How to Dock with an Outboard Motor

Outboards are the most common type of small-boat motor.

Outboard motors hang from the back end of boat hulls and swing around to give boats a tight turning radius. They can be found on boats of many sizes, from tiny basic lake boats to large powerboats and yachts. Smaller boats often dispense with a steering wheel and have the driver sit in the back and point the motor by hand; big powerboats usually have a cockpit with a full set of controls and dials. In either case, it's easy to learn how to smoothly dock with an outboard motor.

Instructions

1. Start approaching the dock on an angle, with the boat moving fast enough to allow you to maneuver easily; there's no need to speed inward or to bring your boat to a stop far from the dock.

2. Release the throttle and let the engine run at a dead idle while still set in "Forward."

3. Shift your outboard into neutral and swing the motor around so that the propellor points away from the dock. Your boat will start to line up parallel to the dock as it slows down.

4. Turn your outboard so that the propellor points as far toward the dock as its mount will allow, while keeping the engine in neutral. This will make the front end of your boat swing sharply toward the dock.

5. Change into reverse and give the engine a bit of throttle as your front end approaches the dock. This will slow you down sharply while pulling the back end of the boat into line with the front end, parallel and snug to the dock.

6. Shift back into neutral as the boat comes to a stop at the dock. Your boat should draw up and stop neatly against the dock. You may need to practice this a few times before you learn how to stop the boat without either bumping the dock or stopping a foot or two away.

References

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