A boat isn't docked until it's tied up properly. A few loose lines will hold a boat on a calm afternoon, but they won't keep it off the dock in a wind shift, through a passing wake, or as the tide rises and falls. Knowing which line does what, and how to tie it to a cleat quickly and securely, is one of the most useful skills in boating.
This article covers the four main dock lines, how spring lines can help you dock and leave, how to tie a cleat hitch, and how to set fenders.
The four main dock lines
A boat tied alongside a dock usually uses some combination of four lines:
| Line | Where it goes | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Bow line | From the bow forward to the dock, ahead of the boat | Holds the bow in and stops the boat moving backward |
| Stern line | From the stern aft to the dock, behind the boat | Holds the stern in and stops the boat moving forward |
| Forward spring | From a cleat near the bow or midships, running aft to the dock | Stops the boat moving forward along the dock |
| After spring | From a cleat near the stern or midships, running forward to the dock | Stops the boat moving backward along the dock |
Different boaters name spring lines slightly differently. Some name them by where they attach on the boat, others by which way they lead. What matters is understanding what each line stops.
Bow and stern lines mostly hold the boat in toward the dock. Spring lines mostly stop it moving forward and back. Because spring lines run along the dock at a shallow angle, they can be long, which lets the boat rise and fall with the tide without the lines getting too tight or too loose.
Why spring lines are so useful
Spring lines aren't just for holding the boat once it's docked. Experienced skippers use them as a tool while docking and leaving.
Springing in
When wind or current is pushing you off the dock, getting the boat alongside can be hard. A spring line makes it easy:
- Bring the boat close enough for the crew to put a line from a cleat on the forward part of the boat to a dock cleat a little behind it.
- Idle ahead gently, with the wheel or drive turned away from the dock.
- The line stops the boat moving forward, and the engine's push swings the stern in. The boat pulls itself in parallel against the line and holds there while you add the other lines.
Springing off
When the wind is pinning you against the dock, leaving can be just as hard. Springing off swings one end out first:
- To swing the stern out: keep a spring line from the forward part of the boat leading aft to the dock, with a fender at the bow. Idle ahead with the wheel turned toward the dock. The bow presses against the fender, and the stern swings out. Then release the line and back away.
- To swing the bow out: keep a spring line from the stern leading forward to the dock, with a fender at the stern. Idle in reverse. The stern presses in and the bow swings out. Then release the line and motor away.
Use only gentle power, and make sure the line can be released easily from the boat. A line looped around the dock cleat and back to the boat lets the crew let go from on board.
How to tie a cleat hitch
The cleat hitch is the standard way to tie a line to a horn cleat, the common T-shaped cleat on docks and boats. It holds well, and it's quick to untie even under load.
- Lead the line to the far horn of the cleat, the one farthest from where the load comes from, and take a full turn around the base of the cleat.
- Make a figure-eight by crossing the line over the top of the cleat and around the opposite horn, then back across.
- Finish with a locking hitch. Make a loop with the line twisted so the free end lies underneath, and drop it over the horn. Pull it snug. The free end should lie alongside the previous turn, parallel to it.
One figure-eight and a locking hitch is enough. Extra turns don't make it stronger, and they make it harder to undo. A neat cleat hitch should look tidy, with the turns lying flat and parallel.
Setting fenders
Fenders are the cushions that sit between the hull and the dock. A few tips:
- Set them before you arrive, on the side you'll dock on.
- Match the height to the dock. Fenders should hang where the hull meets the dock edge or pilings. A fender hanging below a high dock does nothing.
- Use enough of them. Space fenders along the widest part of the hull, and add one near the bow or stern where the boat might pivot against the dock.
- Never use hands or feet as fenders. A boat weighs far more than it seems, and can crush a limb against a dock.
Tying up for the night
When leaving a boat at a dock, think about everything that could change: wind, waves, passing wakes and tides. Use bow, stern and both springs. Leave enough slack for the tide to rise and fall without the lines going bar-tight or the boat hanging off them. Make sure lines can't chafe on sharp edges, and check them again if conditions change.
Practicing in The Boat Docker
In The Boat Docker, a dock isn't complete until at least one of the boat's six fender positions is tied to a dock cleat or pole and the boat has stopped. The lines behave like real mooring lines: if the boat drifts past a line's length, the line pulls it back gradually rather than snapping it rigidly into place.
Scoring rewards proper tying up: three or more lines secured earns the full 40 points, two lines earns 33, and one earns 25. Another 20 points go to having every line snug and taut, rather than loose with slack. See the Fenders & Lines training page for how to rig fenders and run lines in the simulator.