T&T: The "RIGHT" way to tie up to a dock

[Peggy Carr]

Please forgive me for titling this post in a way which is sure to draw 
dragon breath from a large number of members -- I KNOW there is no 
"ALWAYS RIGHT" way to tie a boat up to a dock, but I'd love to get some 
input on GOOD ways to tie up and (perhaps more important) why.
For many years we were in a marina that had a fixed dock, short finger 
piers, and pilings that weren't always guaranteed to be above water. 
(Hey, the place DID have a lot of good stuff going for it!) We are now 
in a marina which has floating docks. Obviously with the change in 
situation the rules have changed.
What ARE the "rules?"

Peggy Bjarno
"Aqua Vitae"
1986 Albin 43
currently lying Baltimore
http://mvaquavitae.blogspot.com/