Tying to dock/reaching it

[Rabbit929]

So I’m very new to the boating world but always been a great operator of machiner and what-not. So having a fishing pontoon it is a bit of a pita to dock on some of these tiny lakes with tiny docks, against the wind, ect. While being alone.
Many times, before I can throw it in neutral, and reach out to the single-post piling to throw a rope around it and pull myself towards the dock, I’ve drifted far enough I can’t reach it. (Windy day) which is mostly every day here in North Dakota.
Any tips or tricks, or a telescopic pole for this purpose? I’m working on getting my wife trained in on the same thing and she’s not quite as agile as I am in knowing how to use the motor to line you up for a successful first time grab of the dock pile, and I want to find a 100% flawless way of doing this every time, especially in unfavorable weather, alone.
I recently trusted her to handle it and I had to explain a bunch of nonsense from the dock while she floated away when she missed the rope while launching. she didn’t think it was as funny as I did, but I digress…
I don’t have a slip or anything so I’m always launching and retrieving, so a perfected method of doing so, that’s simple and effective enough my wife can do it, is absolutely essential.

 

[Grub54891]

Practice-practice-practice. Even at that there is ne perfect way. I drive everything from 60 ft boats down to my 12 ft duck boat. it all depends on wind, currants and waves. some day's I can nail it on the head, others take a bit of finess. You could practice in your yard, Have a post set up or sawhorse with a cleat on it. Take a line and tie a loop in it and practice tossing it around a piling or cleat.

 

[southkogs]

Boat hook might work:

Telescoping Boat Hook, 53" - 92" - Jif Marine - JIF Marine, LLC DUB - iboats.com

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I've also seen guys who make a small line up almost like a lasso. - - Assuming your helm is on the starboard side, you might also learn to land it on that side. Make your last maneuver into the pier a reverse on the engine, thrusting toward the pier. You have to finesse it so you don't hit the pier, but it should give you a moment or so to grab a post or cleat.

 

[Captain Caveman]

At the single boat launch that I use, I pull up to the other side of the dock and tie up from the driver's side. Then I hook up my landing rope, back in my trailer, and then manually push my boat around to the other side while also using the landing rope.

You could also ease up to the end of the dock on the driver's side.

One of my favorite things to do is to coast into any docks at neutral so as to not need to hit reverse. The stronger the wind the harder that is, but it just means that you need to account for more side-drift as you head in.

 

[Earl Cordova]

Years ago I taught my wife how to dock the boat and put it on the trailer.
She comes in close and then I jump off and tie it up or go get the trailer.
I feel sorry for the guys that have to do it all by themselves.

 

[JASinIL2006]

A boat hook is handy until you get the hang of docking the boat yourself. Eventually, you won't need the hook, but it makes life easier until your skills improve.

 

[dingbat]

Practice, practice, practice.....I was taught to never reach outside the confines of the rub rail at a dock until the boat had came to a complete stop.

Pretty easy to severely injure or loose an appendage between the rail and the dock.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Practice, practice, practice.....I was taught to never reach outside the confines of the rub rail at a dock until the boat had came to a complete stop.

Pretty easy to severely injure or loose an appendage between the rail and the dock.

....or pull you out of the boat.

It's probably my #1 rule with guests in the boat. Stay seated until I have the boat tied up. If I need your help, I will ask and give you specific instructions. Do not stand up and grab a post outside of the boat!

 

[dwco5051]

Like every else has said it will get better with practice. Ninety eight percent of the time I am by myself but where I launch the ramp has a finger pier on each side. Make friends with the wind. If you can dock on either side of a pier dock on the up wind side. Aim for a spot a few (or many depending how strong the winds) feet from the pier when forward motion stops and let the wind put you against it. Having operated boats solo for almost seventy years will put me right their almost every time. I do carry a homemade boat hook to drop the loop or grab a cleat for those other times.

 

[Scott Danforth]

boat hook is your friend