How to Tie a Boat to a Dock

Picture this: After a great dinner at the best seaside restaurant in town, you’re ready to get back to your boat for a good night’s sleep before sailing to your next destination in the morning. You return to your dock… but not back to your boat.

Tying a boat to a dock is one of the most common tasks you’ll perform out on the water, but it can also be anxiety-inducing. If you don’t do it right, your boat could float away. And, inevitably, it will crash into the most expensive boat in your marina. 

Learning how to tie a boat to a dock is crucial to avoid damaging your boat and the boats around you (or worse, the people in those boats).

Here, we’ll help you get started!

How to Tie a Boat to a Dock: Choose the Right Knot

I use a lot of different types of knots for different situations. Some knots are best for certain tidal flows and weather conditions. Some work perfectly for a lunch break, while others are more suitable for docking over the weekend or longer. While you won’t find one knot to fit all situations, these foundational knots will get you pretty far.

Cleat Hitch

The cleat hitch is easy to tie and untie and holds well under tension. However, while you can adjust it quickly, you’ll have to untie it to do so completely. Another disadvantage is how easily it slips or comes undone when not tied properly. 

Cleat hitch knots work well in most weather conditions, but monitor them closely in severe weather. It may need a few extra turns or a finishing lock in heavy weather conditions.

Bowline

The bowline is my go-to knot. If you only learn how to tie one knot, this is the one to know. It’s strong and secure and doesn’t slip or jam. When it’s time to remove the knot, you won’t have any trouble untying it, even if it’s been under high loads. But keep in mind that bowline knots can come undone when they’re not under load. 

This knot is most suitable for stable weather conditions that don’t need frequent adjustments since you can’t adjust the bowline knot after tying it. 

Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

The round turn and two half hitches knot is another option that’s easy to tie and holds tightly once in place. Where some knots become permanent after going under strain, this knot comes undone relatively easily (though not as easily as the bowline).

The round turn and two half hitches knot takes a little longer both to tie and to adjust than other options, which is its biggest downside. However, its versatility makes up for the complication. It holds well in most weather, including wind and changing conditions.

Whatever knot type(s) you use, check and adjust regularly, especially in changing weather and tides. You want your boat well-secured at all times!

Beyond the Pros and Cons: Special Considerations for Knot Tying

When you tie a boat to a dock, you need to consider more than just knot types. To properly secure your boat in any condition, look closely at lines, docks, and other circumstances.

Line Material

Your first consideration is the line itself. Nylon, Dacron, and polypropylene are the three main line materials, and each one has its own properties.

Nylon

Nylon is flexible. In fact, it can stretch up to 1.5 times its length without taking on damage, so it acts as a shock absorber. When your boat pulls on it, it bounces right back. In high-traffic areas or wakes, this flexibility is essential. However, constant stretching, UV exposure, and chafing can weaken nylon.

Dacron

Dacron isn’t as flexible as nylon, but it is more abrasion-resistant. This makes it the ideal choice for permanent moorings. However, keep in mind that less shock absorbency can be harsher on cleats and deck hardware.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene lines have two major advantages: they’re lightweight, and they float. They’re handy to have around, but they’re vulnerable to UV light and degrade quickly. On the upside, they’re inexpensive and easy to replace.

Line Design

A line’s design can have a huge impact on its functionality. For example, a larger-diameter line provides more strength but can be heavier and harder to handle. At the same time, lines should be long enough to stretch in changing tides but still avoid excessive slack.

Beyond diameter and length, you also need to consider the line’s construction:

• Three-strand twist: These lines are easy to stretch and splice, which is excellent for anchor and dock lines, but they can harden over time and don’t stand up well to abrasion.
• Braided lines: Smooth, strong, and flexible, braided lines are versatile but expensive and more difficult to splice.
• Plaited lines: Though less common, they offer great shock absorption and lay flat without kinking. However, they can be harder to handle and coil.

All line types and designs need adequate chafe protection to prolong their lives in high-wear areas. Always equip your lines with chafe guards in places where they rub against the dock or boat.

Dock Types and Conditions

Docking techniques are not one size fits all. You adjust your methods, lines, and knots based on dock type.

Floating Docks

Floating docks automatically adjust to tide and water level changes, rising and falling with the water. That means you need to use dynamic securing methods to accommodate this movement. Lines should be slack, flexible, and shock absorbent, so I suggest using nylon.

Line configuration needs to keep the boat stable at floating docks while allowing for vertical movement. I often use a combination of bow, stern, and spring lines to accomplish this.

You need to account for movement when you place fenders and keep them at the waterline. 

Fixed Docks

Fixed docks are not affected by water movement, so the adjustments are up to you! Tie your boat tightly enough to prevent excessive movement but leave enough slack to handle water level fluctuations due to tide and weather conditions. 

At fixed docks, you must adjust your line configuration based on the water level to maintain tension, ensure security, and prevent damage. Bow and stern lines prevent forward and backward movement, while spring lines stop sideways movement.

You must also keep an eye on your fenders to protect the hull during tide changes.

Additional Considerations

When tying a boat to a dock, consider:

• Whether you’re docking transiently at a fuel dock or more permanently at a marina, and how that changes your durability and ease of handling needs
• How dock types impact boarding and disembarking, which will influence how you tie off lines to facilitate accessibility
• Methods for securing your boat against drifting and damage in high winds or currents
• Additional lines and fenders or other adjustments in severe weather or changing conditions
• Line strength and elasticity compared to the size and weight of your boat
• The degrading effect of saltwater and sunlight on line material over time
• How temperature changes and freezing affect line flexibility and strength

How to Make Tying a Boat to a Dock Easier

Tying a boat to a dock can be complicated, but the latest technologies and innovations make it easier and safer.

You can take advantage of:

• Automated docking systems: Like self-parking on a car, this uses GPS and onboard sensors to help you control the throttle, shift, and steering as you precisely dock the boat.
• Remote control docking: With this tool, you can use a joystick rather than your steering wheel to more effectively maneuver the boat, improving precision and reducing the need for physical strength.
• Self-leveling docking systems: These systems are like floating docks — they allow your boat to move up and down with the water, so you don’t have to adjust your lines as frequently.
• Dock edge protectors: These advanced materials help absorb shocks and do less damage than hitting your boat with wood or another hard structure.

Discover More Advanced Docking Techniques

Learning how to tie a boat to a dock is essential if you (always) want to have a boat to come back to. The more you know about proper knots and docking techniques, the safer your boat will be.

Getting a captain’s license is one way to take your expertise to the next level. Learn more about our courses today!