What's the Most Important Cleat on your Boat?

Love the teaching concept. I've utilized this technique for years now because I saw it online somewhere. It's invaluable knowledge. Over 30yrs I've had 10 single screw boats and didn't really know how to confidently drive a boat until my last boat... my first new boat. Since 2019, I've obsessed in learning how to control and keep my boat ding free... never going to happen. But I am much more in control now. I've seen several of your videos and will recommend them to fellow boaters. Keep sharing the great information.

Thank you so much for doing such an amazing job explaining how and why on boating.

Agree! Learned from sailor Don Street yrs ago. So helpful and works to hold position for other lines to follow at your leisure.

Thank you for the video. Very informative. I've been a captain for 7 years now and I'm proud to say I've become an expert at docking boats. I've seen so many boaters and captains struggle by not using wind, current, fenders, and especially lines to their advantage. It only creates more anxiety which quickly leads to poor/frantic decisions.

Definitely have YOUR person on the dock. Learned that the hard way…

Just found your channel and really like your teaching technique! Very easy to understand and follow. Our new-to-us (last year) boat is twin turbo-diesel, 490hp each, tons of power and when put into gear it wants to GO. Absolutely cannot do more than VERY quick in-and-out of gear while maneuvering, and when going forward out of the slip we’re learning that in-and-out one at a time (stbd in-and-out, then port in-and-out, etc. ) allows for slower speed and more control and keeps the boat from surging ahead. We have a fairly narrow fairway, so when backing in, we’re learning that we have to look at conditions EACH time, make a plan before we even enter the marina, commit to the plan (go slowly, but not dawdle enough to allow the wind to get us), and then not be afraid to abort if things aren’t working right. Despite lots of years of boating between us, this new vessel is a whole new experience, and we NEVER stop learning. The boat will be back in the water from winter storage in 4 weeks, so this is a great time to watch videos like yours and remind ourselves how to do it. No substitute for being prepared, and it makes boating much more enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!

Newbie boaters in U.K. on a 30’ cruiser with single shaft screw and starboard prop walk. Our new mooring is on the port side, which is definitely hit and miss ....even without a breeze!😅 Binge watched most of your videos this afternoon...thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and making such well presented and comprehensive lessons. I am now filled with hope for the next time we’re at the boat - it will be a great learning day putting into practice your teachings! #2 mooring line is a light bulb moment for me. 👍🏼

Thank for your excellent commentary, This is a subject I preach myself and amazed at the lack of basic docking and handling skills. A good docking almost always starts off with a spring line. (What did Archimedes say: "Give me a place to stand, a lever long enough, and I will move the world") But in this case not a lever but a spring line. Not just any spring line…a magic spring: the one line that, all by itself, makes all the difference. I’m belaboring the point here because spring lines are the trick to easy docking. The key is to have the aft-running spring should run from a point on the boat that is about one third, or a little more, forward from the stern, not from amidships. With a spring properly secured first on the boat and running to a cleat or bollard ranging from about 8 feet (2.4 meters) to as far as your line (or crew) can run aft—exact position on the dock matters not one wit—you are docked. Doesn’t matter: if the wind is blowing you on or off; how long the crew takes to get the other lines on; if the helmsperson must leave the wheel to hand or throw another line to the crew on the dock. Once that magic aft spring is secured, everything else is just tidying up, with no urgency required.

A shoe string, Yes! But very likely a double-braided nylon shoestring! Good work here Capt!

Nice video! THank you.

Thank you!

Extrem cool!! Well explained

Line 2 can be either on port or starboard right? Since depends on the wind

click bate statement .. but I get you point.. I have to unteach so many novice boaters about that cleat because it's also the most over used Cleat when novice boaters should be not be using it first. especially when you get into the tonnage range of 40 - 100+. I don't have much experience on tonnage over the 200 range so and I the lighter stuff since you can basically pull about to the dock with man power yah Midas well just mid cleat because even if there's a better choice to be made it won't matter much anyway ... you just need any line tied. I really enjoy your channel and can see you at the head of the class teaching at a boating safety course. I wish I knew what you've forgotten about being on the water,,, I'm always learning

I added a mid cleat to my new boat because builder didn't. Just a bit behind pivot point.

Great instruction! Just found your videos. Please keep in mind, though, many of us captains and boat operators are women!

Great video. For a single screw 65’ yacht, what are your thoughts about backing into the wind on your way to docking and positioning with respect to line 2? Maybe that would add more control in that the bow could not fall off suddenly…

Very interesting, I will try it on my next trip. My issue is that may pop-up cleat is small and I cannot have a rope around it to do a figure 8. Any suggestions Captain ?

Makes sense...a line to the center of gravity

I will think that you are talking about being alone on the boat. And yes a boat on a trailer. That tells me the type of boat you are referring to. 15-20...24ft powerboat. With that I would kind of agree with you using the midship cleat. But with the boat getting bigger or with wind pushing you off the dock this midship cleat method will not work. Given that you are alone you want to use your stern cleat. As per your drawing you have room ahead so... Approach the dock parallel, while in gear dead slow and the helm on center-line, with your stern cleat line in hand you jump off the boat and make fast that line on the dock. With that done the engine will gently tug on the stern cleat and hug the dock, you can stay there all day long. Increase throttle if you have a headwind or mild off the dock wind. (or until you run out of fuel!). Now tie your midship as spring lines and your bow and you are done. That is called the Slocum method. If you have no room ahead then I agree with you, mostly: Come into your finger dock as slow as possible with the bow to midship section parallel to the dock (on sail in particular this makes a difference), power in neutral. Have both the midship and stern lines in hand, aim for midship to hit the very tip of the finger, run to midship and jump off the boat as early as possible tying midship line to the tip cleat on the finger dock, stabilize the vessel, walk the boat forward switching the midship line to the stern line on the tip dock cleat. Never pull the line directly from your hand (never handle a live line with no turn on a cleat or post, always have half a turn on a cleat for leverage and stopping power. Now you have only one situation that is challenging: If the wind or current is pushing you away from the finger dock. You might be lucky and the wind or current will be blocked by the big sailboat or powerboat next to your slip in that case its back to the previous method. If you have no luck enter your slip stern or bow first depending on your prop walk and use that to assist you. As with everything in boating there is not 'one' solution. Best of "Luck"!