The Dos and Don’ts of Docking Your Boat. You can’t just dock your boat willy-nilly, wherever you please. Just like other sports activities, there’s a certain code of conduct for boating which you need to follow. The first and foremost rule of docking is safety. You need to make sure that your boat is docked appropriately so that passengers don’t have any difficulty getting on board.
When you are docking a boat in the docking slip, you need to make sure that the boat is perfectly aligned with the lines on either side. Think of them as the white lines you see in a car parking lot. This ensures that your boat will be safe from scratches and moreover, will not damage the other parked boats.
With that said, let’s have a look at some of the dos and don’ts of docking:
Dos
Do Back the Boat in the Spot
Floating docks for boats make it easy for you to find a spot. They adjust with the water tide, ensuring that your dock will not be submerged. This gives you the benefit of getting easily on your boat. However, for this to happen, you need to back your boat in the spot. The bow of the boat should be sticking out so that you can board the boat by stepping on the stern.
Do Lift the Ladder After You Have Boarded the Boat
As the last person on the boat, it’s your duty to lift the ladder. Otherwise, the ladder will knock against the hull of the boat and scratch it.
Do Secure the Mooring Lines
It often happens that mooring lines slip from the piling and get stretched across multiple docks. As a result, they tangle in the propellers and can cause untold damage. So, make sure that the lines are properly knotted and tied to an immobile piling.
Don’ts
Don’t Park Anywhere If there’s a Single Dock
If there are no designated dock slips or floating docks for boats, then you will have to lasso the pilings. This is quite tricky and requires two people to work in tandem. Don’t think you can park anywhere in the middle if the dock is just one long slip.
Don’t Make Your Own Docking Rules
If you are a beginner and are docking for the first time, look at how the other boats are tied. Mimic their docking technique and the distance between the boats.
Don’t Try to Dock Your Boat in a Tight Slip
If you can’t find space to park your boat on a dock, then don’t try to force your way into a tight slip. If a high water current hits your dock, your boat will crash with other boats and get damaged.
Docking is not that hard and with floating docks for boats, you can rest in peace that your vessel will stay afloat and not get damaged by high tide. Simply follow these rules and you will be docking your boat like a pro.