Properly tieing a 16' boat to a dock for a week of dockage

[hotrod53]

I know its a stupid question for most.... but I've been a boat owner for only 4 years and I have never left my boat in the water overnight. Each time I use my boat I trailer it in and trailer it out. I'm going on a week's long vacation this summer and I'm taking the boat. The owner of the cabin says that I must use the "guest dock" that has cleats but no dockrail pads. Of course I've tied off when I'm going to get the truck for loading, just not sure if that type of a tie-off is good enough.

I bought (4) new 6" fenders and I currently have (2) 6' dock lines, I may need more?? Any advice to properly tie to a dock that (1) won't beat the snot out of my boat, and (2) won't come loose while I'm not around. My boat is a small 16" Sylvan deep V and I have only (2) cleats per side. Other questions... motor up or down I guess depends on depth of the water, cover it at night or not, I'm assuming cover it if the water is shallow enough that I can get in the water to snap it. I have (2) 6" fenders on the boat, I have (2) extra 6" fenders and (2) extra 5" fenders that I can fasten to the dock.

I'm actually looking forward to having the boat off the trailer for a few days. When I painted the trailer with the boat on it, I missed a spot or two up in the front inside of the frame rails, I also have a few spots that need touched up like the tops of the frame where the bow scraped it a few times on launch. This will give me an hour or two to touch up the trailer once its out f the water, good and dry, and I'm able to get to all of it.

 

[Grub54891]

Well that didn't work,the pic that came up is just a launch I was doing last week.

 

[Grub54891]

No Title

Here is some knots for ya. If ya search the app store for boaters knots,you will find more than you will ever need! I'd add a spring line mid ship to help hold the boat from rocking fwd and aft.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you will need longer lines than your 6' lines to use as spring lines. not sure if your vacationing on a river or lake

I have left the boat tied up for weeks on end, or just every night after coming in at sunset. the process is still the same.

with your setup of two boat cleats, (i will also assume only two dock cleats), I would use two bumpers and two spring lines in addition to your current two dock lines.
I generally tie the boat fenders to the dock cleats, and run a line down to the bottom legs of the dock. this keeps them from walking up in waves and giving you dock rash.
with the fenders secured, tie the bow cleat to the dock, tie the aft cleat to the dock, then use a spring line from the aft boat cleat to the forward dock cleat, and from the bow cleat on the boat to the rearward dock cleat.

 

[steelespike]

You very likely need more than 2 6 ft ropes. 2 bow ropes just long enough that they won't get tangled in the prop
if it falls in the water while underway. Stern ropes about the same length as they won't get tangled underway unless you back over them back over them
These could be used to secure the boat and may serve as a spring line.A good long loose line for an extra l;one spring line.
I have never really used a spring line but as I understand it it is to control the movement of the boat without making it too rigidly restricted.
If the dock has a lot of wave action from weather or boat wave action various components rope,cover,bumpers etc.
If there is a lot of wave action you may want to put the bow out.It should ride better and water won't splash over the stern.
If the water is quiet your probably all set with your little lines.

 

[Chris1956]

It really depends on the weather conditions. If it is always real calm, a couple of lines (bow, stern) is sufficient. If there is significant wind or waves, you will need bow, stern, 2 spring lines, and as many bumpers as you can deploy. Here at the Jersey shore, we use mooring whips, plus bumpers and at least 2 spring lines, plus bow and stern lines.

 

[JimS123]

You very likely need more than 2 6 ft ropes. 2 bow ropes just long enough that they won't get tangled in the prop
if it falls in the water while underway. Stern ropes about the same length as they won't get tangled underway unless you back over them back over them
These could be used to secure the boat and may serve as a spring line.A good long loose line for an extra l;one spring line.
I have never really used a spring line but as I understand it it is to control the movement of the boat without making it too rigidly restricted.
If the dock has a lot of wave action from weather or boat wave action various components rope,cover,bumpers etc.
If there is a lot of wave action you may want to put the bow out.It should ride better and water won't splash over the stern.
If the water is quiet your probably all set with your little lines.

You don't use ropes on a boat. When underway, the dock lines are removed so there is no possibility of hitting the prop. Line length is determined by the distance to the dock cleat, not the distance to the prop.

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

You don't use ropes on a boat.

Yeah... really....

and I don't let 'tools' on my boat. I wave bye to them as I drive from the dock. lol

 

[airshot]

It seems your tying up problem has been answered so I will comment on the boat cover. If you have items stored in the boat then it is always a good idea to cover, keeps things outa sight so less chance of a grab and run. You should be able to snap the cover in place with the boat in the water. Sounds like you have a custom fitted cover so start at the bow and work your way aft. Snap the aft corner furthest from the dock then climb onto the dock and snap the last corner by reaching from the dock. I did this for many years when my boat was stored in the water, not really that hard if you have a snap on cover.

 

[Outsider]

Jeez, some of you guys must dock on some really bad water and/or really tight slips. He's got a 16' boat, not a destroyer, and he's tieing to a dock. Two fenders (1 ea, fore and aft), two dock lines (1 ea, fore and aft) long enough to reach the dock cleats and snug enough to prevent unwanted movement, standard figure eight tie-offs. Use of a cover is another matter, altogether, but probably doesn't require construction of a boat house ... :facepalm:

 

[sphelps]

May need to consider tides if any .. Fixed or floating dock ?

 

[hotrod53]

duplicate, sorry

 

[hotrod53]

Its an upstate NY inland lake, I don't think that tides are an issue. Floating dock tethered to the shore.

 

[hotrod53]

Its an upstate NY inland lake, I don't think that tides are an issue. Floating dock tethered to the shore. Another question, how can I tie off and put the cover on, I guess I just leave it loose near the cleats.

 

[hotrod53]

Sorry for the duplicate replies, some kind of a computer burp that said it was an error....

Anyway, never thought about tying off of the bow eye and the rear loops, that solves the cover issue. Sounds like I need to get some longer ropes to do this. I have only ever used the cleats on top since its only tied off long enough to park the truck.

Again, pardon the dumb questions, it's just something I've never had to do in my 4 year infancy of boat owning. Next job.. research what a spring line is.