Physics of Docking – Dock Lines

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Dock lines are an essential component to docking. After you have mastered getting your boat to the dock, it is important to tie up your boat correctly. Your boat should be secure, but also easy to untie when it is time to depart.

Before you depart, and while you are secured at the dock take a few minutes to walk around and identify each line and its purpose. This is a good time to consider labeling each line for quick stowing and easy placement when you return.

Three main topics we discuss in this video are:
- Where to position your boat
- How to organize your dock lines
- Which lines to secure first

It is helpful to know that there are three primary types of lines: spring lines, stern lines, and bow lines.

Spring lines keep the boat from moving backwards or forwards and usually run at an angle (aft or forward) so that they have some “spring”. Ensure that spring lines are snug so that your boat does not move back and forth.

Stern and bow lines are tightened to hold your boat against the dock. Many boaters will also add a mid line (amidships) to join the bow and stern line in keeping your boat in close to the dock.

Lengths for each position line vary but are typically a different length. For example, on a 45’ boat the bow lines and mid lines average 20’, stern lines 25’ and spring lines 30’. It is best if you don’t think of them as being interchangeable and develop a system to tell them apart – short, medium and long.

If you have a permanent home slip, one idea to make sure you are “parked” in the right position is to leave a Welcome Mat on the dock adjacent to the dock side boarding door. This is a quick positioning reference to help with your fore/aft placement when you return home.

Over time you can develop a system with designated fenders for locations. We have seen trawlers install folding pad eyes in the hull that will allow you to easily reach over from your side deck to attach clips from the fender lines to the outside hull. Each fender, line, and clip is pre-measured and works best at a specific location. If you want to be organized, you can number the fenders 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 (one at the bow, four at the stern) and have the lengths and positions fixed and can easily snap them in place. We have even seen red marks for port and green marks for starboard. It is a good practice to keep the lower end of the fenders from touching the water so that they don’t get dirty with marine growth. Many boaters put soft material “sleeves” on fenders (some have their boat name embroidered) to minimize rubber marring on the hull side.

When returning to a dock, you should allow enough time during your last few minutes of approach to set up the lines and fenders. You can drape long lines over the rails so they are easier to grab from the dock (make sure they don’t slip into the water and drag, or they may find your propeller).

It is essential to instruct your crew on how lines work before you arrive, so each line and fender is placed in the proper position. Since lines are often stowed while underway and then draped and readied for arrival, ask your crew to double check that one end of each line is actually tied to the boat.

The skipper, (not the crew or people on deck or on the dock) should call out the order of tying up. Arrive very slow, at drifting speed and typically a spring line running aft is first to a cleat (don’t tie it off but keep the boat in control). An aft leading spring line will help slow the boat down and pivot the hull towards the dock as it coasts forward. Next, secure a stern or bow line. With two lines attached it is relatively easy to complete the rest of them. Once you are tied up you can always reposition lines, the key is to make a safe landing and avoid throwing or yelling.

Thanks for watching, we welcome your comments and are working on a couple more episodes to share in our Physics of Docking series. Our next video goes over how tying a cleat.

#PhysicsofDocking, #JMYS, #Nordhavn,

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