Article: Loop the rope through the stern line, at the back of the boat, on the side furthest from the dock. Then, attach the forward quarter spring line, which is the line on the front, right hand side of the boat. Finally, secure the bow line, which is the line at the very top of the boat. Run the rope through the cleats on the boat to the cleats on the dock to set up the lines. There are 9 possible dock lines on a boat, however, you should only use 3-4 lines at once to tie up the boat. Using too many dock lines can cause the ropes to become tangled and actually make the boat less secure. Start by attaching the 2 stern lines at the back of the boat. Lay the lines over each other so they attach to the cleats on either side of the dock. Then, attach the 2 bow lines at the front of the boat, looping them into the cleats on either side of the dock. Make sure the dock lines touch both sides of the dock so the boat stays in place. Breast lines are located on the left hand side of the boat. They are short lines that extend straight from the boat to the dock. Though they require the least amount of rope to set up, they are not secure lines for tying up the boat as they are too short. They will also limit the boat's vertical motion, making them unstable when you step on or off the boat. A good rule of them is to always make sure the stern, bow, and spring lines are attached at all times when you tie up the boat, as they are the most secure lines. You then add a breast line if you'd like once the other 3-4 lines are secure, but this is not required.
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Use the bow line, stern line, and forward spring line for a short stop. Tie the boat with 2 bow lines and 2 stern lines for a longer stop. Avoid using breast lines alone to tie the boat, as they are not secure.