How to control a large heavy boat with 1 dock line using a Slip Lock Cleat Hitch

[Cotemar]

How to control a large heavy boat with 1 dock line using a Slip Lock Cleat Hitch.

When helping a boat into a dock you should use a Slip Lock Cleat Hitch on the dock cleat.

With a Slip Lock Cleat Hitch your 1st mate or dock hand has full control of the boat.

• 1st mate or dock hand can pull in the line if the captain comes closer to the dock

• 1st mate or dock hand can let out some line out if you feel you’re too close to the dock

• 1st mate or dock hand can just hold fast with the line with little to no effort.

Once the captain confirms that the boat is stationed correctly.
The 1st mate or dock hand can fully tie the Slip Lock Cleat Hitch into a Full Cleat Hitch.
.
.

[StuM]

First time I've very heard a single turn around a cleat given a formal name.

Seems to be a first for Google too. A search on "slip lock cleat hitch" returns exactly one hit - this thread

And technically, I disagree your name.

1 It is not a "slip" knot - a slip knot is where the running end is doubled back so that a pull on it releases the knot:


2. It is not "locking" - letting go of the working end releases the line.

3. It is around a cleat.

4. It is not a hitch - to quote Ashley - "a hitch makes a rope fast to another object". See point 2.

Still, I guess 1 out of 4 ain't bad.

Added: And that's a good illustration of how NOT to tie a proper cleat hitch. Multiple weather hitches followed by a normal turn??? You've got it all bass ackward

[boatpoker]

Bonk !

Combination of bogus & bunk.

[StuM]

Oh yeh, before I forget. Misuse of the term "bitter end" too.

[YachtBroker]

Lighten up guys. Regardless of the terminolgy, this could be useful info to some boaters.

[Dave22q]

I guess I missed the novelty of this. I would expect any dock hand to take a turn around a pile or under a cleat to provide some mechanical advantage while allowing for adjustment. To me it is a non problem, once I have a line to a person on the dock the rest is easy. Get close, make the first line fast and toss a second line from the other end (typically the bow) of the boat. The I can step ashore set spring lines and adjust all.

[CaptRory]

Yeah...I'd call it a "cleat slide wrap" if it really need a name. To me, it's always been just belaying the spring line. Then going from #2 to #3, all you have to do is throw the actual hitch on. I'm not sure what's up with all the additional hitches.

[mkriley]

Originally Posted by CaptRory

Yeah...I'd call it a "cleat slide wrap" if it really need a name. To me, it's always been just belaying the spring line. Then going from #2 to #3, all you have to do is throw the actual hitch on. I'm not sure what's up with all the additional hitches.

the poster must be using polypropylene line from the dollar store, very slippery
mk

[sailing_gal]

Seems to me it is merely a turn around a cleat- duh!!!!!! I guess it is for those people who try to wrestle a dock line directly from the dock into hands- but do they survive long enough with both hands to be on a big boat?

[fatherchronica]

In my life I have come into many marinas and docks where it is a big deal that someone new arrived and had many, many helpful hands take the lines or " ropes", as some think of them, and tie us off according to their various abilities. I always thank them, and while introductions ensue glance at the cleats to assure myself I am not moving anywhere, then when they dissipate I retie what needs it and add a spring line or two. I remember a few really inventive cleating works of art, but I don't remember anytime that I was endangered by folks not knowing what they were doing. Of course tying up to an immovable object is probably the most benign knot tying you will ever use and when I am in the company of people I do not know I check their handy work before risking boat , life and limb to their abilities.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by fatherchronica

In my life I have come into many marinas and docks where it is a big deal that someone new arrived and had many, many helpful hands take the lines or " ropes", as some think of them, and tie us off according to their various abilities. I always thank them, and while introductions ensue glance at the cleats to assure myself I am not moving anywhere, then when they dissipate I retie what needs it and add a spring line or two. I remember a few really inventive cleating works of art, but I don't remember anytime that I was endangered by folks not knowing what they were doing. Of course tying up to an immovable object is probably the most benign knot tying you will ever use and when I am in the company of people I do not know I check their handy work before risking boat , life and limb to their abilities.

I am a single engine guy and have had two bad dockings over somewhere around 24,000hrs. of cruising. Both times it was people grabbing lines from the dock after being politely told not too. I am no longer polite.

[Stu Jackson]

It would be wise for many motorboat skippers to teach their wives how to do this. It used to amuse me watching small women try to haul the stern line of their hubbie's 30,000 pound boat to pull the stern closer to the dock after hubby dropped them off and then blew the docking maneuver.

It no longer amuses me, because it is quite possible that these women can get hurt or, worse, pulled into the water and the hubby wouldn't even know it because he's too busy bellowing but not looking.

One of the very first things we learned was how to use the line around a cleat. You use mechanical advantage. You cannot pull on a line and move a huge boat. You can hurt yourself. You can hurt your boat. You can hurt a neighboring boat.

Why the hell these dunderhead husbands don't teach their wives this basic technique is beyond me.

Doesn't matter what you call the thing.

[Djarraluda]

Originally Posted by sailing_gal

Seems to me it is merely a turn around a cleat- duh!!!!!! I guess it is for those people who try to wrestle a dock line directly from the dock into hands- but do they survive long enough with both hands to be on a big boat?

To be a tad more precise, it is actually only a half turn!
A full turn means it has gone the 360 degrees, which naturally means far more like 400 + degrees, but it has actually gone 'fully' around.
Ever wondered why a Round Turn and 2 Half Hitches looks like 2 turns initially?!
Sorry, blame the Royal Navy!
Roger

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

One of the very first things we learned was how to use the line around a cleat. You use mechanical advantage. You cannot pull on a line and move a huge boat. You can hurt yourself. You can hurt your boat. You can hurt a neighboring boat.

Why the hell these dunderhead husbands don't teach their wives this basic technique is beyond me.

Yep, Once you have a friction turn around the cleat, don't try to pull directly on the working end if you need to bring the line in. Sweat it in by pulling the bight sideways and then quickly taking up the slack around the cleat.

[Mike OReilly]

Coming into a dock with unknown dockhands I always insist (rather forcibly sometimes) that they put the line on a cleat. Amazing to me how many supposedly experienced hands will try and muscle our boat into the dock. At 30.000# I tell them it ain't gonna happen.

"Put a turn on the damn cleat! And for gd sake, don't put yourself between our boat and the dock!!"