Multiple dock lines on little Yamaha cleats

[Tim in MD]

I'm about to install a pair of mooring whips at the end of my dock for my AR210. Since the end of my dock is 10' wide, I'll be tying up to the aft and midships cleats - won't use the bow cleat at all. I have a boat lift, but at low tide, I can't float my boat off the lift bunks, so the whips will be used when my boating plans don't line up with the tide timing. Boat will occasionally be on the whips overnight, but never longer than one night.

To use the whips properly, I understand I need to tie to each boat cleat: the line from the whip, a short line directly from dock cleat to boat cleat, and a spring line from the dock cleat to the boat cleat (i.e. lines that will cross each other like an "X"). So, I need to somehow get three dock lines onto each boat cleat. Using 3/8" line, I don't think I can do that - I don't think they'll fit, at least not securely?

I have an idea of tying a short loop of line on each boat cleat to make a ~8" diameter circle of line, and then tying the dock lines and whip line to that using bowline knots. The other ends of the dock lines would then be cleated to the dock cleats.

Does that make sense? Is there a better way? Is there a product out there that would help me out? Can I use small diameter lines? Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Troch1]

Use your bow cleat for one of your spring lines (ie mid-ship dock cleat to bow boat cleat).

Alternate spliced loop and tied on the same cleat.

 

[Tim in MD]

Thanks - good idea on the spring line - that solves the midship cleat issue. I'll still end up with 3 lines on the aft cleat, even if one or two are loops. I'll try it this weekend, but still seems like a lot to secure on that little cleat?