Dock Around The Clock

Experience is key when docking

- Stuart Reichardt

The last mishap that occurred when I was docking was when I reversed over the mooring line of another boat in the dock. It caused damage to the propeller and to the mooring line. Even if you are an expert at docking, there is always the possibility that things can go wrong when you bring your boat home.

Going down to the marina and taking your boat out for a spin is a lot easier than putting it back in its rightful place at the dock. With experience you will become adept at slotting your boat neatly into its berth, and this is all down to your docking style. Do you bring your boat to a standstill so far from the dock you’re your dock lines don’t reach? Are you chatting away and distracted by guests during the docking process? Are you talking on your mobile phone while you are trying to complete your docking manoeuvres? Docking is one of the most important aspects of boating to get just right. Let’s take a look at how you can improve your docking style.

SLOW THINGS DOWN

Don’t rush into the dock at a high rate of knots. Rather, as you near the dock, slow things right down and ease the boat in. One of the rules of docking that every boater should follow is: “Never approach the dock any faster than you would want to hit it.”The other side of the coin is that it’s important to give enough gas so that you keep up the momentum of the boat to ensure you get close enough to the quayside. Use short bursts of power to ensure an easier maneuverability in docking situations.

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