MacGregorSailors.com

NiceAft wrote: ↑Tue Oct 21, 2025 3:28 pm Take your pick.

Ray, the first two are correct - and in the first one the guy does a really nice job of showing how it's done.

HOWEVER.... that last guy does it incorrectly. Look again.

Looks like it’s time to shame me; let me have it.

It's not just me ... I have to re-train my kids every year.

NiceAft wrote: ↑Wed Oct 22, 2025 4:17 am Looks like it’s time to shame me; let me have it.

NiceAft wrote: ↑Wed Oct 22, 2025 4:17 am Looks like it’s time to shame me; let me have it.

No shaming intended!

All in good spirit.

I need to call anyway.

I'm okay with taking a dozen wraps around a cleat if that's what you do.

However, I see $100k wake boats tied up with ski ropes and carabiners. If only their insurance carriers knew.

Thnak OP. This is a very informative and timely discussion.

I have been tying my docklines and they look like many of the one you've called out.

Even though I always go around the far horn, I still get a locking line condition because I tend to make three full turns, not just two (as he does here at mark 3:17).

NiceAft wrote: ↑Tue Oct 21, 2025 3:28 pm

I always assumed the locking condition was a good thing, especially for long-term docking.

I will mend my ways.

DaveC426913 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 22, 2025 10:43 am Thnak OP. This is a very informative and timely discussion.

I have been tying my docklines and they look like many of the one you've called out.

Even though I always go around the far horn, I still get a locking line condition because I tend to make three full turns, not just two (as he does here at mark 3:17).

NiceAft wrote: ↑Tue Oct 21, 2025 3:28 pm

I always assumed the locking condition was a good thing, especially for long-term docking.

I will mend my ways.

A cleat hitch has three primary functions.

1. It should hold the boat securely. One wrap around the base of the cleat will hold the boat.

Additional wraps around the base do not hold it more securely and will work against #3 and #4.

2. It should not come loose until it is supposed to. The two opposing wraps around the horns of the cleat keep the line from moving around the base. Regardless of the motion of the boat and the dock line the wraps will neither loosen nor tighten.

Additional wraps around the horns do not make it work better but it does work against #3 and #4.

3. It must come loose when it is supposed to. When properly made, the loops around the horns only see a small percentage of the load that the line around the base sees they can be released quickly with one hand and no amount of load on the lower part of the hitch can cause it to "lock" or tighten to the point it cannot be quickly released when desired.

Additional wraps around the horns require more time to untie without adding to the effectiveness of the knot. Most of the time this will not matter but the main reason for not using additional wraps is that it works against #4.

Additional wraps around the base tend to lock together under load slowing down or sometimes preventing the line from being released. This is usually just an embarrassing inconvenience but it has the potential of being a safety problem for you or boats around you. It also works against #4.

4. Docking etiquette.

You may not be the only boat that will need to be tied to the cleat. It is not unusual for more than one boat to be tied to the same cleat. If you "use up" all of the space on the cleat with extra turns around the base or horns you may make it impossible for a second boat to use the cleat at the same time.

It also makes you look like a landlubber and tarnishes the high esteem that MacGregor owners command throughout the yachting world.

The only question remaining, of course, is what does one do with the remaining twelve yards of line?

I thought 9 yards was as much as anyone was allowed to have in one piece, you know, "The whole nine yards".

Be Free wrote: ↑Thu Oct 23, 2025 2:00 pm I thought 9 yards was as much as anyone was allowed to have in one piece, you know, "The whole nine yards".

.

DaveC426913 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 23, 2025 12:44 pm The only question remaining, of course, is what does one do with the remaining twelve yards of line?

Strange,

Just noticed your join date; welcome

Much to say. Just not sure where to post my saga.