Docking the boat

[smdavis1004]

So my wife and I did it, we finally purchased our boat and took it out just today. We got the tour and some handling instructions from the sales crew and when over the whole thing. We had a great time.....then I had to dock the boat. Prior to going out we practiced a couple of times. But when we came back, the slips were somewhat full. Probably because is 4th of July weekend, which is why we decided to go out today instead of this week.

So, the sales rep told me to call him if I got nervous at all and he would help me, which he did. I had to make two attempts but did fairly good on the second attempt. I know people were probably laughing at me. He has stated that if I come during the week he would be more than happy to let me practice out there until I got comfortable. The entire time we were out today, I kept thinking about docking.

So this a 23 foot bow rider, inboard/outboard motor - Can anyone walk me through a basic docking or direct me to where to go? I know, please don't laugh - I want to enjoy boating but I don't to be scared to death to doc. I was excited about the boat and probably didn't remember all the instructions provided to me regarding docking.

So I know point the bow to the dock at a 45 degree angel - how close do I get before turning the boat - Any suggestions would be helpful....

Also, someone out there please tell me that I am not the only person who has a hard time with this...I know I will get it, but I need a little help.

Thanks,
Stephen

 

[saumon]

Re: Docking the boat

You've got an honest salesman, listen to what he said and wait during the week to go practice with him. I understand you're pretty excited about the new rig but i can assure you that the 4th of july weekend is the WORST time ever to try a new boat if you're a new boater, or any weekend for that matter. There will be a bunch of morons at the ramp and you'll likely wait something like 2 hours to launch/retrieve. The more peoples watching, the more nervous you'll be...definitely not a good time!

 

[blifsey]

Re: Docking the boat

I've been boating now for about 12 yrs and docking can still be tricky. Best advise I ever heard was don't approach anything faster than you are willing to hit it Also, keep in mind unless the motor is engaged in gear (forward or reverse) turning the steering wheel does no good. When we first started boating, I got a telescoping boat hook and would have someone use it to "fend" off the dock if I was moving a little too fast. DO NOT let them do so with hands or feet. Also, they can grab a cleat on the dock with the boat hook and pull you in if needed. We rented a slip while on vacation last week and width was a tight fit. Several times I had problems getting in. One of best boating feeling I had was a few years back docking at a fuel dock I'd never been to. 2 young guys see me coming in and position themselves on dock to "catch me." I'm approaching dock with fuel fill on wrong side and swing around to do an U-turn, approach dock at about 45*, as bow gets near dock I put engine in reverse and cut wheel hard to pull the stern into dock. Boat settles in about 2" from dock almost perfectly parallel. The 2 guys never touched boat and one says "Hey, good job" . Just remember, the way to get good is to practice which means going out in new boat A LOT!!!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Docking the boat

Don't feel bad, watch this guy.

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

Practice makes perfect, it all comes with experience and you just gotta get out there and do it!

 

[Philster]

Re: Docking the boat

One tip among many:

Go into the current or into the wind, whichever is stronger, when docking.

 

[smdavis1004]

Re: Docking the boat

You've got an honest salesman, listen to what he said and wait during the week to go practice with him. I understand you're pretty excited about the new rig but i can assure you that the 4th of july weekend is the WORST time ever to try a new boat if you're a new boater, or any weekend for that matter. There will be a bunch of morons at the ramp and you'll likely wait something like 2 hours to launch/retrieve. The more peoples watching, the more nervous you'll be...definitely not a good time!

You are right. That decision was made as soon as we bought it last weekend. He recommended we come out today because it would not be as crowded. He asked today if we had changed our mind and wanted to go out this weekend, but we said no way! Everyone of our friends have told us the same thing. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[smdavis1004]

Re: Docking the boat

Don't feel bad, watch this guy.

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

Practice makes perfect, it all comes with experience and you just gotta get out there and do it!

That is video is perfect and makes me feel so much better - that boat is more expensive to, so even rich people have a hard time!

 

[rallyart]

Re: Docking the boat

When you are new to a boat a good piece of practice is to drop a buoy on an anchor and practice coming up to it with the nose, the side and the stern. Be careful not to put the prop directly at it as you might foul your prop with the line. It does not take long before you will be able to put the boat where you want with confidence. It behaves differently in forward, reverse, or out of gear. Enjoy your new boat.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Docking the boat

Don't feel bad, watch this guy.

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

Practice makes perfect, it all comes with experience and you just gotta get out there and do it!

If that was my boat on the left, I'd have told him to stop using the boat hook on my gelcoat!

I was going to give you a link to the Florida boating course, as there was some useful info in there about how to approach a dock, etc., but they've changed their website, and I didn't want to have to register and go through the course again.

So instead, I'll recommend getting this book; it's the Chapman's book on boating, aka - the Boater's Bible.

Go into the current or into the wind, whichever is stronger, when docking.

I strongly agree with this, but there are going to be lots of times where this is not possible, so practice going the opposite way as well.

In any case, practice, practice, practice. You'll get it.

Oh, and if anyone was laughing at you, it was only the land-lubbers who have never done it. Anyone with a boat was not laughing at you, as they/we have all been there.

 

[smdavis1004]

Re: Docking the boat

If that was my boat on the left, I'd have told him to stop using the boat hook on my gelcoat!

I was going to give you a link to the Florida boating course, as there was some useful info in there about how to approach a dock, etc., but they've changed their website, and I didn't want to have to register and go through the course again.

So instead, I'll recommend getting this book; it's the Chapman's book on boating, aka - the Boater's Bible.



I strongly agree with this, but there are going to be lots of times where this is not possible, so practice going the opposite way as well.

In any case, practice, practice, practice. You'll get it.

Oh, and if anyone was laughing at you, it was only the land-lubbers who have never done it. Anyone with a boat was not laughing at you, as they/we have all been there.

Thanks for the book. I will take a look at the Florida course as well.
Looks like I need to get out and practice.

Fortunately, I am going to have some time from work to go down during the week. My rep has told me he would help me out and wouldn't mind spending some time with me on it. Bottom line, looks like everyone is saying the same thing - practice.

Thanks. I will get the book.

Stephen

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Docking the boat

I've been boating now for about 12 yrs and docking can still be tricky. Best advise I ever heard was don't approach anything faster than you are willing to hit

Damn, that's really burst my little bubble. 12 years! and I've been doing it for 1 year and I thought I was getting somewhere.
Seriously, best bit of advice is from blifsey......"go as fast as you are happy to hit the dock".

When I started I had a bad experience and blamed the wind as it sent me all over the place and only went out when low winds were forecast so I could dock and retrieve easily.
Now however, I've learnt that the wind can be your friend and as long as you respect it you can use it to your advantage as long as you remember it can change its mind whenever it wants.

I practiced out at sea using a buoy and pretending it was the dock. Approaching it from different angles and using the wind till I get a feel for what happens.
Take things slow, gauge the wind, practice, practice, practice.

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: Docking the boat

Don't drive your boat as if it were a car. A boat steers from the stern. Rather thinking where you want the front to be, think of where the rear needs to be to get the boat where you want it. Travel at dead slow with only enough power to overcome wind/current. Use lines from your spring cleat to pivot the boat if need be. As soon as the engine goes out of gear most of your steering is lost. Use reverse thrust in whatever amount required to stop the boat. Do not have people grabbing the dock and hopping all over like frogs jumping on the dock and about. You should be able to position the boat entirely with rudder and thrust. Then secure your lines and make fast. Bumpers should be made ready or deployed in advance and dock lines readied so there is no hurry.

JR

 

[Bondo]

Re: Docking the boat

Can anyone walk me through a basic docking or direct me to where to go?

Ayuh,.... Tip #1,...
Never, Ever approach the dock any faster than you intend to Hit it....

 

[sasto]

Re: Docking the boat

Every situation is different, Stephen. There are some books and online courses available for you to look at. I've docked boats between 10' and 140' for several years now...and I always get a lump in my throat. I'm not the only one around here either.

Take some of the valuable advice here, enjoy your boat, and worry about docking when you get there.

Good Luck!

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Docking the boat

Great advice, rallyart. When I was a kid my dad did a similar exercise with me to build handling expertise. He'd have me all ahead full steam (all 7.5 horses on the tinny...) then he'd toss a pfd overboard and say - "That's your little sister. Save her!"

The exercise taught me to think and react fast (and safely) as well as learn MOB procedures and close quarter handling.

Thanks to those exercises it's a pretty rare day I can't put any part of a boat exactly where it needs to be whether docking or just plain retrieving skiers and tubers...even just grabbing a piece of trash out of the water going by.

The other great advice as mentioned here is....Go.......slow. And as Sasto says - perfectly normal to be a bit nervous at times. It keeps you paying attention and humble when it all goes sideways - as it invariably will do from time to time despite your best efforts.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Docking the boat

Great advice, rallyart. When I was a kid my dad did a similar exercise with me to build handling expertise. He'd have me all ahead full steam (all 7.5 horses on the tinny...) then he'd toss a pfd overboard and say - "That's your little sister. Save her!"

The exercise taught me to think and react fast (and safely) as well as learn MOB procedures and close quarter handling.

So, when dad threw pfd over startboard side did you go full steam to port and paddle some for a little more get-away speed?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Docking the boat

Also, view this site. It may help:

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/docking.htm

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Docking the boat

This is a great book that taught me a lot as a beginner.
Good chapters on docking too:

• Powerboat Handling Illustrated by Bob Sweet

Available from Amazon and as ebook.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Docking the boat

So, when dad threw pfd over startboard side did you go full steam to port and paddle some for a little more get-away speed?

LOL - he did notice reaction times improved markedly if he instead yelled, "There goes your comic book collection. Save them!"

 

[NFA]

Re: Docking the boat

I commend you for looking for advice and input in regards to parking and docking your boat. I'm currently on my third boat with nearly 20 years of boating, navigating and driving experience.

A couple of things I noticed and agree with on this thread...

When approaching a dock, consider the wind and current, if you use either to assist you in getting in closer to the dock, use it! I've used the wind numerous times when approaching the dock from whichever side. It's as easy as getting in close and shutting the engine down and letting the wind do the rest.

This also works very well when trailering the boat. Most of the time I will tie the boat to the dock, back the trailer down and manually pull the boat on to the trailer. If the wind is cooperating, I will use it to my advantage.

When driving in reverse, keep in mind that whichever way the engine is facing, is the direction the back of the boat will go. A lot of times this is forgotten. Whenever I look behind me when reversing, I know that whichever way the cowling of the engine is facing is the way which the (back of the) boat is going.

I use this method all the time when parallel parking a boat. I run the nose in to the dock at a 45, kick the boat into reverse, and crank the engine to point at the dock. As long as I'm nearly sitting dead in the water with a slight forward movement, this works every time.

I think the best piece of advice I can offer is twofold;

1) Don't go anywhere near a launch on a weekend, especially a long weekend. In only the last month or so I've had to help out two boats with either trailering or launching. Both of these people decided to go out and "practice" on a weekend. Bad idea.

2) Get out there and practice and have fun! The only way you'll ever get good at it is by practicing and experimenting. Eventually you'll get a feel for your boat and you'll become confident in your abilities.

Also, DON'T FORGET TO TRIM UP YOUR ENGINE WHEN PULLING IT OUT!

Have fun!



Scott