Crazy rope docking skills

Really? I do that quite frequently from the boat when the current is running and I'm alone. Can't get off until i get a few lines on. Though I don't put weather hitches on...
 
I want to know who started this weather hitch thing. When did this ever become a good idea - or even remotely necessary, for that matter?
 
Not a good way to secure the line. Difficult to remove when leaving. Clever but useless. Why can't they tie it properly? Don't know how?
 
During my time at the academmy we'd take USCGC EAGLE out for a week our first year and six weeks our junior year. While sailing mindlessly we'd practice this stuff. We called it rodeo belaying tying 5-6 hiitches and a weather hitch from eight to ten feet away to a belaying pin. Not sure I could do it up and down on a cleat in the dock. But given enough time... I'm sure itd get fairly easy.
 
Not familiar with the term but I think it's that half-hitch over the horn of the cleat. Looks pretty but if the "weather" gets really bad the line will tighten down and you may have to cut it loose.

On top of that you SHOULD put a round turn around the base of the cleat to start. That puts the strain on the whole cleat, not just the horn.
 
The guys at our local fuel dock stand around doing that. Just wrapping the standing part once the hitches are on the cleat works fine and comes off quick.
 
When I was I kid working at the marina I used to practice and be able to do this as well. The condition of the lines can and well make or break your success. Not as hard as it looks!
 
quote:
Originally posted by j-d

The guys at our local fuel dock stand around doing that. Just wrapping the standing part once the hitches are on the cleat works fine and comes off quick.

Click to expand...


It won't jam, either. Anyone with even a small sailboat is used to cleating lines that will come under heavy strain. That "weather hitch" is the LAST thing you want to do. The round turn is the way to go.
 
The second video shows how to save the "sanding" task before applying anti-fouling.
 
It's not that hard and definitely useful skill when single handing.

My peeve is the young dock workers who try to show off that they can get the half hitch in and then proudly repeat another 5 times.
 
I'd like to see them get those half hitches OFF just as quickly...
 
Purdy slick but just loop it over the cleat & pass it back to me please. That way I can flip it off & get away all by myself without getting off the boat. That beaching was good too. Must be rough on the shafts.
 
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