This document provides an overview of dock line handling procedures for boats. It discusses the general docking process which includes rigging dock lines and fenders as instructed, assigning roles, bringing the boat alongside, and securing additional lines. It also reviews dock line knots like the cleat hitch and bowline. The document defines dock line terminology for different parts of the boat and explains techniques for manipulating dock lines when securing, sweating, and easing them during docking and departure.

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. I N G R E D I E N T S

5. T H E C L E AT H I T C H
• 270-359 degree wrap
• One cross
• One hitch

6. T H E B O W L I N E

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. S T E R N

16. M I D - S H I P

17. B O W

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

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

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

22. B O W S P R I N G F O R WA R D

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

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

28. B O W L I N E

29. B O W S P R I N G F O R WA R D

30. 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

31. 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

32. O P E N T H E G AT E

33. 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

34. 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”

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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