Docking 101

Docks and boats spend a lot of time together. But getting the two together requires practice and familiarity with winds and currents. Luck helps too, but skill works better.

The only time you ever
dock a boat perfectly is when
absolutely nobody is looking.

Since we have no control over the wind direction or velocity and no ability to slow a current when making an approach or departure to or from a dock, the following six tips will help the dock experience not be a topic for years to come...i.e. "remember when you came into the dock too fast....remember when you couldn't get a dock line off the piling....remember when the spring line came loose...."

Tip Number One: Have a plan. Look at traffic (boats already docked or boats maneuvering to dock), factor in the wind (will you be blown against the dock?), current (it's always best to approach into the current or tide or wind). Next, decide which side of the boat will be brought alongside the dock, discuss this with the crew and instruct where the fenders need to be placed and how they should be tied before making the approach. Then, have a bow line and a stern line with no knots or tangles attached to your boat and ready to either be tossed to a dockhand on the dock or secured by the crew to the piling. NOTE: Some docks have cleats while others have pilings. Make note of which is available. The end that will go around a piling should be a loop with the end pulled through. This way you can quickly secure the line to the piling and adjust the length from the boat.

Tip Number Two: Watch your speed. It's the key to a successful approach. Too much and the boat can slam into the dock. Too little and the boat loses any ability to maneuver.

Tip Number Three: A crewmember's legs, hands and arms aren't very good for use as fenders. Keep them inboard.

Tip Number Four: If you need to place your dock line over another boat's line, follow these three steps: (1) Pass the loop of your line up through the loop of the line already on the piling. (2) Then pass it over the top. (3) Now, the other boat can simply take its line off. See photos (right).

Tip Number Five: While a bow line and a stern line are integral to docking, a spring line attached amidships is handy too. To be efficient, spring lines should be about the length of your boat. A common procedure when the wind is coming off the dock you are approaching and there are boats ahead and behind your intended "parking spot" is to approach at a 45-degree angle with a crewmember holding a spring line attached to a cleat aft of the bow. Point the boat toward the middle of the open space along the dock. As the boat nears, a crewmember steps onto the dock with a stern line and the spring line, attaching the latter to a cleat (or piling) aft of where he/she stepped from the boat. NOTE: The crewmember should step-not leap-onto the dock. Doing the latter, pushes the boat away from its intended direction. Now steer the bow away from the dock while the boat is still moving forward. This brings the stern toward the dock and both the bow and stern lines can be adjusted and secured. As already noted, make sure the dock side of the boat is protected with fenders.

Tip Number Six: When you leave the dock, remove the fenders and store them. A boat with fenders along the gunwales that isn't anywhere near a dock is considered to be operated by a rookie. Fenders are needed when approaching-not leaving-a dock.