How to Dock a Boat

Learning to dock a boat is something that takes hands-on practice. These tips are just guidelines to help you start. As you practice bringing your boat to dock, you can hopefully perfect a style that works best for you.

Instructions

1. Prepare your passengers for docking. Also, stow any loose equipment and luggage.

2. Keep the safety of yourself and the passengers in mind all the time. Remind passengers to keep hands and feet inside the boat at all times.

3. Place boat bumpers on the side of boat you plan to dock. Set one in the front and one in the rear. Also, make sure lines are on the side of the boat you are docking.

4. Assess which way the current is flowing around the dock. Also, factor in the wind speed and direction.

5. Face the bow of the boat into the current. Set the motor just a bit faster than the current, and ease the boat into the dock in a parallel position. Cut the power as soon as you feel you are on target to dock properly. If you are traveling too quickly, put the boat's motor in reverse to slow its momentum.

6. Jump off and secure the boat with ropes when you're close enough to the dock. Or, have one of your passengers jump off. If you are not comfortable doing this, ask someone else to secure the boat from the dock after you hand him the ropes.

7. Tie both the front and rear ropes properly. Take care of the bow rope first. Otherwise, you may end up swimming after your loose boat.