Docking or 2 hours of boating with 5 minutes of Terror

Part of navigation is casting off and docking, both are essential skills to learn.  

Casting off

Casting off is just that, preparing to leave the slip or dock / pier.  There are some steps to occurs for a successful start to a day on the water.

Boarding passenger and loading items on board:

Loading items

• When loading bulky item, such as coolers, water toys, etc.  hand them to someone board, don't attempt to carry them/  Many people have slipped and fell off the dock or worst fell between the boat and walkway. This would be a disastrous way to start your boating adventure.
• Store your items so that they are secure and do not impede movement around the boat. As well as block any accessibility to emergency items.

Boarding Passengers

• Ensure every one has a life jacket, or the life jackets is readily accessible.  Review your state laws regarding age limits for life jackets.  Missouri law requires boaters to have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket on board and accessible for each occupant of the boat. Children under the age of seven are required to wear a life jacket whenever they are on a boat unless they are in the cabin area of a houseboat or cruiser.   

         I have heard many adults state I can swim, don't need a life Jacket, My response, if you are                     unconscious or injured you can't swim, food for thought.

• Get your passengers settled and seated, if they need a beer or food get it now before leaving, they do not need to be up moving around while under way.   This is for their safety and health or local hospital see more injuries do to falling in a boat, due to people moving about while under way.

        Have your boat balanced,  weight distribution is important,  in it more difficult to maneuver         if there is to much weight on one side. and the boat will operate more efficiently.

Leaving the Slip or Dock

First start your engine,  I know sounds obvious, but I have seen many a boat push off away from a dock, and there they are drifting in the cove trying to start the engine.    Unless you can walk on water start the engine.

Second untie all Dock lines, pull fenders. look around to make sure you are clear of boat traffic.  Place your throttle in idle ( reverse if you are backing or forward if pulling out) count to 4 seconds,  1001,1002,1003,1004.  Then place the throttle back into neutral.  The boat will continue to move. (you know Newtons law of motion)  also remember you have no steerage when in neutral, however you can turn your wheel then engage the throttle to idle, the boat will respond quicker and sharper with this method.    

Once you have cleared the dock and or in the main water way, throttle up and on your way to your destination.

 SLOW and easy is the key when leaving or entering a slip or dock.  If you slip up and go to fast or feel you are out of control,  remember neutral is your friend.  Disengage  the engine, (neutral)  now all you are is drifting.

One point, if you are backing your boat out of a slip,  remember if you turn your wheel to the right your bow will go left, same is true if you turn your wheel to the left your bow will go right.   

A boat does not drive like a car.  there are no breaks and a boat can not and will not turn as quickly as a car.  Mainly due to several influences, the boat it self, wind, and currents or water conditions. 

 Docking

 Returning to the slip,  Most slips will be at least 1 to 2 feet wider then the beam of the boat ( beam is the width of the boat from port to starboard).   

Head in docking, When approaching the slip ignore the port side using idle and neutral use the walkway of the slip as a guide, if the slip is 12 feet in width and your beam is 10 feet you have 1 foot clearance on both sides.  If you have 6 inches on the starboard you has a foot and a half on the port.  

When you are a quarter of the way into the slip either turn off engine of place throttle in to neutral. 

 Do not attempt to stop the boat with arms, legs or any other part of your body, injury will result. you going slow enough you will gently bump into the back of the slip or drift to a stop.

Also, you may have passengers with good intentions to "help" you dock unless you requested  that assistance before docking make it clear as to who does what and when.

Back in docking 

1. Ensure your lines are set, fenders are in place, and you've identified the influences of wind and/or current.

2. Trim your engine up (using the tilt-trim switch at the throttle) slightly, if on your boat the propwash slaps against the transom, so it goes under the boat when you reverse. Remember that most boats have a right-handed prop, and will back to port better than to starboard.

3. Approach the slip from one side, allowing plenty of room between your boat and other boats or obstructions, and position the boat so its pivot point — about two-thirds of the way forward of the transom when the boat is moving forward — is along the centerline of the slip.

 

It's often most effective to turn the engine one way or the other while in neutral and apply power once the wheel has been turned fully.

4. Turn the engine all the way to port or all the way to starboard, as is appropriate to kick the boat around so the stern faces the slip, and apply forward power to initiate a turn. Then shift into neutral, spin the wheel the opposite way, and apply power in reverse to both slow headway and continue turning the boat. Continue applying power, alternately in forward and reverse, while cranking the wheel to port and starboard as appropriate, until the boat is in alignment with the slip.

5. Remember to apply power minimally so you don't start moving too quickly and lose control. You must also remember that you'll need to apply additional power — sometimes a fair amount — to overcome the effects of the wind and currents, especially when operating in reverse (when thrust is reduced as compared to operating in forward).

6. When the boat is parallel to the dock or finger pier, center the steering wheel and use a bit of forward or reverse as necessary to stop the boat's motion.

7. Once the boat's in the slip, you're ready to deploy the mooring lines. All that's left to do after that is unload the boat, enjoy a relaxing washdown, and look forward to your next trip out on the water.

Parallel Parking 

Most gas docks are parallel docking.   

First rule of docking ever approach the dock,  slip or pier faster than you’re willing to hit it. It’s sound advice that should be heeded. At some point during a day on the water, we’re going to need to pull up to a dock at a restaurant or to get fuel, so knowing how to maneuver the boat into the proper position is a necessity. Yes, it can be stressful, especially when we’re dealing with wind and current, so we’re going to provide the knowledge any captain needs to dock his boat.

1. Approach the dock with your bow at an angle, about a 45 degrees. 
2. Approach the dock at slow speeds. Use a Bump and Run, or intermittent throttle are  short bursts of throttle, then to neutral.  that will maneuver the boat.  Basically it’s enough to move the vessel where the captain wants it to go without adding too much forward or reverse motion. 
3. This lets the captain maneuver without building up too much momentum that can quickly get out of control. Think of approaching a slip or dock as coasting with bursts of throttle needed to maintain course heading.
4. Once your bow gets close to the dock, turn your wheel your wheel away from the dock and apply some reversing in idle,  then turn your wheel toward the dock  this will to pull the back of the boat gently to the dock.
5. Wrap your line around the dock cleat to secure your boat.