[mycroftholmes]

This article was co-authored by Travis Lund. Travis Lund is a Sailing Instructor and the Executive Director at the Treasure Island Sailing Center, a non-profit community sailing organization that conducts sailing instruction based in San Francisco, California. Sailing since he was six-years-old, Travis has over 15 years working in sailing operations and instruction and has pioneered a coaching platform that combined traditional coaching with multi-camera video support. He studied English at Michigan State University, where he was on the sailing team.

[greigmare64]

There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

[baloney]

This article has been viewed 56,662 times. [links]

[zzz]

Attach your fenders to the boat, not the dock, to the lowest possible cleat or stanchion, so they hang just above the waterline. Fenders tied to the boat protect the hull as the tide rises and falls because they are always at the point where the hull would contact another surface. You can easily adjust boat-tied fenders when you're on board. Tying the fender on with as little line as possible prevents a large arc and a swinging fender that can flop onto a dock or deck, or be squeezed out of place and expose the hull to damage.

[dconradcopelande]

Fenders are as good as their name -- they push the pristine hull of your precious boat away from any object that might ding, scratch, gouge or scrape the paint, fiberglass, brass or wood. Put out your fenders when tied up at a dock, rafting with other boats, transiting a lock, or keeping the dinghy from clunking into the mothership.

[thefranksteak]

Tie two half-hitches in the line once the fender is adjusted, to prevent slipping when the boat moves a lot or the knot is under stress. A half-hitch is a simple, basic knot -- the kind you made without thinking when you were a kid. Bring the working or bitter end of the line around the rail and over itself. Then tuck it under itself and pull it taut. Repeat to make two half-hitches. Your fenders will still be there, keeping your boat off the dock, when you get back from dockside errands or dinner. [links]

[gebler]

This fender is based on a basic crown knot. When tied one after the other, a crown sennit is formed, and it makes a beautiful pattern. more

[Jevens55]

1. Start by taking 15 feet of rope and folding it in half.

[nicoleblair112]

1. Holding the fledgling fender in front of you, take any strand and form a small open loop, or bight, with the "elbow" pointing left. more

[cardinalshark]

1. Rope. 3/4" hemp or manilla rope should work fine. Other ropes will work, but these are most authentic and hold up well to sunlight.

[mnem0sys]

If you’re mooring parallel to the dock, you’ll need to use one bow line and one stern line to secure either end of your boat, and two spring lines to keep your boat from moving back and forth. Unless you’re docking for an extended period of time or in rough conditions, these four lines are typically enough to safely tie up your boat.

[hamiltontak]

For more information on tying a cleat hitch, check out another installment of Boating 101, How To Tie a Boat to a Dock Cleat. [links]

[cryptical]

#3 Adjust line configuration for your boat or dock

[TrafficTiger]

If you’re docking in a slip, you will need to tie more lines than you would at a dock. Boats are often backed into slips, meaning that you’ll have the dock on one side and along the stern, and a piling on the other side of your bow. Use the lines to position your boat in the slip so it doesn’t hit into the dock or the boat docked in the other half of the slip. more