Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

[Proselect]

I did a search on some docking info but didn't find a whole lot. I would like to start a thread for people to include any advice, tips, and/or tricks they have when docking a boat. I have quite a bit of boat experience but still find myself in situations where I get nervous about hitting the dock and getting dock rash. Now that I painted my boat and its fresh and new again it makes me even more nervous. Please post any advice you would have when coming in and going out of docking areas and loading and unloading to keep the boat protected. Especially in windy situations.

I can start with I use boat fenders and I bought 3 brand new ones now to hang over the side of my 16 foot deep V fishing boat. Is three enough or overkill?

I have also found that when coming into the dock that when you get to the speed that looks just about right, slow down some more, its still a little too fast.

Post up your tips!!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

Well first you need more info about your environment--do you have current and wind? Are you docking alongside or bow or stern in? floating dock or pilings on a fixed dock? A lot of this pertains to mooring.

A 16' boat is small enough that you can use your boat hook and hands for a lot of the process; not so with larger boats.

Practice practice practice, in varying conditions and directions, where no one is watching. Start by approaching a soft item like an anchored bouy from several direction.

Here are two general comments:
First it is often easier to dock against the wind/current than with it. That seems counterintuitive but it's true. It's a big factor if your docking includes ferrying (side-slipping on wind or current).

Second is to control your speed. You want to dock so you avoid using your reverse as a brake. Practice so you can come in and land with a gentle nudge (or 3" off, even better) with no reverse. Reverse should be your emergency brake for when you misjudge, not standard procedure. Few boaters understand this. But you can use the reverse to snug up, especially on larger boats.
To approach slowly, don't use idle, use neutral. Approach from an idle, drift in neutral until you are several feet away and almost stopped, then bump in and out of forward for the final approach.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

Never approach a dock at any speed greater than you're willing to hit it

 

[PeteyDaMan]

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

Never approach a dock at any speed greater than you're willing to hit it

I may have to steal that one

 

[Philster]

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

Dock against the current/wind. if not practical, then learn how to reverse throttle to slow and counter your rotation and your approach.

I'd say the last few feet or more should be done in neutral, unless the seas/winds don't allow it.

If you are docking up to a finger dock and can broadside it, try to work against the wind/current so that you come in mostly broadside to it. If you are trying to stick the boat between four pilings and there ain't no finger dock, get a pole with a hook as a helped hand... or get a helper!

And... if you can't do it on pass 1, go 'round for pass 2. Wash, rinse, repeat as desired.

Here are some videos and help that you said didn't exist. Some links have multiple videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lti0HNk1aSg&feature=related

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...e=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=vid:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=wv

even more vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v21Ngw8aZL4

 

[diesel5599]

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

The biggest factor for me when docking is the tide. If its an outgoing tide I dock upstream if its incoming I dock downstream. I use absolutely no more throttle than I need to get the boat pointed in the right direction then idle it the rest of the way in.

When there is no tide its a lot easier because then I can pick a side. The problems start when everyone has already taken the optimal dock side and you are left to try to fight your way to the dock without drifting into the other boats.

Plenty of times that situation has led to a do over. There are also certain docks that I just won't use because they will tear the boat up too much. Passing boats will slam it into the poles, or the docks are missing their rubber coverings.

My boat is too big to use push poles, sometimes my gf gets stage fright when we are approaching and doesnt cast the dockline in time, then I'm left scrambling with the rear line, trying not to go to far and run into the ramp, and preparing to jump back to the helm and slam it into reverse if I miss the last mooring; too much fun sometimes.

 

[DianneB]

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

Another tip for docking: Make sure your boat is in good running order. Hiccups in tight spaces can lead to "Oops!"

Decades ago my first boat was a 26 foot steel hull cruiser, about 2.5 tons, that had been sitting for a couple of years. I knew there was a little condensation in the gas from sitting but .... no big deal, right?

I was the largest boat in my marina and the turn from the channel into my slip was VERY tight, almost requiring a 90 degree turn on the spot, which was a little challenging since the boat wouldn't idle - which required dropping the RPM, slipping it into gear, give a little shot of throttle, drop to idle again and slip it out of gear and raise the RPM before it stalled.

I managed this manoeuvre a number of times to make the 90 degree spot turn (with a crowd looking on to watch the big cruiser's first arrival) but when I was aligned with the slip and needed a little forward way, I goofed and didn't quite hit neutral ending up with a little more speed than I wanted and when I went to give a little reverse, the engine stalled. The steel hulk drifted into the slip at a slow walk, contacted the 2x6 on the main dock and gently pushed the main dock over a foot before it pushed back - leaving a nice little V in the 2x6 to mark it's berth.

Needless to say, despite all the fancy throttle work to make the turn and slip in so gently, there were numerous comments about "women drivers"

 

[Bondo]

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

Never approach a dock at any speed greater than you're willing to hit it

Ayuh,... It's Always Approach the dock at the speed you Intend to hit it at....

 

[ftl900]

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

You want to dock so you avoid using your reverse as a brake. Practice so you can come in and land with a gentle nudge (or 3" off, even better) with no reverse. Reverse should be your emergency brake for when you misjudge, not standard procedure. Few boaters understand this.

Thanks for the advice... I'd never heard that before, so I'll have to start practicing. I've always come in at 3-4mph and then bumped into reverse to scrub the last of the speed. AND I've had a few "bumps" doing it that way too.

 

[rthomas]

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

I think the most important thing is knowing the wind and current and knowing how your boat reacts to them, second is trying to use the wind and current to your advantage when selecting a potential tieup. When approching a dock I get the speed down to 1/2-1 mph engaging gear only when needing to steer, I try to have a pronounced approch angle maybey 15* or 20* and then as I get close I turn the helm into the docking side and engage reverse to straigten the boat with the dock, I find that this helps keep your side to side momentem while at the same time eliminating forward way. I dont know if reading this makes a lot of sense, but I boat a lot by myself and I rarely need help when docking. I also keep a rubber tipped boat hook handy when manuvering, its good insurance if you have a problem or if you mis-judge the situation. If I have passengers I will assign a line and a position to work from- ie. side rail, swim step etc.. and make sure they know how to tie a kleat. If everything is at your disadvantage wait, go around, ask someone on the dock for help, I dont like doing this because some people are stupid.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Advice, tips, and tricks for Boat Docking

One of the piers I often tie to has planks with about a 3/4" gap. I keep a running block (knot) in the end of the line, and can toss it across the pier, the line falls in the gap, the knot catches and I pull myself in.

Along these lines learn how to throw a coiled rope. It's not hard when you learn and you can hit a dock helper in the hands each time.