How to: Tie your boat up safely and securely | Motor Boat & Yachting

Boating instructor Jon Mendez shares his definitive step-by-step guide on how to tie up your boat correctly.

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[DrCrabfingers]

Interesting..."a dreadful locking turn" I thought locking turns looked sensible. But as you say there are many ways to tie up a boat...I always enjoy your tutorials...you're an excellent tutor!

[treydrier]

I've been a boater on large yachts for over 20 years. A locking turn is necessary as the final "knot" to secure the line and boat. I have never had a locking turn that I could not undo (as someone else stated below). Maybe it's just me but I would not feel secure with simple figure 8's.

[anonymousperson]

Good job bloke. I neva considered using a single rope for dock line and spring line.

[-dw]

I have a single outboard and no bow thruster on my 23’ center console. When approaching a fuel dock I usually tie up the bow first and then bump it in reverse angling it towards the dock and securing the stern line.

[busterevetts]

Excellent video Jon.. You explain things so well.. Keep up the great work..

[nando]

Just bought my first boat to wakeboard. This info is very good! I have a lot to learn! Yes I am a noob but we all have to start somewhere

[richguest]

As a professional seaman for over 30 years I can confirm there’s nothing wrong with ‘dreadful locking turns’

[pickering]

Great videos, I've only been boating for one summer, now I'm addicted and these videos could be aimed at me. Much appreciated.

[psuro]

Not a boater but that was clear and succinct for anyone to understand and follow. Well done.

[lightspeed]

I'm a commercial small ferry operator. I use locking turns everyday during dockings and to tie up the boats every night. Interesting.

[bradcalhoun]

I have had trouble in the past when i use a full turn on the cleat with the line cinching on itself from pressure on the line from the dock. Know what I mean? That is why I usually do not use a full turn initially, rather 3/4 turn.

[amcconnell]

It is worth noting that the US Coast Guard no longer locks cleat hitches for any reason because of an incident involving ice where they couldn’t get the line off the cleat that had a lock as part of the knot. Now they use many figure eight loops around both horns to tie off lines. The Washington ferries use the same method for their dock lines, and for working lines where getting the line off quickly is even more important, such as with a headsail sheet, never lock it.

[rickedwards]

Everything in Boating is controversial of course. I was originally taught not to take a full turn around the cleat then do my figure eights and finish with the locking turn. Always used that and never had any trouble with it. I found if I do a full turn around cleat before the figure 8 the lines tend to bind on them selves and make it hard to undo. But really, whatever works for you the way you diet is fine.

I understand that if I were dealing with a boat considerably larger and heavier than mine 30 foot sailboat that a single figure 8 with a locking turn might cinch up and be hard to undo. One big variable that is rarely talked about is the size of the cleat relative to the line. That requires a little thought and an adaptation to be secure.

[z-man]

Finally a clear video that addresses all the confusion from other videos

[youngypaul]

The 2 figure of 8's seems to go against popular idea of 1 figure 8 and a "dreadful locking turn"

[morgan]

I was taught to always make the lines fast on the vessel so that there is no trip hazard left on the dock. RYA recommended a bowline with an extra turn around the centre of the cleat to prevent chafe and then "circle, figure eight, circle, circle" or " O800" on the ships cleat. I was taught that any excess line left on the board should be secured to the lifelines or railing with a cow hitch, preventing a trip hazard on deck.

[CatTrades]

Please talk about “dipping the eye” or how to share a dockside cleat at public mooring sites. Too many peeps just don’t get it.

[rikstone]

Using both fixed loop ends at the centre cleat can avoid short ends.

[tonyjlorns]

Jon can you recommend any courses in Motor Boating in the UK ?

[darrenhillman]

Have to disagree about 'dreadful locking turns'. I use them on my boat as that is what my RYA instructor taught me to do, and they work. So I shall continue to use that method.

I do take Jons point about leading into the cleat though.