Boating Tips: Tips for Easier Docking 64 11

Boat 8 years ago 35,899 views

Docking a boat can be stressful, but with these three tips from boats.com Senior Editor Lenny Rudow, it will become a bit easier. Before you next go boating, check this video out. Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/boatsdotcom For more boating videos, visit http://www.boats.com. boats.com features boat reviews, how-to videos, special features, and information about new boats, boats for sale, and boating products—usually with a dash of fun. Our reviewers test the features, performance, and specifications of each boat, searching out the hidden details for a critical evaluation. If you're shopping for a boat, we want to help you make the best choice. And if you're just looking, we'll try to make it fun too. Subscribe to receive notification of new videos.

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Jmichael Isbell - 7 years ago

In my opinion, the single most important thing you said was to never go faster than can be managed if you hit something. I would add, "kill the macho gene", and take it that slow, never trying to prove anything. You can make tons of mistakes and get away with it if you go SLOW. But I want to add one more thing, if the winds are strong and/or you are trying to thread the needed between two boats, already docked, here is my tip: approach not side to side with the dock, but come straight in between those two boats, 90 degrees to the dock, and have your companion (if you have one--I always do and never boat alone) be ready with a tie. As you just kiss that dock with the nose of your boat, the crewman steps onto the dock, holding a line that connects to the bow of the boat. As the boat begins to move via wind and/or current in one direction or the other, the dockman can walk opposite the wind current and pull the boat to a position such that the boat will clear the boats forward and aft. I do realize if this is a larger craft, you may not have the strength to pull it along: I am a small boater and am talking about a small boat. But I contend that even if you have a large craft and are using the engines and thrusters, having a man on the dock with the line in his hands can help, for one thing as you "get it right" the crewman can pin it quickly to a cleat and stop in its tracks any further unwanted movement. Think of this as the opposite of spring lining, the method that uses ties as a pivot to put the boats bow or stern away from the dock--this helps guide it in.