How To Tie Off in a Boat Slip - Spring Line Docking or Parking a Boat

[@capt.gregusmm9303]

Wayne, I've tried explaining this in the boating safety classes I use to teach. Your model was ingenious. Love it. Capt. Greg

[@_multiverse_]

I don't even own a boat or live anywhere near a body of water with tides. Yet, here i am.

[@gilrheaume6283]

Hello Wayne, the wife and I used to have a boat but now that were older and retired want to get another one and your technique is perfect. Thank you, Gil in Massachusetts

[@rjwintl]

Great information and great explanation !!! … my wife ( former teacher) uses a rhyme to remember it , “ criss-cross applesauce “ … same jingle when hooking the safety chains from the boat trailer to the truck !!!

[@jetboy001]

Nice explanation. Glad I'm in a flaoting slip. Crossed lines will cause wear across the boat and create a tripping hazard on swim platform. I do have permanent tied off lines in slip and do a short and long side making it easy solo. Tie off long side, push boat over and tie short side. This also helps for toons that want to use side entrance.

[@frankiannelli989]

Totally understand the technique. And explained superbly..thanks Wayne , happy boating...

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank you!!

[@Hawkeye244]

As a new boater, I’ve enjoyed your content. Became a subscriber and look forward to many more hints and tips for the learning family. Thank you!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Welcome aboard!

[@ende421]

Good explanation, nice model. It's all about longer lines being better when there is height variations. Also: longer lines have more stretch and exert less stress on the cleats. I'd argue crossing the bow lines is not necessary. They are close together anyway and you don't get much of the aforementioned benefits.

[@dtrain1476]

Awesome video and Information Wayne. I had damaged to my boat in the past because the Lines were not tied correctly. I wish I would have seen this video a few years ago. I will differently be using this technique next time I tie my boat up at a Marnia!! Thanks for sharing

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Sorry to hear that - but hopefully it never happens to you again!

[@p.a.ch.3861]

Appreciate that you made a model to demonstrate the skill .

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks!!

[@bxbmbr766]

Love your channel, well said ingenious and simple and profound at the same time

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I appreciate that!

[@thehacksquatch]

Well-presented and practical of you, using a model! Love it. Here in SE Alaska the tides can be up to 24 feet exchange and everything is a floating dock, so I've always tied up alongside. Easy street! I've never tied up to a slip and it always seemed intimidating.

[@Just_a_normal_guy11]

Great way to explain. Thanks.

[@5464348643]

Great idea illustrating with your model. Nice work! You mentioned tying up with the loop end on the boat. That’s the only way to go in my book. It’s easiest to avoid having to adjust all lines every time. Why reinvent the wheel every outing? Adjusting the line lengths at the posts/piles takes a minute, but then its done for the season. Plus it becomes a known quality… takes no time to secure the boat on return, and avoids being at home later wondering about the boat when thunderstorms roll though… you already know your dock line setup is reliable. Adding a way to stow the lines on the piles while you’re out rounds out the system. Don’t want lines hanging in the water, getting dirty and hard to reach. Keep up the good work! 😊

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks!

[@NancyASMR]

Thank you so much. Yesterday I helped a friend tie a huge boat to a new slip and although I saw the basics I was still confused because he was barking orders and I was anxious. I didn't get to grasp the basics.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Glad it helped! It took me quite a while to figure out all the "why"

[@brettgerber795]

Good video. For our setup i use the midship cleat on one side for bow & stern spring lines. And like you mentioned we have dock we have pre made lines secured to the dock so we can easily tie up. We keep regular lines in a locker for going anywhere.

[@rel53]

I concur that using one spring line attached to the bow and another to the stern is the classic method. I share your view on this.

[@MariaLanger]

I’d like to see a video of a side tie on a fixed dock in a tidal area.

[@BradinManheim]

I was taught not to use the slip through the middle of the cleat method. By doing that you can’t adjust the line from the dock. A normal cleat hitch allows adjustment from the dock.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yes I have heard that too - but by having one point of the line "fixed" can make it easier to always tie off in the exact same position of your slip. Some people also mark their lines to know exactly where to tie off in their own slip.

[@seanfried5583]

Great video. I learned something today.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Glad to hear it!

[@darrylmcleman6456]

GOOD STUFF! The marina where I tie up has floating wharf so no worry about the tide.CHEERS

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks!! Floating ones are the best!

[@amyself6678]

Great video . ... But my motor and location of posts make crossing the lines when docked hard...

[@richardvila3]

Thanks

[@guntherschweiger7038]

Great 👍 I love your Videos . Greetings from Austria

[@hammer9856]

Applies to inland reservoirs too where water levels fluctuate due to how much water they are drawing. The fluctuation can be greater than tidal changes on some.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Good point!

[@brandonlee8467]

Outstanding video

[@stevenbryant4718]

The difference between a " boater " and a sailor is 1) The sail. 2) The need for a video like this. LOL

[@brucefrye2292]

I do sail!

[@stevenbryant4718]

People usually just get in a hurry and just tie off the easies way. The worst problem is when tides a big coupled with storm surge. The have used spring lines for that in the past. I am hundreds of miles from my boat usually.

[@Dan-b6y]

❤ Awesome Video Thank you 😊

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank you too!

[@richspring1]

Good one… Thankx!

[@ViktorBludov]

Well done! thank you

[@jamesfairhurst8525]

Superb video for a rookie boater! What if you are docking with only one side mooring?

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks! I don't have much experience with that - but it involved a few fenders and running lines from the other side of the boat to the dock

[@mikenagy938]

This is great for the east coast, but i have cruised all the way from Canada to Mexico and never had a dock that didn't go up and down with the tide. Our tie habits are quite different from yours!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Floating docks are getting more common - and probably easier to deal with!

[@Dan-b6y]

❤ Make Sure you have extra line just in case Never know.. when you needed!!❤

[@rickurt1]

Great video and phenomenal explanation. I knew that crossing the lines was the way to go, but didnt understand why. After watching your video/simulation, I'm now guessing it is due to more length on the rope (vs. Shorter rope on the same side). How tight should you initially set the ropes?

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Ideally set them so that the boat is centered in the space. Sometimes it takes a bit of tweaking at first.

[@gillgetter3004]

I’m a trailer guy in the fresh water world of Michigan. I’ve seen charter fishing boats and personal big lake boats tied off like that always thought of the wind and waves.

[@jimcurry7300]

How do you tie it to the pilings out on the water?

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

We usually make a lasso or wrap a loop end of a line around and then run the line through it

[@The.blondest_brunette.]

I have a question for you since I'm a new boater and parked our new boat in a lift. Would you recommend doing this when is on a lift if in case we get a bad storm or hurricane? By the way you have a new follower and I love your videos it really helps me understand a lot of things I have questions of..... =)

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

That's a good question. I am not sure. I have a friend with a lift and I don't think he ever ties anything off.

[@The.blondest_brunette.]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy Thank you =). Great videos!

[@johnshirley2717]

I keep my boat in a lift and I do not tie anything off. I keep it really high out of the water. If your lift can't go that high or you choose not to raise it really high, it would not hurt to tie a line or two. On my lake boats sneak out of their lifts all the time if the water comes up rapidly

[@olympiashorts]

I just never tie to any structure that doesn’t move up and down with the water.

[@peterk4134]

I was told not to park a boat; but to Berth one , Captain

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

That's a word that seems to be used very seldom these days

[@brucefrye2292]

The reservoirs here go up and down a lot, so I tie mine off to a tree and have my wife pull it in!

[@tomdrummy4984]

The reason crossing the lines works is because the lines are LONGER. ……..so they can go up and down more with the tide 👍

[@ELMONGY-eo4wk7df1l]

✨✨⭐⭐👌👌👍👍

[@chet3larson]

I’ll save everyone time, cross your tie down lines…

[@danieljames377]

Title of this video should specify "How to tie off in a boat slip, IN A TIDAL BODY OF WATER", ocean. Not fresh water lakes

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yes this is about tidal areas because it's a lot easier in non-tidal lakes!

[@jeffcampsall5435]

Unless you have cottagers on your lake that insist on wake boarding past your dock 😕

[@kylem6552]

This is great way of explaining this and showing this thanks Wayne

[@rodgoddard5113]

Great video, very helpful tips and well explained, keep up the good work.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks, I will try!