Boating
offers you excellent opportunities to grab some fresh air and Vitamin D. Be it
for the tranquility or the extraordinary sights, you can experience life at its
finest when you own a boat. You can enjoy boating solo, with a close friend, or
with a loved one. Idly resting on a boat is one of life's greatest pleasures.
But when the time comes to dock the boat, things get a bit more stressful. You
may want to exercise due caution when parking the boat using a dock
pole.
Doing so will help you park the boat safely.
Here
are some invaluable tips that can work in your favor when you use equipment
like a dock pole to park your boat.
1. Retracting
Provide
a forward spring line on which you can retreat if backing down. Once the spring
line has been locked off or fastened to the dock, steer the wheel sharply to
port and lower it. If your boat has twin screws, use the starboard engine to
slow down and hard-cut the wheel to port. You'll start to see your boat inching
closer to the dock as a result.
2. Throw the proper line
Don't
ask your deckhands to begin with a bowline unless you are a deep veteran in
boating. Dockhands will not be able to control the boat if it is moving against
the wind. Give yourself a spring line to back away from or advance on.
Introducing the bowline
Your
boat has a bowline fastened to the front. It comes in handy to support your
boat while docking. You should know when to use a bowline and when to use a
spring line. Many boating enthusiasts use the latter for docking purposes.
Introducing the spring line
A
spring line reduces the likelihood of the boat or sailing vessel crashing into
the dock. It also prevents your boat from moving forward or reversely due to
waves. Additionally, you can employ this spring line to steer and align
yourself close to the pier regardless of the wind speed.
3. Employ a spring
Although
most dockhands are capable of using one spring line, you should consider
whether you may want to give them any training. One option is to hand over the
spring line so that the dock assistant lassoes it on a clamp situated beyond or
ahead of the dock. They need to wrap the line rather than lock it off. Doing so
allows you to move it quickly and exert maximum control.
4. Decrease your throttle
You
have a fair idea about the speed dynamics of your boat. So, make sure to stick
to it for smooth sailing and docking. Ensure that the boat is below a speed
that allows quicker, efficient, and safer docking. When you don't press the
throttle too hard, you can maneuver the boat in the right angle and direction,
thereby preventing significant damage to the boat's body.
The
ideal speed to go when docking your boat is S-L-O-W. Your speed should be as
low as possible so that you can steer. This gives you more control, so you can
dock securely without running into anything. The quickest turns can be made
while moving slowly. To maintain a slow approach, you might need to take your
boat out of gear.
5. Prepare your lines and fenders
Prior
to arriving at the dock, fenders and lines should always be set up. You should
also be aware of where the fenders should be hung. They should typically be
hovering just above the water level (i.e., not in contact with the water
surface). You should have a minimum of two or three fenders. Plus, experienced
dockhands recommend more tools for proper docking. These include a spring line
and a bow line. Lastly, you need to have a stern line to aid in your docking
process.
When
docking, fenders serve as barriers between your boat and the dock to prevent
damage. To avoid getting caught under the pier, properly position them over the
side.
6. Above all, relax
Panicking
is the absolute last thing you or your crew should ever do. Getting angry at
your crew, captain, or dockhands is not helpful and won't help anyone. Yelling
at someone only makes the situation more stressful and increases your risk of
getting into an accident. Communication is essential.
7. Utilize brief bursts
While
it's crucial to move slowly to avoid hitting the dock, you might need to use
brief bursts of power to get through turns and navigate through wind and
currents. Between having too little and too much power, there is a happy
medium. Before applying force, be sure to turn the steering wheel, which stops
the boat from moving too quickly.
8. Angle your approach and change gears
You
should approach the dock at roughly a 45-degree angle. This makes it simpler to
aim for a specific location and dock the boat there. Turn the controls away
from the dock once you are about 100 feet from the pier. Your boat's back end
can then swing in toward the dock. Now shift into neutral and push the boat up
against the dock with its momentum.
Then,
turn the wheel in the direction of the pier. Put the gear in reverse and lightly
throttle the engine. This will push the back end of the boat to the pier. Put
the gear back into neutral and allow the back end to push against the pier once
more.
9. Continue after the bow line
Now
that you are sufficiently close have the deck worker offer the bowline to a
dock assistant if possible.
Ensure
the responsible person on the dock secures the bowline to the pier. But they
should not exert strength while doing so. This can only make things worse and
make you lose your stern. The key thing to note at this stage is not to exert
too much pressure when securing the bowline to one of the pillars.
With
a wrap-around cleat, you may advance with your boat forward while turning the
wheel sharply to starboard. (If your ship has two screws, only use the engine
of the port and make a hard turn to starboard.) Even if slowly, your boat can
start to go ahead and approach the dock.
Ask
your deckhand to give the dock assistant a stern line. Once you are safe, you
can ask the dockhands to get your bow.
Before you dock your boat
Be
aware of potential environmental influences on the docking process, such as
wind and current. To determine the direction and strength of the current,
observe the direction in which the flags fly, the water's ripples, pilings, and
buoys.
If you're trying to pull alongside a dock
without any protection, you might want to strategically place the boats'
fenders on the side you plan to tie up on. Tie-ups are located just in front of
the transom, the midship, and a quarter of the way back from the bow. When
finished, pause to observe how the boat responds to the wind and current.
Make
sure there is enough room at the dock. Angle your approach at 30 degrees. Use
intermittent power to slow the boat down and maintain forward motion for a
brief period. Once the boat is parallel to the dock, turn the wheel away from
it.
Conclusion
Hopefully,
these pointers will be helpful to you in the future when docking. These details
will help you avoid uncomfortable situations when you are out sailing and want to
return to the mainland. Stay tuned as we at RS Marine offer more insight on
docking best practices.