Noticed that a few boaters/sailors have different approaches to untying from the dock, some leave their lines tied to the cleats on the dock while others take their lines with them. I usually take mine with me because I feel it is easier when coming back into the dock. You step off the boat with line in hand and tie on to the cleat, no need to try to jostle the boat with the wind and current acting against you, pulling on the line while trying to hold the boat and attach it to a deck cleat.
To Leave or Take Them?
- Thread starter Rob2435
- Start date
I believe there is wisdom in what you say and do....We've gone the other way and always leave our dock lines at the dock...and you are right sometimes it is a bit of a pain getting back in and tied-up, esp. if it is windy....we do have a white bag that attaches to our life-line and we keep four 3/8 inch x 15 ft. dock- lines in the bag for visiting at other locations..we bought the white bag from WMarine....
It's largely a matter of personal preference but only if you carry other dock lines onboard in the event you end up offering assistance to others or end up in a different dock than you originally planned.
Anticipation is the fundamental rule of good seamanship.
Anticipation is the fundamental rule of good seamanship.
I have to leave mine because of my slip. It's angle parking which is not easy to dock with the finger on the starboard side which means most of mine are around pilings. I would have to go to each as I go and Invariably would be roping over or be under someone else's line using the Sam piling. I grab them with the pole on the way in.
We are fortunate to have docks on both sides of our slip. I understand that many do not have this & some of you have "challenging" at best arrangements.
The reason I leave my docklines on the slip are simple: they're easy to pick up with a boat hook (I never get off my boat until all four are on the boat) and they remain pre-set. I have over the years assembled tons of extra docklines for going to other marinas and rafting up. If you're new, you may figure they're an extra expense. Eventually, you'll get enough that this question will become old hat. Better yet, go buy a spool of appropriate sized line and make your own for a lot less than buying expensive spliced docklines - bowlines are just as good.
The reason I leave my docklines on the slip are simple: they're easy to pick up with a boat hook (I never get off my boat until all four are on the boat) and they remain pre-set. I have over the years assembled tons of extra docklines for going to other marinas and rafting up. If you're new, you may figure they're an extra expense. Eventually, you'll get enough that this question will become old hat. Better yet, go buy a spool of appropriate sized line and make your own for a lot less than buying expensive spliced docklines - bowlines are just as good.
Half and half. Starboard side is to the finger pier, and those lines stay on the boat, and get used coming back in.
Port side stern line is affixed to a piling, and hangs coiled on a hook on the piling. Port bow line gets left on dock.
And I have a full extra set for when I'm elsewhere.
Port side stern line is affixed to a piling, and hangs coiled on a hook on the piling. Port bow line gets left on dock.
And I have a full extra set for when I'm elsewhere.
I asked about dock lines before. My 1st season I bought new double braid pre-sliced dock lines so I could get "pretty ones" (Admiral's request). When doubling up for a storm I noticed that the "double lines" of 3 stand nylon stretched more and gave less a jolt than the DB.
This season I followed Stu's and others advice and bought a length of 3 strand nylon. I spliced in my own eye splices sized to fit the cleats on the boat so they would not easily slip off the cleats. I also cut them to length to fit my slip. Using a spring line and bridle set up in the slip, I slide in, put the OB in forward and just a bit more than idle, to keep from drifting out and can take my time walking around and grabbing the four lines with the hook. No rush and no stepping off the boat to tie up.
I was trained to take all lines aboard when leaving a dock. You never know when/where you might need the lines again.
I don't mind others leaving them on the dock, as long as they don't carelessly fling them so that they impose a safety hazard to persons walking the dock.
I don't mind others leaving them on the dock, as long as they don't carelessly fling them so that they impose a safety hazard to persons walking the dock.
Once you have figured out how to tie up your boat in your slip, it makes absolutely no sense undoing them and trying to find the right length when you return each time. Have a permanent set of lines that will correctly secure your boat in the slip and another set should you need them at another dock (fuel dock or restaurant, etc.) or to temporarily secure you in your slip, until you can get your permanent lines on.
Always take our lines with us
Why always take our lines with us?
- We always have lines ready to rig for any dock, or mooring, or boat.
- We rig the lines as jack lines while we are under way.
- We tie to a floating dock so we have no issues catching poles at our home dock, and the poles and cleats on the dock are easily available as we enter our slip.
We would probably leave a line on a pole on our stern quarter opposite the dock if that was the configuration of our slip. We have a detachable plastic stick that makes it easy to drop a loop of a spring line on a pole on the dock side if that is the configuration.
Not a big deal one way or another, but I do feel we are more prepared with four dock lines rigged all the time we are under weigh.
Why always take our lines with us?
- We always have lines ready to rig for any dock, or mooring, or boat.
- We rig the lines as jack lines while we are under way.
- We tie to a floating dock so we have no issues catching poles at our home dock, and the poles and cleats on the dock are easily available as we enter our slip.
We would probably leave a line on a pole on our stern quarter opposite the dock if that was the configuration of our slip. We have a detachable plastic stick that makes it easy to drop a loop of a spring line on a pole on the dock side if that is the configuration.
Not a big deal one way or another, but I do feel we are more prepared with four dock lines rigged all the time we are under weigh.
(between pilings, finger piers, and along side are all different. The below is for 4-pilings. If I were along sideI would tend to leave the spring and take the breast lines.)
Always leave them. In part it is because fitting a cat in a slip requires accurate positioning. I've also learned , with the help of a boat hook, it is the easiest from the single hander. Yes, sometimes the wind is against you, but that is a matter of choosing which line to pick up first. I can even pickup the the spring first if that is what's best (which can be used several ways since it is tied at both ends) so I can see no up-side to taking them with me. Perhaps if you need practice....
Obviously I carry a complete second set and some extras. My jacklines are fixed, so there is no need of that.
Always leave them. In part it is because fitting a cat in a slip requires accurate positioning. I've also learned , with the help of a boat hook, it is the easiest from the single hander. Yes, sometimes the wind is against you, but that is a matter of choosing which line to pick up first. I can even pickup the the spring first if that is what's best (which can be used several ways since it is tied at both ends) so I can see no up-side to taking them with me. Perhaps if you need practice....
Obviously I carry a complete second set and some extras. My jacklines are fixed, so there is no need of that.
We have always left them at the dock. 30 plus years, not much changes so leave them where they are.
So much depends on each person's situation.
My berth, in Sausalito, is at the base of a mountain gully that funnels/accelerates the typical ocean gale on the other side directly down at my marina. So I have frequent and significant cross winds to deal with as a normal condition. My slip is about 3' wider than my boat's beam.
I sail solo most of time. Although my wife is frequently board, and she loves being out on the bay, her medical situation eliminates her from any involvement of berthing maneuvers. So I consider myself a solo sailor.
I've found it best for me to take my lines with me -- still attached to the boat's cleats. Reason is that it is much easier to grab a line already attached to the boat to comfortably pull and tug in the direction and amount that I then can easily tie off on the dock cleats rather than trying to grab a stanchion for instance in an awkward position to pull the boat against the cross wind into the dock. Then attempt to get the line onto the boat's cleat before the cross wind blows the boat away again.
I have wrapped colored electrical tape around my dock lines to mark at the exact position each one needs to be for the boat to be centered as I like. Saves a lot of time compared to going back and forth several times to get it right.
The above is about my normal bow and stern lines. For the spring lines, I also leave at the dock wrapped around the dock cleats in a never-changing position. Actually the spring lines are one line that does dual duty for both the forward and aft spring line. In the middle of the line, I have attached a heavy duty stainless steel carabiner type clip into a bite in the line. I have put a looped line through the toe rail of my boat. When I get to the berth it is a simple matter to just clip the carabiner clip into the loop. The boat is then aligned for/aft in the slip just right for the tape marking on the bow/stern lines.
My berth, in Sausalito, is at the base of a mountain gully that funnels/accelerates the typical ocean gale on the other side directly down at my marina. So I have frequent and significant cross winds to deal with as a normal condition. My slip is about 3' wider than my boat's beam.
I sail solo most of time. Although my wife is frequently board, and she loves being out on the bay, her medical situation eliminates her from any involvement of berthing maneuvers. So I consider myself a solo sailor.
I've found it best for me to take my lines with me -- still attached to the boat's cleats. Reason is that it is much easier to grab a line already attached to the boat to comfortably pull and tug in the direction and amount that I then can easily tie off on the dock cleats rather than trying to grab a stanchion for instance in an awkward position to pull the boat against the cross wind into the dock. Then attempt to get the line onto the boat's cleat before the cross wind blows the boat away again.
I have wrapped colored electrical tape around my dock lines to mark at the exact position each one needs to be for the boat to be centered as I like. Saves a lot of time compared to going back and forth several times to get it right.
The above is about my normal bow and stern lines. For the spring lines, I also leave at the dock wrapped around the dock cleats in a never-changing position. Actually the spring lines are one line that does dual duty for both the forward and aft spring line. In the middle of the line, I have attached a heavy duty stainless steel carabiner type clip into a bite in the line. I have put a looped line through the toe rail of my boat. When I get to the berth it is a simple matter to just clip the carabiner clip into the loop. The boat is then aligned for/aft in the slip just right for the tape marking on the bow/stern lines.
Exactly my setup as well. Works perfectly. I dock in starboard tight to the pier, unload anything I need to. Then before leaving, I loosen my lines, pull my port bow line over and to the bow, as it's already cleated to the dock at the length that works. Then push the stern over a few feet to grab my coil off the piling, and voila, centered. Hop to the dock, homeward bound.
We've always left them on the dock. If we're racing the fenders stay on the dock too. Apologies to cephius. The lines are the right lengths as has been determined by experience. Put the loops over the cleats and you are done.
When coming into the slip, I've done the same thing for twenty plus years. I or someone in my crew steps off the boat (From the shroud area) as we come into the slip. They throw a line over a winch or cleat to stop the boat. The boat comes to the dock and the other lines are made fast. Done. No drama.
When coming into the slip, I've done the same thing for twenty plus years. I or someone in my crew steps off the boat (From the shroud area) as we come into the slip. They throw a line over a winch or cleat to stop the boat. The boat comes to the dock and the other lines are made fast. Done. No drama.
I leave them at the dock. They are already scoped out for the right distance all around. When I come in I just grab them with the boat hook and slip them over the cleats. I can secure the boat without having to get off on the dock. I keep another set of lines on board for docking elsewhere.
For STARGAZER - it depends on whether I'm out for a day-sail or if I'm away for a week. For day-sails - the dock-lines stay at the dock and on home-made mooring whips so that I can reach them when I come back. Capt Bill on STARGAZER
We leave ours on the dock. We are required to be double-lined bow and stern, fore and aft, with spring lines during the hurricane season here in PC, Florida. The lines on the dock are perfectly "sized" so that when we back her in, we simply hook the loops on all the back cleats and mid-ship springline cleats and then make minor adjustments on board for the bow. We carry lines for anchoring out and rafting. Just one way of doing business.
No Lines = Vacant Slip!
When a visiting boat comes to our marina, and sees no dock lines, they assume that slip is available, so I leave my lines.
Also, they are permanent to my boat position and setup for storms that come quickly in SC.
I like the idea of having an additional line for coming in when there is wind though, so because of this forum, I will begin that practice as well, especially with the new large boat next to me, making clearance between less than 3' between our two boats, and backing into the slip!
When a visiting boat comes to our marina, and sees no dock lines, they assume that slip is available, so I leave my lines.
Also, they are permanent to my boat position and setup for storms that come quickly in SC.
I like the idea of having an additional line for coming in when there is wind though, so because of this forum, I will begin that practice as well, especially with the new large boat next to me, making clearance between less than 3' between our two boats, and backing into the slip!