How to Dock With a Single Outboard Motor

Smaller boats usually use a single outboard motor.

Outboard motors hang outside the hull of a boat and turn right and left to provide steering. The simplest outboard motors are controlled by a boater sitting at the back of the boat, pushing the motor from left to right with a metal arm; the throttle for the motor is usually mounted right on the arm. Larger boats generally have a steering wheel up front. In either case, smooth docking is an easy trick to learn.

Instructions

1. Start approaching the dock at an angle with your motor idling in forward gear.

2. Shift the engine into neutral and turn it away from the dock. The controls will either be on your dashboard or the outboard's steering arm. As you do this, your boat will begin to line up with the dock and slow down.

3. Turn your outboard motor so that the propeller faces as far toward the dock as the motor mount allows, while keeping it in neutral. The nose of the boat will turn toward the dock and the boat will slow down further.

4. Shift your engine into reverse and give it a bit of throttle. This will slow your boat down dramatically and start bringing the back end around to line up with the dock. The motion of the boat may seem erratic to passengers; ask them not to try to grab the dockside as you approach.

5. Shift back into neutral with the engine still pointed toward the dock. Wait until the boat has nearly stopped to do this. Your boat should come to a stop sitting parallel to and snugly against the dock.

References

• Tropical Boating: How To Dock an Outboard or Stern-Drive Boat