Final answer:
To bring and hold a boat alongside a dock, you can use a spring line connected to an intermediate point on the dock.
Step-by-step explanation:
When returning to a dock, using a spring line can help bring and hold the boat alongside the dock. A spring line is a line that connects the boat to an intermediate point on the dock, rather than directly to the dock itself. This helps to prevent the boat from drifting away from the dock or crashing into it.
To use a spring line, you would attach one end of the line to the boat and the other end to a cleat or piling on the dock. By adjusting the length of the line and the angle at which it is attached to the boat, you can control the distance and angle at which the boat is held alongside the dock.