Dock the boat single-handed under power at the T-head


  • When we are forced to single-handedly dock a cruiser, we don't have the luxury of assigning spring lines to handlers who would step off on our command and capture the cleats on the dock. 
  • Prepare 3 dock lines near midships: Spring, bow, stern
  • Approach dock with bow into the wind and stop the boat very close to the dock, fenders touching
  • Lasso one cleat from the boat (can use boat hook). Prefer the cleat closest to the end of the slip as you enter.
  • Consider setting up a bridle with forward spring line at the midship cleat and back to a winch. See the diagram.
  • Put the bridle line over the cleat and adjust length with the winch. You want to get the middle of the boat very close to the dock.
  • Disembark only after at least one line is tied
  • Leave the engine in neutral gear before stepping off
  • Bias the helm towards the dock as you step off
  • Step off at the midships with one or two lines 
  • It could be useful to route the end of the forward spring line to a midship cleat and put the end around the winch and handle it from the helm station. This will help keep the middle of the boat and stern closer to the dock. Then you can step off and secure the bow. For larger boats, this method works well.
  • With the aid of a winch and two attachment points on the boat, we can set up a bridle lassoed around a dock cleat and then tail the line from the helm.





If you are backing in, you could still benefit from a midships cleat.




Dock the boat under sail at the T-head, with crew

  • Follow normal docking procedure
  • Assign line handlers, get fenders on the dock side etc...
  • Roll in the jib in advance
  • Turn into the wind and luff the main but maintain enough speed to reach the dock
  • Get crew on dock to make the spring line and the stern line quickly and then the bow line
  • Once the lines are secured, take down the mainsail
  • The key to success in this procedure is judging the distance from the dock and luffing the mainsail just in time to slow down but have enough movement to get to the dock. Depending on the wind speed, the windage of that particular boat, this can take some trial and error. Each boat is a little different.