Five Boating Safety Tips for the Timid Docker

Are You Terrified of Docking Your Boat? Take These Top Five Docking Safety Tips and Conquer Your Fears!

Introduction by 
William L. Gills aka Bos'n Bill

In two previous popular posts with video presentation, A Boater's Worst Fear - Docking and Example of Boat Docking Finesse! we recognized docking as a major cause of apprehension for some boaters and then demonstrated how it's done with confidence and apparent ease.  The following article by Barbara Day, provides some practical advice on docking to quell one of a boaters principal fears.



Article by Barbara Day 

While many boaters boast about being great captains, only a few can claim to be masters at docking.

Just like learning how to operate and steer a vessel, docking is another essential skill for all boaters. Like parallel parking with cars, however, docking is something that many new boaters are very uncomfortable with, some terrified of.  It takes a lot of practice and time to become skilled at anything - and docking is no exception.

Here are some helpful hints for those who don't want to ruin their expensive toys when they’re finished on the water.

1) Slow and Steady

Slow and steady wins the race, but it also leads to successful docking. It is never a good idea to approach a dock at anything over a turtle's crawl.

Lower the boat's speed as much as possible, but ensure that it is still possible to steer and maneuver. If the boat is approaching too quickly bow to, go into reverse to stop the acceleration away from the dock. Just the reverse is true when maneuvering stern to.

2) Watch the Wind

The wind will surely affect how the boat handles when docking.  To determine which way the wind is blowing and how hard, pay attention to the flag, pennant or burgee on your boat or the flagpole at the dock or other boats. While the current also causes the boat to move in a certain direction, it is more likely that both the wind and current are going the same way.

For a wind that is blowing against entry, it is easiest to go head-on into the breeze until the last moment to prevent being pushed back out. When the boat is an ideal distance away, turn at a sharp angle to align the boat with the marine dock. When the wind is blowing the boat towards the dock, simply stop the engine or put it in neutral with the boat parallel to it, and let the breeze take the boat in.

3) Go with the Flow

The water current behaves much like the wind, but it can cause more of a problem because it bounces back when it hits a barrier. This can throw off timing and planning, so watch the waves, and study its patterns before making an attempt to dock.

4) Pay Attention to the Surroundings

Docks can be tight and filled with other boats, so make sure to pay close attention to the amount of room surrounding the boat. The positioning of other docked boats can greatly affect the difficulty of docking.

When maneuvering into a narrow space with a single entryway, make sure there is sufficient room when turning the boat to avoid colliding with the dock or another vessel.

5) Prepare the Boat for Contact

When approaching the dock, be ready to use the stern lines and bow lines. Timing is key during docking, so the boat needs to be tied down quickly and correctly.

Remember to also attach fenders to the boat to shield it from colliding with the dock. Concrete docks can cause extensive damage on impact if they're not equipped with dock bumpers and pads.

Boat Docking Video: See How It’s Done In a Small Boat
Same tips apply for larger boats.

There you have it, Five tips that should reduce your anxiety about docking! Have any tips of your own? Please share in a comment. Want more info?  Here’s some additional boat docking detail from Boat/US.   

Article by Barbara Day, 

Contributing author and experienced boating enthusiast.

William L. Gills aka Bos'n Bill, webmaster of this site, is the author of the book Lubber's log, published by Llumina Press; a boating journal and adventure story of the author's first time experiences in the preparation, maintenance and piloting of a new, unfamiliar boat. You can visit his website here.

              

Example of Boat Docking Finesse!

Introduction by William L. Gills aka Bos'n Bill


As I pointed out in my last post, "A Boater's Worst Fear", docking  a boat can cause a great deal of anxiety and trepidation to inexperienced boaters.  In the video below, "Coming Home With Care" a seasoned and practiced mariner shows how it's done with ease, confidence and finesse.


Coming Home With Care



William L. Gills aka Bos'n Bill, webmaster of this site, is the author of the book Lubber's log, published by Llumina Press; a boating journal and adventure story of the author's first time experiences in the preparation, maintenance and piloting of a new, unfamiliar boat. You can visit his website here.

A Boater's Worst Fear - Docking!

 

Introduction by William L. Gills aka Bos'n Bill

Next to fire, sinking and drowning you'll find docking a boat a major cause of apprehension and sometimes absolute, complete and utter fear, especially for new boaters.  I've heard affirmations such as, "I'll drive the boat, but please, please don't make me dock it!"  Some owners won't even take their boats out if the wind is blowing over 5 knots; they become "dock sitters" and remain" landlubbers". 

To be sure, docking a boat requires skill and finesse, especially in a stiff breeze and accompanying swift current.  Most overcome their trepidation with practice and experience.  This post addresses the tentativeness about docking we have all experienced at some time in our boating experience.  The video reminds us that docking a boat is never as easy as it looks to the uninitiated; the article by Tab Hauser how we can overcome lack of confidence with determination, daring and drill.

Stay tuned.  In my next post, I'll show you what artful docking looks like...  

Tab Hauser of Boating Times magazine, Long Island is one of many who has experienced the boat docking jitters. Here he offers a relatable story and some thoughtful advice.

In my first season as a boat owner, I found that after a perfect, stress-free outing with friends, I’d become anxious once we neared the marina. My anxiety arose because my lightweight 35’ Carver was so tall that it mimicked a sail in any wind. My slip was fairly narrow to my starboard side (less than four feet of room for error) while a consistent summer southerly breeze battled me at my beam. I envied those with a north side slip where the breeze carried them in.

I learned that I was not alone in experiencing docking jitters; many boaters with varying years of experience avoided venturing out in breezy conditions for fear of playing bumper boats in a tight marina. Capt. Ken Lavin saw the worst of it when he took a day off work to test out a boat he intended to buy. When he got to the marina, the owner would not take it out, despite the beautiful weather, because the winds were 5 to 7 knots and he would not dock it. (Ken was furious about this, but understood why there were low hours on the motors).

What Ken’s seller lacked was confidence, and the key to gaining docking confidence is practice. To overcome my skills deficit, I sat at the helm with the dual throttle and transmission shifts and just practiced in place.  Then I would take the boat out during the week when the marina was quiet and no one was staring, and run through docking maneuvers (when I upgraded to my 46′ Viking, I practiced early in the season on empty slips, docking stern in on both sides without fear of damaging other boats).  I then ventured out in a prevailing wind coming from the opposite direction.   As I practiced, I learned how tightly my boat could pivot; I practiced without the bow thruster, only using it as a helper at the end.  I found that the wheel is of no use at slow speeds with a twin screw, and all steering is done using throttle controls.

The general rule is “slow is good,” as you shouldn’t come in any faster than you want to hit the dock. However, there are exceptions, such as docking in wind or against a current. On our first big cruise, I was forced outside my comfort zone when the dockmaster told me to tie up on a slip that had a four-knot tide with a 15 mph wind in the same direction. I practically pleaded to stay at the outer gas dock for the night, but he would not allow it!   To get into the channel between the docks as the tide and wind pushed me on my port side, I had to keep the boat very close to the slips on the left and not be pushed into the boats aligned on the right.  As a novice boater, I was instructed to go slow, but my instincts told me that I would drift off course. So I summoned up my courage and goosed the throttle to keep on track rather than blow to my starboard. When I got in position, I did a hard tap on reverse starboard while doing the same forward to port, spinning me fast. Then, with another hard tap on both reverse throttles, I was in! I appreciated the hooting and accolades from the extra dockhands sent to help, and as they cleated the boat, I understood why there are bars in marinas.

That memorable situation showed me that the only way to gain boating experience is to get into difficult situations and learn to master them. Docking a boat can bring out the worst or best in any captain. With time and a willingness to practice, I eventually overcame my unease about being mocked at the dock and now look forward to seeing how close I can get to the side of the dock while reversing. While I nail it most times, I still totally blow it on an odd occasion. Of course, that is when there is no wind and everyone on the dock is watching!

Story & Photos by Tab Hauser of Boating Times, Long Island 

William L. Gills aka Bos'n Bill, webmaster of this site, is the author of the book Lubber's log, published by Llumina Press; a boating journal and adventure story of the author's first time experiences in the preparation, maintenance and piloting of a new, unfamiliar boat. You can visit his website here.