Use neutral gear. Go slow. Practice.
There are three pieces of advice you will often hear regarding docking. If you are a boating enthusiast and have finally come around to purchasing your watercraft, the first thing you need to learn is how to dock your boat.
Depending on the boat you have bought, sailing can be quite easy compared to docking. Whether you have a lake house with a floating dock or plan to dock your boat at the marina, you need to know the right way to secure your boat.
Let’s take a look at how to dock a boat as a beginner:
Approach the Spot at the Right Angle
The first rule of docking is to always approach the platform at a slow speed. Once you have targeted a spot, approach it at a 45° angle. If there’s wind and you think it is changing your boat’s direction and making it difficult for you to maintain the angle, approach at a low angle.
Keep It Slow
It’s worth mentioning again that slowdown your boat. Use the reverse and forward gears to maintain the speed. If your boat has two engines, switch between them so you can approach them at the right angle.
Swing the Boat In
When driving a car, you swing it into the parking spot and then adjust it by moving forward and backward. While parking a boat is the same, it’s a little trickier. Once your boat’s bow is pointed towards the dock and you are about a foot away from it, turn the wheel away from the dock. This will point the propellers towards the dock. Turn the engine on briefly to give the boat momentum and then make the swing.
The key to making the swing and ensuring you don’t bump into the dock is timing. Your boat should be safe from the dock so that the turn is possible. If you turn on the engine late, your boat will not be in line with the dock.
Make the Fit
Once your boat is parallel to the dock, turn on the engine again briefly and turn the wheel away from the dock and go in reverse. For a two-engine boat, turn on the engine that is not close to the dock. When the boat is no longer moving, put the gear in neutral. You can then grab onto something to stabilize yourself.
Secure Your Boat
You can now kill the engine and prepare to secure the boat to dock. When disembarking, make sure that your arms are above the dock. If you have passengers on board, do not let anyone off until your boat is stationary and tied to a railing.
So, was this beginner lesson easy to follow? You can read more about boating tactics and floating docks by visiting the EZ Dock website. Besides offering quality docking products, such as floating docks, do-it-yourself docks, etc., they also provide valuable reading material for boating enthusiasts. For more information, call (800) 654-8168.
