H A N D L I N G D O C K L I N E S

V I D E O O V E R V I E W

• General Docking Procedure

• Review Your Tools: Cleat Hitch and Bowline

• Dockline Nomenclature

• Preparing the lines for docking

• Manipulating the lines

• Departure Procedure

D O C K I N G P R O C E S S

1. Rig dock lines and fenders as instructed by skipper

• Which lines on which cleats

• Fenders are a separate topic

2. Skipper assigns lines and roles for docking

3. Skipper brings the boat alongside

• Skipper stops the boat

• Crew secures the lines

4. Additional lines secured

1. Fenders and lines adjusted

I N G R E D I E N T S

T H E C L E AT H I T C H

• 270-359 degree wrap

• One cross

• One hitch

T H E B O W L I N E

D O C K L I N E N O M E N C L AT U R E

D O C K L I N E N O M E N C L AT U R E

D O C K L I N E N O M E N C L AT U R E

D O C K L I N E N O M E N C L AT U R E

D O C K L I N E N O M E N C L AT U R E

D O C K L I N E N O M E N C L AT U R E

D O C K L I N E N O M E N C L AT U R E

D O C K L I N E N O M E N C L AT U R E

S T E R N

M I D - S H I P

B O W

M I D - S H I P L I N E

M I D - S H I P S P R I N G F O R WA R D

M I D - S H I P S P R I N G A F T

B O W S P R I N G F O R W A R D

S T E R N S P R I N G A F T

M I D - S H I P S P R I N G A F T

B O W L I N E

B O W S P R I N G F O R W A R D

T I E O N T H E L I N E S F O R D O C K I N G

• The skipper will have told you which lines where

• Outside the lifelines

• Usually attached with a bowline

R E A D Y D O C K L I N E S F O R G O I N G A S H O R E

• Ready to carry ashore

• Ready to throw (heave) ashore

• Placed somewhere they can be reached easily

O P E N T H E G AT E

S E C U R I N G T O T H E D O C K

• Trust your skipper. Do as they instruct.

• The next section will make you dangerous • Only stop the boat if

• The skipper told you to

• A collision or damage is imminent

• Never put yourself in the way of a collision

H A N D I N G A N D S E C U R I N G A L I N E

• Holding means in your hands standing by a cleat

• Securing or cleating means on a cleat

• Half a wrap on a cleat is very powerful

• 270° degree wrap and a cross is “made”

S W E AT I N G A L I N E

• “Pull in” “Take up” “Take in” “Shorten”

• Don’t take more off the cleat than you must

• Always remove the final hitch

• Never take off the 270° degree wrap

• Sometimes you remove the cross

• Sweat the line using your weight or legs

• Like a bowstring

• Similar to sweating a halyard

• Fore and aft hand position to take up line

E A S I N G A L I N E

• “Ease” “Let out” “Surge”

• “Release” means take it off the cleat altogether

• Don’t take more off the cleat than you must

• Fore and aft hand position, push and pull

• Don’t just push the line

D E PA R T I N G

• At least one line will get doubled back to the boat

• Perhaps a fender change

• Free all other lines

• Release doubled line from aboard as directed by the skipper

D O C K L I N E H A N D L I N G C H E AT S H E E T

• Keep Lines clear of the prop

• Run docklines so they pay out cleanly

• Use docklines and cleats as instructed

• Unless a collision is imminent

• Never put yourself in the middle of a collision • Sweating and Surging