Most of us will not allow a stranger to take the wheel of our most prized cars, and as boat owners, it is even more unthinkable for us to step back and let strangers (or relatives for that matter) take control of our boats. But that is exactly what happens when we approach a dock and toss a line ashore to the person who is hanging around if that end of the line doesn't have a loop on it.
Essentially, when a docking line is affixed to the boat in such a way that it can't be adjusted - a loop slipped through the center of an onboard cleat, for instance - the control of your boat is transferred to the person on the dock holding the other end of the line.
I've watched many skippers struggle to get their boats tied up while hollering instructions at the attendant or family member standing on the dock. These skippers will instruct the dockhand to "ease off" or "take up on it." But if this person walks away, or eases off or takes up at the wrong time, the ensuing disaster-as the local authorities or the insurance company will quickly inform you-is still your fault.
Any line that goes ashore should have a loop on it, and the only request you want to make to the onshore person is to please place the loop around a particular cleat or piling and then step back. You or your crew, under your directions, should adjust the line until the boat is safely tied up. Do anything less, and you might as well hand over your helm station with the line, because effectively you've lost control.
When you're shorthanded and want to maintain control of the boat while casting off, take a breast line cleated amidships and make a simple loop around a dock cleat or piling, then cleat it aboard. Snug the boat up tight, retrieve bow and stern lines, then get aboard and free the standing part.
This information taken from Seamanship, MotorBoating, March 2004
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