spring line up to middle finger pier cleat. Therefore, our port side cleats have two lines attached, each line is cleat hitched on top of each other. Also, the middle finger pier cleat is double cleated. We have been thinking of ideas for chafe protection of lines on these doubled-up cleats. If we can figure out a proper installation of a mid-ship cleat on the boat, we'll have only one cleat doubled-up.
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