Docking a boat is no small task. Docking requires a strategy, planning, practice and confidence. Pay close attention to the details of the docking process, dock your boat the right way and you’ll rest easy knowing your vessel is firmly affixed. Here’s how to do it.
Mentally Prepare for the Challenge of Docking Your Boat
Boat docking requires significant forethought to ensure you secure the vessel the right way on the first try. Begin by printing and reading this guide. Keep this printout on your boat or your person for quick reference and you’ll dock your boat in full confidence every single time without exception.
Analyze Your Surroundings
Begin by taking a look at the entirety of the docking area to prepare the approach. Get a sense of the wind’s strength and direction. Pay close attention to the conditions of the water. Gradually steer the boat toward the dock, slowly accelerating at a controlled pace. Above all, prioritize a measured pace asquickly approaching the dock has the potential to result in a collision that damages your prized boat.
Prep the dock lines on the stern. Carefully guide the vessel to the boat slip. Another option is turning to approach the dock’s side. Use the dock lines to tie the boat to the pilings, posts/cleats.
How to Tie the Boat
Tying a boat to a dock is intimidating at first glance, yet it becomes quite easy after practice. Properly tie the boat to the dock for a firm connection and you’ll guarantee it doesn’t float away. A well-tied boat will also prevent damage to the vessel itself, the dock and adjacent boats. Tying a boat to a dock requires awareness of the wind, water direction and current. Look at the nearby flags to gauge the wind.
Examine how water flows by pilings to understand the current. Those in tidal waters are advised to analyze pilings’ water marks to get a sense of whether they are near low/high tide. Have the vinyl bumper fenders ready and notify your boatmate or crew when approaching the dock. Three lines will be necessary to tie a side of the vessel to a dock.
Begin by throwing the spring line to your boatmate on the dock. The spring line is connected to the cleat in the center of the boat. Connecting the spring line keeps the boat in place. Secure the bow cleat line to the dock cleat. Connect the spring line to the cleat. Attach the stern cleat line to the boat’s side separate from the dock to a cleat behind the vessel. The linking of the spring line to the dock cleat at the rear of the boat helps prevent the vessel from shifting.
The next step is to connect a stern cleat line on the boat’s side to the dock cleat to the rear of the vessel. Sweat the small stuff of this connection. Each line should be precisely tied at an angle as opposed to directly to the dock. Approaching the dock in this way ensures the boat moves up/down in accordance with the waves, the altering tide andwakes if the dock isn’t afloat.
A word to the wise: do not make the mistake of turning off the boat engine after moving along the dock’s side. Keep the engine running to ensure you can react in time if the vessel begins to move.This way, you can jump right back into your boat and move it accordingly.
Connecting a Boat in a Slip
If you want to tie your boat in a slip with docks on the side or to the end dock along with pilings, you’ll need several lines. In general, four lines will be necessary for tying the boat in a slip. Backing into the slip requires a connection of the line to the boat stern cleat followed by a crossing to the dock cleat. Connect the bow lines from the boat’s sides ahead to the dock pilings/cleats to ensure the boat remains in place and there is ample line for the boat to fall/rise.
If the tide is low, it might be necessary to adjust the lines if tying at a low/high tide and the dock isn’t afloat. Tie to the floating dock and it will fall/rise in unison with the tide.
Recognize the Importance of Hitches and Cleats
Cleats are hardware shaped like horns connected to the boat and the dock. Cleats are used to connect dock lines. Do not attempt to connect the dock line to another segment of the boat such as a handle for passengers, a windshield frame orrailing. The cleats are connected through the deck with hardware that secures the boat in place.
The average boat has two stern cleats along with cleats in the center of the boat and a couple more bow cleats. The bow peak and/or stern might also have cleats if the vessel is large.
Dock lines typically have loops at the end. It is at this end that the dock line is connected to the boat. Move the loop through the cleat’s center then back across the cleat horns, toward the boat. The opposing line end is connected to the dock cleats with a cleat hitch. Tying the cleat hitch requires connecting the line around the base of the cleat, making turns in the shape of the number eight past the horns and turning once again beneath itself for full security.
Ask a Boatmate, Family Member or Friend for Help
The docking process described above is challenging to say the least. However, a little bit of practice along with the assistance of a boatmate, friend or family member will make it all the easier. However, if you are a solo boater and need to dock the boat on your own, go slowly.
Do not hesitate to pause, take a break, pull backward and even circle back around to ensure the boat is secure in place. Above all, ensure the fenders are positioned ahead of time and the docking lines are ready for tying when near the dock.
Tips for Overnight Boat Docking
Tying a boat to a dock for a night or a lengthy period of time requires additional preparation. The movement of the tides will affect the boat. Ideally, the dock you select for overnight docking will be stationary as opposed to floating. A stationary dock will not adjust as water levels change. Recognize that the average boat owner ties his or her boat too tight and be strategic when tying your boat accordingly. It also helps to be mindful of the altering tides in the water where you plan to dock your boat overnight.
If the water level will rise overnight or even in the remaining hours of the day, tie the lines with slight tautness. Slightly tight lines ensure the vessel remains in place instead of veering from the boat dock. If the water levels shift to lower levels, connect the boat with less tautness. Otherwise, there is a risk that the boat will be suspended and move sideways. The moral of this story is that overnight boat docking or docking a vessel for more than a night’s time requires slight slack with bounce within the line for a reliable and secure connection.
