When leaving your dinghy at a dock, there are several things to keep in mind when tying it off. First, look to see how others are tying off. If the dinghy dock is a busy one, tie off leaving a long painter so that your dinghy can be moved aside as others approach. Keep your outboard down so that the blades of your prop can't rub against another inflatable. Take the tide into consideration. If tying off to a non-floating dock, make sure that your dinghy doesn't get trapped under it in a rising tide. You may need to use a stern anchor, along with tying off to the dock. And last, whenever disembarking from the dinghy, it's important that someone grabs the painter.

– Thomas Thiesen