Tying up to a pole without a cleat on the dock

I use a lot of funky knots to accomplish this task. I was just wondering if someone could help me out with their knot. My set up: 15' rope with a loop at one end. I put that end on my front cleat. The other end is just rope.

I have had my boat leave without me and had a club member help me retrieve my ride.

I usually do one of three things. Tie a double overhand knot, pull the loose end and tie off to another cleat on my boat or put a clip like a carabiner clip to the end of the rope and just wrap it around the pole and clip back to the main line.

Bogey - get an I-Pilot or even better yet an MG Xi5. I drop my TM in the water, step on the dock and then send the boat out about 20 yards and hit Anchor Lock and then go get my truck. What is funny is to see people freaking out thinking that my boat has drifted off. I even had three guys in a boat trying to rope my boat one morning.

When I get on the dock again I whistle and start yelling "Come here Boy. Come to Daddy" while I am using the remote in my pocket. Boat slips up to the dock, I step on and off I go. I get a lot of strange looks!!!

Why don't you tie a loop on both ends of the rope. Run the one loop through the other around the poll then attach to your cleat.

That'd be funny to watch.

Use any number of hitch knots. Usually I'll double up the line to shorten it.

Are we seriously discussing how to tie a boat to a dock? hymmmm. Use a Palomar

Just wait til that day that it doesn't come back. I did it and the remote unlocked the spotlock and then wouldn't control the boat. All I could do was watch it as it floated away. Thought it was the batteries so got new ones and tried it again with the same result. I used to use it that way all the time now I can't trust it.

Yeah, have always been a little worried about that but have been doing it for years now and never had an issue. Especially with the Xi5. I have never lost spot lock while doing this or fishing. My old I-Pilot would lose the lock while fishing some times. One of the many reasons I have the Xi5 now.

Double half hitch
Clove hitch
Bowline

Thanks Karl - I like the Clove hitch

Simple knot. Double half hitch.

Sailors use a bowline knot...gives you a secure knot that is always easy to untie..

http://www.animatedknots.com/bowline/

This......

Bogey,I would just put me in the boat with you...problem solved !

1. Rope around the pole
2. Through the loop
3. Pull it tight
4. Tie rope end to cleat

Yes -THIS

Clove hitch or half hitches will work, BUT, a Bowline, in rigging circles, is one of the first knots you'll learn, is a VERY easy not to tie, untie. Practice it at home, LOL. I can tie one with one hand, LOL

I can do that!

I will practice the bowline also, just in case Jerry doesn't show up

Bowline man. Learn it, love it.

I would learn to tie the bowline unless you have plenty of money then I'd go with the I pilot. But to me rope is just a little cheaper.

How about putting a loop in the open end? Like so....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UracDq6QAz4

Get ya one of these and keep it in your boat:

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Dock-Edge-Portable-Cleat&i=33140


http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Dock-Edge-5-Insta-Cleat&i=22118

Cause he must be a Aggie.

Bowline: versatile, easy, can be learned using one hand only to tie it if one had to in an emergency situation . . . for a longer term tie.

But, if you mean to secure your boat while you run to get the trailer?

A slipknot. It can be tied in 5 seconds, released in 1 second.

Super easy to learn. This video beginning at the 30 seconds mark does about as good a job of showing the skill as any. I'd say you can master it in 30 minutes of practice then never forget it.

Brad

Slipknot

That's the 3 I use, and being an old boatswain mate those are some good knots....... :>)

open rod box hatch, take one end of rope out of box leaving most of the rope in the box. flip it over pole and drop back in box. Close hatch door.....