SavvySalt's Ultimate Guide to Dockline Handling: Part I

[@Drew-eo2oj]

Very helpful, SavvySalt, thank you kindly. I need to shoot off youtube vids to crew before sail day. Regardless of their level of experience. I think it'll raise everyone's confidence because it will likely raise their competence. It has already raised mine. I especially like instruction on docking using springs. Manipulating a boat adeptly at dock, with all the various factors involved... wind, current, prop walk, size of boat, with or without bow thruster etc ...makes for a lot better experience and I confess to still having a bit to learn on that front. And how beautiful a clean docking or exit is!

[@SavvySalt]

Awesome! That's what I was going for with this one: a quick briefing for new crew so that they can be more helpful on day one! I hope you have good of results using this video; I certainly have

[@markm2778]

I have been boating for 20 years and this was one of the best I have seen. Thank you.

[@BrettAllred-fp1il]

Good accurate content without a lot of blab. Not too long or short. Thanks for the well organized video.

[@craigjeffs6733]

Incredibly well put together and informative. I’ve sailed for a long time, but am now moving to slipper. This has been a great re fresh for me as I look to improve skills given I’m responsible. Thanks so much.

[@SavvySalt]

Thank you. And congratulations on taking the next step!

[@whitefields5595]

One of the best line handling videos I've seen

[@swashfrogsailor]

Great video. Very well laid out and executed. When passed along to my crew, it will effectively echo my own philosophy while also affording me some anonymity from the tender-hearted greenhorns. Thanks particularly for accentuating the duty of line handlers to act only at the direction of the skipper.

[@keithlittlebury2986]

I think this is very good and comprehensive. I do not think there's too much info. Its good to have it all on one vid. one thing i thought good was securing the shore line to the boat by a bowline - I was taught to use an OXO but that means the boat cleat is overloaded with two OXOs when setting a slip line. I think I will use your method in future. thanks

[@gregorytoews8316]

Hi SavvySalt. Very helpful video, covering many important details. The sailing/boating/docking world would be a better place if everyone followed your instructions. I have one item about which to nitpick however. Given that you cover the finer points of line handling and cleating so well, it's odd to me that you demonstrate only a weaker form of cleat hitch. Another sailing channel refers to your hitch style at 2:00 as a lunch/fuel dock hitch, or, half wrap. A full wrap (more common in Europe) is more secure. Yes, it may cause the binding/jamming you demonstrate later. Another important variation on cleat hitch style is the multi-wrap; the only secure hitch when your line is too small for the cleat. I'm writing this years after your video was posted. For all I know people have already commented ad nauseam about this - excuse my repetition. Keep up the good work.

[@SavvySalt]

I did originally learn the cleat hitch with the full wrap then the crosses then the hitch. But I had them bind up pretty hard a few times and replaced the extra wrap(s) with extra cross(es) and haven't looked back. Some folks I sail with like extra hitches on top and when I'm tying up their boat I do it that way. You are right, if the line and cleat sizes mismatch all (well, most) bets are off. In that case I use all the wraps and crosses and usually switch to a proper knot before I consider the job done.

[@SavvySalt]

I suspect one reason I have so much confidence in 270-359 degree wrap on the cleat hitch is that I do so much single handed and short handed docking. I've never had an OXH (wrap, cross, hitch) on appropriately sized cleats and lines let me down; even when I'm working with students who accidentally motor full throttle against a cleat or wind up using the docklines to stop the boat.

[@jamescarden4061]

Noticed one small yet critical safety point you may want to adjust. It seems you put your hand in the loop of a hitch while sweating the line at one point. Always make the loop and place it from where the lines cross. Turning your hand over makes it simple to through the hitch on (or find the end of the cleat in the dark) but your fingers can get caught in the process. This may cause great damage to your fingers in given conditions (sudden surge of boat forward, sudden wake or heavy wave) where your fingers will be caught and pressed between the cleat and line.

[@no1engravr]

At 8:46 of the video the crewman wrapped the line around the closer end of the cleat rather than the farther end of the cleat as previously suggested. Did I miss something? Or possibly I simply did not understand. Good video and Thanks!

[@SavvySalt]

Thanks for asking. Unfortunately that's a trick of perspective; the line is 90 degrees to the boat and dock cleats which means there isn't a favored side to the cleat in this case. There would be a favored side if the crew is preparing to move the boat and change the angle. But here the crew (me) is just demonstrating cleat usage and decided to show counter clockwise and clockwise :)

[@no1engravr]

Thank you!

[@langstonholland9272]

Wonderfully done, thank you! Fun fact: collision involves two or more moving objects, allision involves one moving object (boat) hitting a stationary object (dock).

[@jackccharity]

Very useful. When may we expect Part 2?

[@donzi32boats80]

Great video, thank you for taking you're time to put all this together for others to learn.

[@serkanalpcan]

Thank you dear, the material is clear, to the point, hope it will help many fellows to have a secure and joyable docking. Well done

[@mkrawats]

Your video can be very helpful to share with my new crew volunteers. Thank you, Mr. Savvy, for your effort and sharing.

[@OverlandSea]

Savvysalt Thank you so much for this video! The way you have described and narrated the video is very professional. Not only does this video help us it will also help our children so that they can help us with docking (winner). We have added your video to our favourites. We have just subscribed. Thanks again for the video

[@LynneLupien]

I came here from the Lasso video, thinking, yeah I need to know more about docking, why not watch another, then I'm like wait, that boat is named Lola and the dock looks familiar. Then I see it's docking in front of Syrena. I KNOW WHERE THIS IS! ^_^ In fact, I'll be there later this afternoon for a sail, on Winter! :-D

[@mllawhorn5584]

Wow this video is top notch quality. Looking forward to digging into your channel! Thanks for sharing.

[@sailingpretenderbyeastcoas7494]

Love the instructional vids. More please. ⛵️👍🏽

[@travelbywater9378]

Savvy, I think this is a really good basic line handling video. Good job, keep em coming.

[@SavvySalt]

Thank you! Will do :)

[@TheRemyRomano]

I don’t know if anyone has pointed this out but at the 10 minute mark the demonstration shows the cleat wrapped in the wrong direction producing a bind on the line. This is all contrary to the first lesson on tying the cleat correctly.

[@alansugarman2631]

Another safety point - do not jump off or onto the boat, especially if the boat is still moving. - docks and decks can be slippery. Loop a line around a dock cleat if need be. It is best to have a hand on the boat - such as a shroud - when stepping ashore. One of the crew in this video was a little too energetic and risked injury.

[@mrmrlee]

Any particular reason why you are attaching the cleat hitch to the boat cleat rather than the dock cleat? Also, I generally see the dock line loop, whether bowline or a loop integral to the line, looped under and through the cleat, rather than tied to the cleat itself. This allows the line to be quickly removed from the cleat when underway without having to untie a knot.

[@SavvySalt]

Good questions. In general I avoid dock lines with spliced in loops; they take up too much room on the cleat, can bind up very hard if they're placed under a lot of load (I've needed a screwdriver and mallet to remove them) and prevent the dockline from running free at the most inopportune times. If I need a loop I can easily tie and untie my own using a bowline making it whatever size suits my application and taking up half as much space on the cleat. I use the bowline on the boat cleats side mostly to save space (demonstrated here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2fEg2NpqsuZr9k ) so that lines can be doubled back for easier un-docking. All that said, if I'm crew on a boat and the skipper has spliced in loops and wants me to use them to secure the dock lines to the boat cleats that's what I do.

[@erents1]

Looking forward to more of these informative videos!

[@Beba-qv3db]

I would recommend always put your hand over the wheel in order to grab the trottle handle, never between spokes

[@SavvySalt]

You're quite correct! I did mention this to my buddy. Furthermore, when I teach docking I teach this. On the other hand the throttle arrangement (position on pod and wheel size) makes this boat the exception that proves the rule. I'm pretty tall with long arms and I can't stand behind the wheel and reach over or around to control reverse satisfactorily without taking my eye off the boat and dock for too long. When I'm docking that boat demonstrating standing aft of the wheel facing forward I reach through the wheel. But if I'm just docking her I stand forward of or alongside the wheel. If she were my boat I'd move the throttle.

[@1966rickyrat]

excellent !! Make more of these.

[@Ohhm3gA]

Great video with a lot of detail; thanks!

[@MonkPetite]

I like this video .. it’s good on the instructions.. “make team and create a plan” stick to the task and take it easy it does not have to be perfect . Safe is more important.

[@hippiewithacowboyhat]

8:50 line is wrapped wrong side of cleat...

[@BigRed999]

I've had flight instruction in the AF that wasn't this good. Great vid...

[@RaulMartinez-ln8zq]

GREAT video

[@eddieohearn17]

Utilizing a bowline on the boat cleat often creates issues when volunteers on the dock control lines pulling them to tight while the man at the helm is still utilizing power to maneuver. You are always better off have control of the line on the boat

[@harleyberge3677]

Thank you for making this video

[@Breal191]

Just being picky. The cleat hitch at about 9 minutes is incorrect. It needs to go to the far end of the cleat as you stated earlier.

[@jeremyrowley1240]

When going astern it is a lot easier steer to get forward of the wheel and face backwards.

[@SavvySalt]

I do that sometimes but I don't usually teach it because it only works if you have a certain wheel, throttle and gearshift layout. For example, many dual wheel cockpits you can't stand forward of the wheel and reach the engine controls.

[@maxwellmark]

SavvySalt some good info...whichever plan is in play it’s good that skipper and crew are on the same page. I prefer to wrap the horn on the far side from the boat first then finish. I also don’t think reaching through a wheel is a good move,...especially when backing. Reach over to shift or adjust the throttle....that wheel spoke will have a good deal of leverage and could easily cause injury. None the less, well delivered and easy to understand your plan.

[@Rittlesleo]

A warning. I was taking a small step off of our boat coming in and tripped over a line and landed hard on the pier. I dislocated my elbow and almost fell between the boat and pier.

[@TheHathorne]

Solid stuff.

[@mikaelhellstrom2411]

upps nice video but you got the spring line part wrong.

[@mikes2294]

Thank You, this was very helpful. Out of ten stars, this is a "12".

[@shotgunmoose]

Thank you for this. Very useful for anyone on the water.

[@seanlehmann4235]

Great job on the video.

[@epimetheus9053]

excellent work, thank you sir !!

[@georgefiolka4063]

important info many thanks

[@FTS-FamilytoSea]

Great video o!die but a goodie 🇦🇺🥰

[@陈姆华]

wonderful view

[@harleyberge3677]

I gotta share this with my deckhand

[@hpac8381]

very cool, grate info

[@chrishatton9235]

👍Well done! Very helpful video.

[@matthewsellers82]

Lots of good stuff. However (you knew there was going to be one), think about getting away from this concept of the Skipper having to be at the wheel. The airline industry learnt this years ago (I'm also a commercial pilot), you don't have to be at the wheel to control the boat. When a friend of mine was knocked semi conscious during an unplanned jibe his wife was able to bring the boat back in. As professional yacht crew we'd joke about white nuckle Captains clinging to the wheel whilst screaming at their crew. Captain and Helmsmen are not nccesarily the same.

[@abettermousetrap]

well done...

[@CaptMarkSVAlcina]

Hi, sorry to say this, but when you let go going a stern to go out to sea you should watch what you did, having the rudder hard to starboard and the yacht hitting the wharf. You did say to your student to look at the vlog before. Going out me be you should .

[@gurras.45]

Mostly good advices, but you´ve got the lines a bit wrong. A spring line always runs from either forward or aft and towards L/2. A head line runs ahead from forward. A stern line runs astern from aft. Perpendicular lines are called brests - at least this is the international nomenclature used on merchant ships (where I´ve been an officer for 20 years). Lines attached around L/2 could/should normally be avoided if you ask me, and a quarter line can be much more handy than a stern line when docking on a windy day! Brgds GS

[@tobiaskarlsson9771]

What is the reason for avoiding attaching a boat at "L/2"? Wouldn't you agree that what applies to a merchant ship may not work as well for a 'small' sailboat. Due to the curvature of the sailboat and the positioning of dock cleats, running a 'spring line' to the bow and stern may cause concerning chafe points.

[@corvavw6447]

Met respect: maar als je hier iets moet leren om met je boot te gaan varen! Neem een cursus ,autorijden doe je ook niet zomaar. 2a3lesjes en wat theorie 🎉😊good luck.

[@danielejosse5128]

very bad ...from Jack Croatish skipper

[@websterlighthouse5551]

The cleat hitch should start at the horn furthest away from the cleat on the boat. Otherwise it may snag. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZKpap98o5V8pNk

[@SavvySalt]

agreed. That's what I'm trying to get at here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2fEg2NpqsuZr9k

[@garryriding5106]

yet another video highlighting the differences between british / european terminology and the american terminology... wow, springs are for springing the vessel, either bow or stern. Also we are taught OXO for tying off... because we are looking for the lines to bite, and hold. I guess i shouldn't mention your strange choice of IALA buoyage, which is the exact opposite of everywhere else... Its almost like someone meant it to be ???

[@SavvySalt]

I went down the OXO vs. OXH rabbit hole when I shared this with r/sailing: www.reddit.com/r/sailing/comments/5j6hc5/everything_your_skipper_wants_you_to_know_about/dbeg3se/ I learned a bunch of things like: terminology differences are tricky :) I did appreciate the turn of phrase "line rigged for slip"

[@TaylanYalniz]

👏⛵️👏⛵️👏

[@eddiejohnson5183]

If you use a cleat hitch on a Yachtmaster exam you will fail. It may be too loaded to release in a hurry.

[@VictorSanchez-nm5fs]

As

[@claywebb8199]

I've never seen such a simple task made so complicated. I'd hate to have to listen to you explain how to make a cup of coffee, it'd be stone cold by the time you finished!