How to Tie a Boat to a Dock

You want to keep your boat investment safe and learning how to properly tie a boat to a dock is one way to do that. Whether you are using cleats or rings, we have you covered. In this video we cover:

Intro 0:00
How do I tie a boat line to a dock ring? 0:58
How do I tie a boat rope to a dock cleat? 1:50
What length should the bow line be? 2:27
What is a spring line and why is it important? 2:51
What are some boat tying up tips? 3:18
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[boatinglessons]

We got a ton of comments on this video and we learned from them - check them out as there is good information and different opinions in there.

[raykeogh]

Thanks that is brilliant im so nerves when coming to a dark especially hitting other peoples boats. Totally makes sense why the length of the boat. After having a stroke I am sort of fully recovered but struggle to learn things new. You teach and dont assume that is the only way I can learn. Keeping it simple is the best way to teach and is how I taught people when I was younger thank you very much. Ray K UK YNWA.

[cy-fairclean]

I’ve been boating for 5 years and just now learning about the spring line. Thank you.

[jackstaniford]

As someone who has spent a lot of time working on big and small commercial vessels I can safely say tying a slip knot on a cleat is a bad idea and is frowned upon in the boating community. Use the method OXXO. The first O is just a wrap around the base of the cleat followed by two Cross patterns XX (not hitched) and followed by a final wrap around the bottom, O. This way if you need to flick the line off the cleat either from your boat or the dock it can be done much faster and you don’t need to un-tye any actual knots. It can also be untied one handed which also comes in useful. Just my two cents.

[austinstults]

When you tie off to a cleat you should really make a full wrap around the cleat before starting your knot, this is especially true for large boats. That allows you to hold the boat in place much more securely and easily before tying off. By immediately tying off, you run the risk of the boat drifting/moving and your fingers getting caught up in the rope.

[randyb]

Worst cleat hitch I have seen. Thousands of examples easily available on how to do it right!

[querubimsantos]

This is one of those videos that (as a greenhorn) I will save and rewatch it until the moment I’m no longer a beginner.
So well made! simple, objective and devoid of ego.

[LDwiggs]

You guys have by far the best boating tip videos on the web. Simple, to the point, understandable, and no wasted BS info or promotions.

[Badgerroodragon]

Simple. Straight to the point. Thank you.

[robertyoung]

This is my 4th year boating and am learning alot, about safety, maintenance, servicing and repairs.. Thank you.

[pistachokink]

thank you for to the tutorial. these info should be enough to properly tied my inflatable boat.

[HrvRockstar]

One of the better videos that shows how to tie properly + from a good angle.

[RM-mydn]

GREAT! Easy to listen to... Thank you!

[masdbo]

Read Chapmans’s and learn how to tie a proper cleat knot before making a video about tying a cleat knot! There’s always another way to do something, but in this case I have to ask why? I was a dock master years ago and it amazed me how few skippers and crew knew how. I’ve seen my share of inexperienced skippers make make mistakes and panic moves due to wind and current while someone is attempting to make fast to a cleat, ripping the line out of the persons hand or parting the line that’s attached to a cleat. Once I even saw a skipper rip a piling right out of the water! My point is, never teach your crew to use their hand to make a loop in the line so close to the cleat! A line that’s cleated too soon or a mistake from the skipper could cause serious injury or amputation. Just learn to tie a proper cleat knot and you will know more than 90%of boaters.

[supergrover]

The what not to do knot🪢 is called a ⛓️ chain sinnet n is only used to eat up the extra loose line in order to keep it out of the way n neat and tidy. This keeps it from being a tripping hazard after a proper cleat hitch has been used

[musoangelo]

The half hitch's might work for small boats, but on work boats with more displacement, if the weight of the boat pulls on that line, you'll have a line that is jammed on the cleat and you might half to cut it to get loose. One round turn, two figure eight's and a half hitch on top was how i was taught at the California Maritime Academy, a half century ago. That'll work. If you're working with a small light boat, you can get away with the half hitches, but why use them at all, when the figure eights will work better?

[joshuaespinoza]

This is the best instructional video on how to tie a bow line I've ever seen out of countless channels I've seen. Thank you for sharing your intelligence with us and taking your precious time in life to teach us.

[paulkersey]

Thanks Sean, I have been a long time boater and learned about "spring lines' today. A very good resource.

[divenride]

Thanks Sean for all the great info. As a new 1st time boat owner of a bowrider I've found all your videos and tips extremely useful. Be glad your not here in mid Missouri or Id be chewing your ear off constantly with questions. Here's a few items I thought I would share on my first outing with the bowrider, maybe you could consider them for future segments....Took the boat on a first run up the river, bad choice, got stuck a few times in low conditions, cant see the bottom, and tore up a brand new prop. Maybe segment on whats the right depth finder, my next new purchase. Props, my second new purchase, how to determine which one and the right pitch another possible segment. Oh and due to all the mud in the river, my Spedo is now not working, maybe a segment on clearing out the Pito intlet on the lower unit, testing the spedo, and then back in business. Keep them coming, cheers.

[Donzorro]

At approx 1:00 min into the video I wish you could do a video just focusing on that knot through the ring. Looks easy but I just mess it up