What do you do with docklines?
 

We have a 1984 Hunter 27 in a floating pier slip. We are in what i would call a "single" slip as we have floating finger piers on each side of us. The slip cannot be shared with another boat. Now for the question..... when leaving, do you uncleat from the dock and take them with you? or uncleat from the boat and leave them on the dock? We're talking about going out for a day sail. Thanks for all advice. Dale

Unless going on a week long cruise, we leave ours at the dock. So far none of them have grown legs.

You can leave your lines on the dock, where they'll be ready for you to pick up when you return. It's a bit simpler to get the boat tied up when the lines are already in place.

However it would be a good idea to have a set of "traveling" dock lines stowed on the boat in case you need to tie up somewhere else for a planned or unplanned stop.

Exactly. We lost our engine on July 4 and sailed back to the marina. Because I thought it might helpful to be pulled into our slip with some of the lines, I attached a spare line to the bow cleat. While I didn't need to use it, having that option, or the option of tying up somewhere else if necessary or advisable is very comforting.

But I have to tell you, if you're doing mostly day sailing like us, being able to back or pull into your slip and just put on the lines is awfully nice....

Same here--we leave a permanent set in the slip. They are all tied at the proper length, so all we have to do is drop the loops over our cleats. But we carry a full second set in case we want to dock somewhere else, or need the lines for some other purpose.

Exactly what Second Wind said.

Seconded
 

I agree with everything everyone said and also about having a second set on board. I was once at a fuel dock that had no dock lines and had to lend some to another boat when they'd left theirs at their own dock.

I've only been to two fuel docks. One had dock lines (my home marina) and one did not. I don't know which is typical.

Definitely the way to go.

I have two long and two short aboard the boat too, and they are different colours. So when getting ready to dock, when I use a long spring line around the athwartships cleat, we just grab a blue line from the locker. For a bow or stern line, black. Our other spare lines are white. Took a while to arrive at this arrangement but it works well.

I have two sets. Always keep a full set on board. Will take half of the dock lines and leave half. This allows us to come in with a spring line and a bow line. Then the ones on the dock are connected.

Dock lines stay at the dock, transient lines stay on the boat... Full set and more, never too many options when visiting unknown docks.

As for fuel docks on the Chesapeake, most will have lines & fenders/pads installed.