A boat docking aid in the form of a mooring apparatus (100) includes a handle assembly (110), a flexible member (120) coupled to the handle assembly and a clamp assembly (130) coupled to the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a longitudinally displaceable slider (114) mounted on the handle member. The slider is freely displaceable toward one end (1126) of the handle member and releasably engaged with the handle member against displacement toward the opposing end (1128). The flexible member forms a loop (124) with opposing ends (122) disposed in overlapping relationship and coupled to the slider for displacement therewith. The loop changes in size in correspondence with the displacement of the slider. The clamp assembly includes a passage (134, 134) through which a mooring line (30) is passed, the mooring line being freely displaceable in one direction, but releasably locked against displacement in an opposing direction.