A Guide to Docking Your Boat

As a new boat owner, you may find yourself challenged by how many new skills you have to learn in order to master your craft and be confident on the water. One of the most difficult things to learn is how to dock your boat without hitting anything or causing damage. Instead of being stressed out at the dock when it’s time to pull into the marina, though, you can take some time to learn a few ways to easily and safely dock your boat.

Getting Things Ready

Before you pull into the dock, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve got your dock lines ready at the bow and stern and your fenders attached. Fenders can help to protect your boat when you’re docking and they’re especially helpful for new boaters. Make sure that you’re ready to go before you try to dock so you’re not scrambling to find your bungee cords later.

Pulling Into Shore

Look at the area where you plan to dock so you can ascertain whether there are any obstacles in your path that you’ll want to avoid. Your slip should be clear and empty. You’ll also want to gauge the traffic in the area to see whether you need to wait for another boat to move before you try to dock. You wouldn’t just race blindly into a parking spot in a shopping mall lot in your car, so don’t tear into your marina slip without checking around it first.

Adjusting Your Speed 

The general adage around docking speed is that you shouldn’t approach the dock any faster than you’re willing to hit it. Because it’s very possible that you will hit it the first time you try, and you don’t want to do too much damage. You won’t want to go as slowly as you possibly can because you won’t have enough power to get into the slip, but by the same turn, you don’t want to go at top speed or you’re heading for a disaster.

Stay in your engine’s lowest setting and use little bursts of power to propel your boat into the slip. A single-engine boat will require you to move the wheel before you apply power so that the boat doesn’t swing in the wrong direction, but with a double-engine boat, you can swap between your motors to maneuver your boat into place. If you don’t feel like your angle is right, don’t be afraid to back up and try again after circling around.

Being Wary of Wind

One of the biggest issues that you’ll have while docking is wind. A sharp gust of wind can completely throw you off your game and cause you to have to start the process of docking over again. Be mindful of items on your boat that can catch in the wind, like sails and bimini tops, both of which should be lowered or furled before you start the docking process. 

You can also make use of the wind to help with docking if it’s blowing towards shore, but winds that are blowing towards you will make your job more challenging. Try to create a sharper angle to cut through those winds and tie off as soon as you possibly can to avoid your boat drifting away.