Docking Aid

[Audiophobe]

Sometimes it's challenging to dock my pontoon.
Anyone ever heard of the "catch a toon" system?

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, it kinda reminds me of the barriers used to catch airplane on a WWII Aircraft Carrier. You should only need one of those if you face strong winds or currents.

Of course, on all boats, if you can get one line on a cleat, you can use the engine to complete the docking. Say you pull up to the dock, and select neutral, and move to get a line on the bow. By this point the stern has drifted away from the dock.

Put the motor in reverse idle, turn the wheel right, and let it pull itself back to the dock.

Alternatively, if you get a line on the stern, put the motor in forward idle and the bow will move to the dock.

 

[Black58]

I use my brother for most jobs like that. He's fell in the water a dozen times in fifty years!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Learn to pilot your boat.

 

[Audiophobe]

Learn to pilot your boat.

I use my brother for most jobs like that. He's fell in the water a dozen times in fifty years!

Yes.
My wife is the rope master.
I have searched and see this is a common issue.
Obviously we are docking and enjoying our boat. Just looking for something that makes the end of the trip easier and maybe even let me do it solo.
I have found there are other devices available. If interested I can post.
I will continue to look.
Thanks!

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, if you have someone to attach a line to the boat, you should not have any issues, nor should you need that "crash net".

Once you get a line attached, use the engine to "walk" the boat to the dock.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I trailer and dock by myself, zero assistance. Practice, take the time to learn to be a good operator, that is part of owning a boat.

 

[Audiophobe]

I appreciate all your advice but I use the boat and enjoy it.
I was asking about how to make docking a bit easier and if anyone heard of or used an aid of some sort.
Thanks!

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I appreciate all your advice but I use the boat and enjoy it.
I was asking about how to make docking a bit easier and if anyone heard of or used an aid of some sort.
Thanks!

Please avoid public landings.

 

[cyclops222]

Docking and UNDOCKING alone. You have to have a TOOL to ALWAYS be reliable. When you are in wind and wave conditions !!
I have 2 excellent AIDS. I control the docking with them completely.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, you said Wifey was line master. If she cannot cleat a single line when you approach the dock, she needs more training.

 

[southkogs]

@Audiophobe - I edited your first post. It is against the rules to directly post to a website that sells boating accessories and such.

Welcome aboard.

 

[Audiophobe]

Docking and UNDOCKING alone. You have to have a TOOL to ALWAYS be reliable. When you are in wind and wave conditions !!
I have 2 excellent AIDS. I control the docking with them completely.

 

[Audiophobe]

Geez!
I just asked if anyone had experience with docking aids. I said we use and enjoy the boat but it's challenging with windy conditions.
Thanks for the replies!

 

[Audiophobe]

Gee, you said Wifey was line master. If she cannot cleat a single line when you approach the dock, she needs more training.

Geez!
I just started this post to ask if anyone had experience with docking aids!
I said we use and enjoy our boat often but it can be challenging in windy conditions.
Thanks for your reply!

 

[airshot]

Nope, we don't use docking aids or other devices, we use and hone our skills and if we use the same dock all the time, we make that dock user friendly. Like loading a boat on a trailer....if the trailer is set up properly, loading is easy, if not setup properly then it isn't....

 

[Chris1956]

The problem with using a docking aid like that crash net, is that you only have it at your dock. There will be occasions where you want to tie up at a dock without them, say gas dock, repair dock, restaurant, friend's house.... Wifey and you will therefore still need to know how to do that.

In my mind, that makes the docking aid a step in the wrong direction, from learning how to dock without it. JMO.

 

[Dubed]

Back when I had my 35" and 46" boats at the marina (and had my own slip) we had a hook attached to the piling at shoulder level while standing on the boat. We would hang the spring line off of it and as I pulled into the slip, the wife would grab it and loop it on the mid cleat. Once that's done, you now have full control of your boat. Perhaps something like that would work for you. Whenever we docked in Newport or the Vineyard, etc. she was now in the habit of getting that spring line on immediately which makes a successful landing every time.

 

[Grub54891]

I know the pain. I was docking by myself and the wind was rather strong. Normally i throw the long line at the stern and grab the cleat, I missed. Second throw was a miss also, and the motor quit for some reason. by the time I had a good throw for the third time I had drifted away to far and had to jump in and drag it back to the dock. 30 yards isnt easy!. I have to improve my skills, but the motor needs some attention also.

 

[Scott Danforth]

with a collapsible boat hook...... before you get near the dock, deploy the fenders.

as you idle up to the dock, extend the hook. as you get close, shift to neutral, grab the boat hook and catch a cleat.. if no cleat, catch the other side of the dock..... if your pole doesnt reach.... cant help there.

then jocky forward/reverse as needed to pull/push the boat as needed to bring to the dock.