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How to Tie Up a Houseboat

Tying your houseboat when you reach shore is one of the most important things that you will need to know how to do while boating. Securing the boat can help prevent injury to you and your passengers, and can prevent damage to the boat. It can be labor intensive to properly tie up a boat, but once its tied you'll be safe on shore from storms and the dangers of being on the water at night.

Things You'll Need

Rope
Anchor
Stakes
Shovel
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a spot on the shore to beach the houseboat. Look for an area out of the line of traffic. Choose a wide beach to pull on to, and steer clear of water hazards such as rocks and logs.
- 2
  Turn off the generator and approach the shore from the helm, or the front of the boat. Ease your boat up on the beach with the motors running between 800 to 1,000 RPM's. Do not turn off the motor until the boat is secure.
- 3
  Throw the ropes off the boat and on to the shore.
- 4
  Place the stakes or anchors down into the sand at a 45-degree angle with the back of the boat. Dig a hole 2 to 3 feet deep and wide enough to place the anchor. Drop the anchor in the hole and tie a rope to the anchor. Fill in the hole with sand. Hammer the stakes into the sand and tie the rope to the stake.
- 5
  Add a stake from the back center of the boat. Once all of the stakes are in place go back, untie the ropes, and pull them tight. Re-tie the ropes.

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