Abstract: This invention relates to a shock absorbing docking spacer to space a tethered boat from dockside. It comprises an elongated body having two cylindrical sections moveable longitudinally of each other to define spacer length with one of said cylindrical sections being connectable to a boat and the other of said cylindrical sections being connectable to a dock. A resilient cord is connected at one of its ends to one of said cylindrical sections and at the other of its ends to the other of said cylindrical sections to be tensioned as the cylindrical sections move longitudinally of each other due to shock forces in use to reduce spacer length. The cord cord has a resilience as aforesaid to absorb shock forces on the boat that reduce the spacer length in use, and to reassert itself and restore spacer length when shock forces are removed.