How to Use a Boat Dock Line

Rope may be the simplest of implements for a seaman, but to those unfamiliar with its use, a dock line can be a mystery. A dock line has a loop called an "eye" at each end -- this may be made of natural, synthetic or wire rope. Dock lines are used to tie a boat to a pier in a dock; placing dock lines and tying them correctly takes a bit of instruction; facility with dock lines only comes with practice.

Things You'll Need

  • Personal flotation device
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Grasp the eye on one end of the dock line. Move your hand to the point where the eye is spliced into the end of the line.

    • 2

      Inspect the eye and imagine it as the face of a clock -- the point where the rope and eye are spliced together is the 12 o'clock position. Wrap your thumb over the rope at the splice and slide your hand to the 3 o'clock position, so that you hold the eye and the part of the dock line nearest the eye.

    • 3

      Grasp the middle part of the dock line with the other hand, about six feet from the eye. Stand near the edge of the deck, with your feet spread shoulder-width apart for stability.

    • 4

      Toss the eye of the dock line over the bollard or cleat on the dock -- both are the hardware on the dock, to which you tie the vessel -- when you are less than three feet from the bollard or cleat.

    • 5

      Carry the dock line to a deck cleat after the eye is over a bollard or cleat on the dock. Wrap the line around the cleat at least three times. Wrap the dock line over and under the horns of the cleat in a figure-8 pattern to secure it.