For manoeuvring, use figures-of-eight instead of loops

It may seem odd to use figures-of-eight instead of neater spliced loops or bowlines for bow and stern lines and springs, but there is logic behind it.

Say you’re springing out the stern. You’re happy that the stern’s out far enough to clear the boat behind and you instruct the crew to let go the bow spring as you flick the engine into astern. As you're pulling away, the line somehow gets snagged on the pontoon cleat.

With loops and bowlines, you have to wait until the tension is off the line to release the inboard end of the line and complete your exit before relations with neighbouring boats and their insurers begin to take a turn for the worse.

The thing about a figureof-eight is that you can release it under load. For static mooring lines, loops and bowlines are fine, but for manoeuvres, use figures-of-eight.

For mooring manoeuvres figures-of-eight are a better choice than loops or bowlines