A bit about boat chocks ... and bits.

Chocks are used to prevent dock or anchor lines from chafing as they pass over the rail of a boat. They are smooth U-shaped devices that lines pass through from a cleat or Samson post to the dock. They can also be used with anchor lines to guide them over the bow. West Marine offers three basic types of chocks: Skene chocks, normal chocks and closed chocks.

Types of Chocks

Skene chocks are asymmetrical, with jaws that are angled in the opposite orientation of the direction of line travel to reduce the chance of the line popping out of place.

Normal chocks are symmetrical and can be mounted on either side of the boat.

Closed chocks encircle the line to prevent it from popping out of the jaws, but force the boater to pass the line through the opening. The line cannot be dropped into place.

At West Marine, you will find chocks made from various materials including stainless steel, brass, chrome-plated bronze, chrome-plated zinc and a composite material called Marelon.

Now, for the Last Bit

Sometimes referred to as a bollard or mooring bit, a single Samson post can be used in lieu of cleats. Samson posts are often seen on trawler style boats. One of the main advantages of Samson posts (when installed on the foredeck of a boat) is that they enable both port and starboard dock lines to be secured to a single piece of hardware. West Marine offers a stainless steel Samson post which includes a predrilled backing plate.