Need help explaining tying boat to 4 Wood Pylons

[NewBoater]

As my name suggests I'm still new to all this boating stuff and still figuring things out as I go as this is our first boat we've owned.

At our house we have a pier and the 2 wood pylons at the end of the pier. Last year I just tied the boat to those 2 pylons and it worked out well enough for the year.

We have 2 more wood pylons a little further out in the water about 20 feet away where the last owner used to tie his boat to all 4 and the boat would float in the middle at all times rather than against the pier like I did it last year. Granted I have white protectors on the wood that are about 10 feet down the pylon and also used bumpers so no damage occurred at my pier.

Seems smart to figure out how to use all 4 for this year to keep the boat floating in middle and not rubbing against dock pylons (even though they have cushion protectors and I put bumpers down also).

If you wouldn't mind explaining to me the smartest knot to use for the 4 around the pylons and also in what order to do them. I'm guessing 2 farthest out in water first and use enough slack to be able to push back to pier but then where to go from there on tightness of the other 2, etc.

I might should get cleats for the pier and pylons instead of using the wood and wrapping it around (damaging wood)?

We use boatel mostly but have it home on weekends so this is for how I will tie it up on weekends.

Sorry for the newbie questions but any helps appreciated!

Maybe someone would even be willing to draw a little diagram for me of the steps and order to go in.

Thanks!

 

[GTBRMC]

Here are some good starter tips... Has a lot of info + illustrations, some of which should apply to your situation.

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2015/june/tying-up-at-the-dock.asp

 

[Bruce]

@Murf'n'surf, I believe this is within your expertise. I have done it but not great at explaining and likely did not do it well.

 

[NewBoater]

Here's a few pics of What I have if it help in the explanation. Thanks!

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Here's a few pics of What I have if it help in the explanation. Thanks!

How far apart are the 2 pilings out in the water?

How far are the pilings from the dock?


Was this other boat bigger than yours?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

My ipencil died

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I'm assuming this is not a tidal body of water........ if it is you'll need to change the 2 far lines to springs and move the aft starboard line to the aft port cleat.

 

[tdonoughue]

And I would use care to not overtighten the lines. Particularly tying off to 4 piers, if someone lays out a good wake going by (which I know they should not be doing, but one should plan for stupidity), you want enough play in the lines so that the boat can move up and down and not strain the lines or snap them.

As to knots, if you are going to leave the lines on the dock as @Murf'n'surf recommends, I would probably do bowline knots around the piers with the bitter ends and then use the looped ends of the lines on your cleats on the boat.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Now that I answered your question, I'll give you my opinion...... That's a lot of crap to go through to dock a 21' boat. Personally, I would tie it up in a traditional manner with bumpers between the boat and dock. My second pick would be to use dock whips to hold the boat off of the dock a couple feet to avoid bumper issues.

 

[tdonoughue]

I think in large measure it depends upon the conditions and how long you are going to be tied up for. Just for overnight during calm conditions, I completely agree with @Murf'n'surf . But if you are having a storm or going to leave it out there for a week or something, then the extra security of the 4-post approach may be warranted. When I have gone out for the weekend somewhere, I generally tie up with just 2 lines (a forward and an aft spring, usually--maybe one of them abreast if I can't get a good cleat position). Overnight I might throw on a third breast line (like midships). All with fenders appropriately deployed, of course.

 

[Bruce]

Are you on a relatively stable lake or do you have tides to deal with?

 

[GTBRMC]

Are you on a relatively stable lake or do you have tides to deal with?

Piggy-backing on Bruce's line of thinking... Are you in a protective cove or do you have to worry about significant wind / waves / wakes?

All these factors play into how aggressively you need to secure your boat.

 

[druppert]

I used to have a boat that was kept on tidal river under the same layout you're describing. The solution I found was to use a slide mechanism on each post. I attached a sketch to help explain the design but the premise is that the boat can move up & down on the bars while maintaining consistent tension on the post-side lines.

In the graphic, part A is a galvanized floor flange of whichever size you think is appropriate (I used 3/4"), part B is a galvanized threaded elbow, and part C is a galvanized threaded pipe at a length sufficient for your needs. Mine were 3' but that was to account for waves & tides of any combination I would reasonably encounter. I also fed a stainless steel ring around the pipe to latch the carabiner onto.

In my setup I had dedicated lines for the post side with a carabiner for quick connections. The lines were fixed at a length which allowed the boat to come within a foot of the dock. The dock-side lines were attached to a cleat and had about 2' of slack which was enough to allow the boat to move up & down but never hit the posts on the other side, no matter what level the water was. After installing the sliders I realized that the clearance I had between the posts and the side of my boat limited how much dock-side slack I was able to maintain which, in turn, limited the range of the system. Thus, the 3' slides could have been 2'. Best of luck to you in whatever solution you choose.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Looking at the op's photos on a larger screen I can see that one piling has the slide bar installed. I'm guessing that this is indeed a tidal waterway.

 

[Bruce]

Admitting to an embarrassing incident, once upon a time I tied our boat up to a similar peer in Biloxi, MS. I had lines on two pilings that were away from the dock similar to @Murf'n'surf's drawing. I assumed the lines looped around the piling would slide up and down with the tide. Unfortunately the stern starboard side line did not. I received a call from the Harbor Master that my boat was listing. When I returned to the marina I found that the boat was fine except that line was holding one corner of the boat in the air. I was unable to untie the line with significant load on it. My only option was to cut the line while standing in the boat. It all turned out fine but who knows what would have happened if the Harbor Master had not been watching.

 

[Bennie]

@Bruce - I feel your pain. I feel that everyone is watching every time I try to moor to a pier around here.

So screw it... I just put on a keel guard and beach the dang boat everywhere we go!!
Its a lot easier to wax the underside on the trailer at home than to have everyone staring you down as the wife stresses out because I can't seem to wrap my head around the incoming wakes and the labyrinth of lines, poles, and docks.

 

[NewBoater]

Guys I apologize for the delay have been working in the yard literally all day for eight hours. Trimming bushes everywhere and then loads to clean up and bag. I haven't had a chance to read all the posts yet but I just wanted to say that it is tidal where I live. I will read all of the posts and get some more thoughts tonight. Thank you all for taking the time to answer!

 

[NewBoater]

Guys you were awesome with all of the posts and help. We keep our boat in a Boetel so it's only home on the weekends and we are in the very back of a very quiet little Cove and we are at the end of the cove so there is no boats going fast to worry about at all (wake) or anything like that. We are at the very end of a canal and it's just quiet older neighbors.

Maybe it's too much for us to worry about using them. The old owners but was definitely bigger. Maybe I should just consider doing the whips you mentioned.

Knowing that it is tidal would you mind doing one more diagram letting me know what you think the best way to go is. I appreciate the help again so much!

 

[NewBoater]

I should probably install some cleats on the deck (thoughts?) as I usually just tie on to the pilings but seems like the rope is very lightly damaging the wood pylons a little every time

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Tidal water... then make sure the stern of the boat is in line with or just past the rear pilings like my drawing shows. Then X the stern lines, in other words switch cleats on the aft 2 dock lines. Dock side will attach to the left rear and piling line out in the water will attach to the right aft cleat. This will allow the boat to rise and fall without hanging up the boat ---- remember to give adequate slack to allow for tide change. This will be learned rather fast by watching the boat for a day.