How should I tie this rope?

[amanphoto]

Currently - On the stern starboard corner of my boat (rope #2 in pic) is a cleat - I want have two 1/2" eye spliced ropes on it now. One going forward to a cleat on the dock and one going aft to another cleat on the dock. These are two of the 5 lines that keep my boat secure to my "L" shaped slip.

The other three ropes...
1. Port Side Stern - aft to dock
3. Mid ship - going forward (backup)
4. Bow - Right angle to dock



Question is...

I would like to take one line and put three loops in it measured to size so I can tidy up things and not have tails. Maybe an eye splice in each end to go over the cleats on the dock. But what do I tie in the middle of the rope to attach to the cleat on my boat. I was thinking about a figure 8 knot, but they say knots are not as strong as splices. Thoughts.

Additionally... My dock floats so I don't have to worry about water level changes. All ropes but rope #1 can be a fixed length eye spliced rope. Rope #1 pulls the boat away from the dock and the boat never rubs against anything (I do keep fenders deployed just in case). We enter our boat through the swim platform on the stern and that is why I don't have an "X" pattern on the back.

[Mycroft]

What about just tying a cleat hitch so the line goes from the loop on the dock cleat to the cleat hitch on the boat to the loop on the forward dock cleat.

[StuM]

Alpine Butterfly loop? Non jamming and takes the strain well in all three directions.

Alpine Butterfly Loop | How to tie the Alpine Butterfly Loop | Climbing Knots

[Cotemar]

Making your dock lines look like and M or W is the best method.

You can use a Bowline knot with an extra half hitch to make your own dock lines eyes on a line. Figure 8 knots will work well also.