Boat 4DAT gear guide
Docking goes better with the gear already sized and led before you approach. Four lines that fit the cleats, fenders hung at the right height, and a boat hook within reach take most of the stress out of a busy fuel dock.
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This checklist explains what docking equipment a boat needs, how to size dock lines and fenders by boat length, and how to store them so they are dry and ready. Keep the inventory in Boat 4DAT so a chafed line gets replaced before it fails.
Nylon stretches, which is what you want at the dock. A common rule is 3/8 inch line for boats to about 25 feet, 1/2 inch to about 35 feet, and 5/8 inch beyond. Bow and stern lines run about two-thirds the boat length; spring lines run the full length or more.
Fender diameter, not length, absorbs the push. A rough guide is one inch of diameter per four to five feet of boat. Hang them so the widest point meets the dock edge, and use round fenders against pilings where a cylinder would roll off.
Set fenders and lead lines through the chocks while still in open water. The boat hook goes where the crew can grab it without leaving the deck. Approaching with everything ready means one person can dock most boats.
Any line that crosses a rail, chock, or dock edge wears there first. A chafe guard, or a short length of hose slid over the line, adds seasons of life. Check lines each spring for stiffness and broken strands.
Coil lines and hang them in a mesh bag or on holders so air moves through. Lines stowed wet in a closed locker mildew and weaken. A set left at your slip on holders means you arrive to lines already sized for the cleats.
Start with lines and fenders in the sizes above, then add the hook and storage. Buy dock lines with a spliced eye; a knot in the eye takes up strength and length.
dock lines
Nylon lines with a pre-spliced eye at one end. Nylon stretches to absorb the shock of a wake instead of passing it to the cleat.
Why it helps: Size by boat length: about 3/8 inch to 25 feet, 1/2 inch to 35 feet, 5/8 inch beyond. Carry four for a basic tie-up plus two spring lines that are longer than the boat.
See current options →fenders
Inflatable cushions that hang between the hull and the dock. Diameter, not length, is what protects the boat.
Why it helps: A rough guide is one inch of fender diameter per four to five feet of boat, with at least three fenders per side you expect to lie against. Round fenders suit pilings; cylindrical suit floating docks.
See current options →boat hook
A pole with a hook end for grabbing a dock line, cleat, or mooring pennant from the deck.
Why it helps: Choose one that floats and locks firmly when extended. A hook that slips under load will drop you the line at the exact wrong moment.
View on Amazon →fender lines
Short lines or clip-on hangers for hanging fenders from a rail or cleat at the right height.
Why it helps: Adjustable hangers let you reset fender height with one hand as the tide moves. Plain lines with a clove hitch work too, but the hangers are faster when the dock is busy.
View on Amazon →rope storage
A ventilated bag that keeps coiled lines together and lets them dry instead of mildewing in a locker.
Why it helps: Lines stored wet in a closed locker rot and smell. A mesh bag hung in the cockpit or lazarette keeps them ready and separates dock lines from anchor rode.
See current options →dock line organizers
Rail- or bulkhead-mounted holders that keep the lines you leave at your slip coiled and off the deck.
Why it helps: Leaving a set of lines at the slip means arriving with the lines already sized and led. Holders keep them off the dock where they get stepped on and soaked.
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Four for a basic tie-up (two bow, two stern) plus two spring lines to stop fore-and-aft surge. Carry one spare. Boats that raft up or tie in tidal slips need longer springs.
Using the one inch per four to five feet guide, a 24-footer does well with fenders around 6 inches in diameter. Go a size up if you tie to a rough commercial dock or leave the boat in a slip with wakes.
Nylon. Its stretch absorbs shock from wakes and wind so the load does not hit the cleats and hull as a jolt. Polyester is for running rigging where stretch is unwanted.
No. Trailing fenders get lost, damage the hull, and mark you as inexperienced. Stow them before you leave the dock and rig them again before the next approach.
Boat 4DAT
Keep line and fender inventory with the boat and note what your slip needs. Track your boat maintenance schedule, systems, and costs with Boat 4DAT.