What is the best process for docking (parking) a boat?

Question

last year my dad bought a boat and it is the funnest thing ever. until he tries to park it. its always hectic. we never seem to park it without some intense moments of him almost hitting other boats or walls around us. i want to be able to teach him the proper technique. what can the boating pros out there tell me?

Answer 1

Docking is all about low speed control of the boat.  First, practice out in open waters. I like near a buoy. Try to circle the buoy. Watch the effect that the wind has on your boat.  Other than speed it's the most important element of docking. Then try to approach the buoy, slowly.  Notice that as you come into the wind you are slower.   Don't hit the buoy.!!!! Then do the same things in reverse.......gear.   This is all about controlling your boat      The next step is shooting touch and goes.  Pick some slips that are in the most open part of the marina, ans where three or more in a row are unoccupied.  Now practice approaching one that you pick as the target.  Practice docking but don't tie up.  Once you have that down.  Go down the fairway to your slip. but simply turn around and come back out.   Once you feel you can control the boat in a confined area, try docking in your slip.  Try to approach from different angles.   Then it's just practice, practice, ........ Good Luck!!!!

Answer 2

No one good answer.

Depends on the boat the dock or slip ,how much maneuvering room there is. etc. etc.etc

Short of taking some boathandling courses , lots of practice w/ experienced (patient ) friends in all kinds of conditions.

It will get easier as he gets more confidence.

Answer 3

Practice on a vacant dock with lots of boat fenders on the side.

Answer 4

4 words:  USE A SPRING LINE.  With the boat sitting at the dock, attach one end of a line to the MIDSHIP CLEAT... that is the one that is about in the middle of the boat and at the widest part.

With the line attached, walk the line back to about 3 feet from the stern and THEN tie a BOWLIN in it so the loop is no MORE than 3 feet from the stern.

When docking, he should bring the boat in dead slow... as he passes the cleat or piling he plans to use, drop the open loop over it and then let the boat settle a bit forward until the line goes tight.. at that point he should turn the wheel  or tiller to the side OPPOSITE the dock... this will bring the stern into the dock and he can hold it there with the engine just ticking over.

You can DO THIS on ANY boat of ANY size... I have used a spring line to bring boats as big as 195 FEET in with just myself and a deck hand or another captain at the wheel and me as the deck hand. And when I have been single handedly running a cattle boat (loaded with tourists) operation where I took them out to some small island, gave them a mask a snorkle and some fins and told them to come back in an hour... I have used the spring line to keep the boat against the Pier or pilings and never shut the engine down... just run back and forth between the island and the dock where they bought the tickets and did that for 5 or 6 times a day, including the dolphin watches or the sunset cruises.

A spring line is the greatest invention EVER for a boater, but from some of the other answers... it looks like many people aren't aware of them.

Answer 5

Everything everyone else said. Slow is pro.

Answer 6

Not much...

     Least not until "we" know what kind of boat, what size of boat, and what kind of motor or motors...

     Outboards and IO's are easy... just takes a little practice.  Inboards use rudders, and therefore are much more difficult, and take much more practice.  However, "twin" inboard engines are the cat's pajamas... they are the very best, as you can put one engine in reverse, and the other engine forward and literally turn 360 degree circles within your own footprint.

     The best advise I think that anyone can give you - is take the boat out to some sheltered area with an empty dock and where there are no nearby boats and (no wind, no waves, no wake) and practice like crazy... if you do that for a whole day, you will be darn good at it by the end of the day...

     After you know how to handle the boat really well with no wind, calm water - head out and find a spot that will give you a bit more challenge... you need to learn "first" to manuver your vessel in calm windless, water, so that when the wind and waves, and other's wake, have an affect on your boat and its direction and behavior, you will know it is the wind, and not something you are doing...

    And... very best of all, find the roughest, ugliest, meanest and oldest looking man (you know, some guy that looks a lot like me) hanging around the marina or docks... and ask him to go with you and show you some pointers... He will be thrilled you asked... and if your doing something wrong, or not doing something right - he'll spot it real quick and be able to show you what your doing wrong...

     There are also books in the library (remember those) and I am even sure you can find tips and probably even "how to videos" on the Internet. Just be sure you learn a method thay utilizes the same type motor, motors and steering arrangement that is on your boat.  Won't do any good to learn how to dock a "twin s***w" if all you have is one.

     Practice, practice, practice! Aren't you glad your Dad has a boat and not a piano... lol

Here is a great link... has several "docking" tips, pics, and instructions on "How to"  under various conditions..

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/safe...

Happy & Safe Boating!