tying up to dock

[blackfish]

seeking some advise from all you experienced sailors.
what arrangement of lines do you recommend to secure a 22cd at a well protected dock for 2 or 3 hrs (the boat will be left unattended )
would the bow and stern lines do along with fenders of course
or should I be attaching spring lines.
If using spring lines where would you attach theses on the boat.
from what I've read the forward spring line might be tied off to the bow cleat then past through a chock.

thanks

[matt_unique]

For a 22' boat all you need is a stern line, a bow line, and three fenders.

Is the dock fixed or floating with the tide?

[starcrafttom]

I find it easier to bring the bow line to the forward cleat and from there to the dock cleat. being there are no cleats or chocks at the bow this works well. I also use one rope for both sides of the boat. what I mean is that the rope is double up and has a loop in the middle that goes over the bow cleat then the two side are run down each side of the boat. This gives you one long rope if you need it and now you only have one rope tied to the bow.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Here's why Capt Matt asked the question about the dock being floating or fixed. Photo credits to Tim and Pam on True Story....

[matt_unique]

Ha ha...well that is some bad luck at the dock.

If you're securing to a non-floating dock you would tie the line on your cleats differently as well as other precautions.

[lloyds]

I always use the fenders, a stern line, and the bow line from the bow, over to the dock chock or rail, then back to the midship cleat to act as a spring. The spring only takes a few extra seconds and I feel just makes a more secure tie-off.

[Larry H]

I used a bow line about 20 ft long on my 22 cruiser. The bow line goes from the bow cleat to the dock cleat or rail and then to the boats midships cleat. This acts as a bow line and bow spring.

A stern line about 10 ft long goes from the stern cleat to the dock cleat or rail. The stern line can be led aft of 90 degrees to act as a stern line and stern spring.

Because the 22 is wider amidships I brought the stern in closer than the bow so the fenders at the stern and amidships take the chafe and the bow fender hangs free.

This system worked well for me at the typical Canadian wood dock with bull rails.

[Sneaks]

[thataway]

When I come to a dock, I secure a line from the midships cleat or a folding "D"Ring on the deck outside the window (harder to reach the foreward side cleat on the 25 and TC 255). I loop this line from the foreward side cleat around a bull rail, piling or cleat, and then go aft and bring the stern cleat line around the bull rail. piling or cleat. I usually leave these a little slack and put on a foreward side cleat to aft dock cleat spring line. This allows for some fore and aft movement and if there is some tide, so tidal movement. I prefer this method, because I do not have to go onto the foredeck--and can just reach out the window.

[lloyds]

Anyone ever think about tying a light line to the bottom of the fenders and pulling all the slack out and tying it off to a rear cleat, making the fenders horizontal near the deck? I hate those cold showers when I forget to pull in the rear fender on my 16'.

[starcrafttom]

Heres the thing about the above photo. It was tied to a floating dock. the problem was that they tied to the post no the dock. The dock went up and the post did not. boat got sucked under. so tie to the dock not the post. i have caught people doing it wrong around here many times. If you are at a non-floating dock you have to have longer lines in case you have a big tide. the east coast guys know more about that. I have not seen a non floating dock around here yet.

[marvin4239]

One of the problems with non floating docks around here is if they aren't constructed properly you run the risk of getting your gunnel or other part of the boat hung up on the dock or piling as the tide rises possibly sinking the boat. When I was a kid and we keep old boats in the water all the time we had a piling set about 40 feet from the dock. It had a block in it at the top with a line running through it with the bottom tied to a concrete block. As we approached the dock we would hook the line around a bow cleat and back up to the dock. We would then tie off to the dock get out of the boat loosen the line on the dock and let the concrete block pull the boat back away from the dock. Worked like a charm.

[lloyds]

That boat tied to the post reminds me of the time I went through the Willamette Falls locks and was tied behind about a 27 foot wood cruiser, with the usual two drunk couples in lawn chairs in the stern. We were handling our lines but the neighbors were tied off. The Corps guys didn't say a word, just let the water out. Before you know it that cruiser was at about a 45 degree tilt and those folks were crammed into the low gunnel. The only thing that saved them was when the chocks pulled out of their boat.

[JamesTXSD]

Each docking situation presents a different challenge, depending on wind direction, current, and the space at the dock. Generally, we put three fenders over the side: a large round one towards the bow, coming behind the bow rail, one off the mid-ship cleat, and one off the cockpit rail. With two of us on the boat, Joan is usually on the bow, with a line ready on the bow cleat, and another tied off on the stern cleat, ready for me to get on my way out. With a bow line on first, I can maneuver forward or back to bring the boat parallel to the dock. Then secure bow and stern lines as breast lines. Unless it is a very quick stop, we run a spring line from the mid-ship cleat fore and aft.

If I am by myself, I run one long line from the bow cleat run back to the cockpit, generally tied off to the stern cleat. With that, I can step off the boat and have control front and rear. Drop that line over a cleat, then tie off as usual with the other lines.

If the tide is a concern and it isn't a floating dock, balance the length of the breast lines with the spring lines (running the spring lines further out - it will keep the boat from getting too far from the dock).

Best wishes,
Jim B.

[timflan]