How to tie off to a cleat

Bring the rope back under the arm of the cleat opposite where you wrapped it the first time then over the top of the cleat. In a slip youll need to fasten your boat on both sides to keep it in place and stop it.

The simple proper way to tie off is a perfect cleat hitch.

How to tie off to a cleat. Proper Way To Tie Off To A Dock CleatWe get asked all the time what is the proper way to tie off a boat to a dock. Have you seen the number of ways that people tie a line. What knot do you use to tie up your boat.

The simple proper way to tie off is a perfect cleat hitch. How to Tie Off A Boat with Cleats Gorgeous Cleats. Tying off your boat using cleats is the most common way to do it.

Cleats are t-shaped usually made of metal and typically are found on the sides of your boat and on the dock itself. Position Your Boat Next to the Dock. The first step to tying off your boat is to get it in position.

Cleat Hitch Knot Tying Instructions Take a turn around the base of the cleat and then bring the line over the top of the cleat. Wrap the line back under the arm of the cleat opposite the first turn then back over the top of the cleat. For a halyard there may little harm in continuing in the same direction around the lower horn again.

However for safety a uniform technique is recommended. When Mooring Towing and Cleating a sheet. Always cross the center after the first two horns.

Therefore do the same for a halyard Cleat Hitch. Take your line to the cleat wrap the rope over the cleats base then bring it over the top of the cleat. Bring the rope back under the arm of the cleat opposite where you wrapped it the first time then over the top of the cleat.

Start with the figure eight. Finish it with a locking half hitch. Most people get the figure eight right but dont finish it with the half hitch.

If a rope gets stiff from long days and nights out in the open it can come undone without the half hitch so that part is crucial for keeping your boat secure to the dock. I use a chain hook with a length of nylon rope which has a splice on one end. In use the splice goes over one cleat the centre of the rope attaches the hook and the other end is made off on the other cleat.

I keep the chain on the windlass but let the chain out a bit so that all the strain is on the rope and shared between two cleats. Heres how David taught me to tie to a dock cleat now its second nature and I dont even think about it when we return to a dock. First loop the line around the cleat.

Continue to loop the line around until it crosses itself. Bring the line over the top of the cleat as shown. Around the end and over the top making lines on the top.

Follow these in-depth instructions to tie a cleat hitch. Take the line to the cleat wrap it over the cleats base then bring it over the cleats top. Bring the rope back under the cleats arm which is opposite where you wrapped it the first time then over the cleats highest point.

Now to tie a cleat hitch. Bring your line to the cleat and wrap it once around the base. Take the line over the top of one horn then wrap it under that horn.

Bring the line from under the first horn over the second horn creating a figure eight with the rope. Initially the rope must be led round the most distant horn of the cleat followed by a turn in the same direction round the other horn. Starting round the wrong horn increases the risk of a Cleat Hitch jamming.

After passing the rope around two horns of the cleat always cross over and make figure 8 turns afterwards. This is because the Figure 8 Turns lift the rope. To tie a cleat hitch.

If possible start with the cleat between you and what the line is pulling. Your boat if youre on the dock or the dock if youre on your boat. Wrap the line under the horn farthest from the load to take the stress off the line and make a partial turn around the base.

To tie the cleat hitch knot first loop the rope underneath the right side of the cleat hitch coming from the back left side of the hitch. Then loop the rope up under the left side of the hitch and bring it back over the hitch moving underneath the right side. This way when you pull the loop over the top of the flagpole cleat you can tug on the end and tighten the knot closed.

Pull loop over cleat top. This is the end step to tie off the cleat. Make sure the rope does not back out around the bottom foot of the cleat as you do this.

The amount of halyard on this demonstration is not a lot. How to tie a boat. You can tie a boat to a dock by fastening your lines to either dock cleats or if there arent any cleats to pilings.

In a slip youll need to fasten your boat on both sides to keep it in place and stop it. Fly Navarro and Capt. Terry demonstrate the proper safe way to cleat off a dock line when youre tying up a boat.

There is a right and wrong way to tie a rope on a cleat and the wrong way can be dangerous. Check out this simple how to video demonstrating the correct method for cleating a line on you boat.