When trying to dock a boat, there are a lot of you that may have tons of things on your mind. Have you covered all the information with your sailing crew to make sure they're ready for this difficult maneuver? Make sure these seven tips are piece of your regular check list before you enter any marina.
1. Preset Springlines
Get bow lines and stern lines ready on both sides of the boat. Tie spring lines, equal to your boat length, to boat cleats near the bow. You can tie up a boat of any size with just one spring line.
2. Get The Fenders Ready
Attach fenders along the sides, but don't forget the most essential one-that "roving" fender. Tie a five foot line to a fender and assign one of your crew to handle this job. You want to do this just to make sure your boat doesn't hit the dock and cause damage.
3. Bow and Stern Marine Anchor
Untangle the anchor rode and make it ready for an emergency. Tie a 30 foot rope to your anchor and get it ready for use in case you ought to use it. Do the same with a small anchor at the stern. If you lose power, you've your anchor "brakes" ready to quit the boat!
4. Test Reverse Propulsion
Check your small diesel engine (or gasoline engine) in all three gear positions. Bring the engine down to idle speed; then shift into neutral, reverse, neutral, ahead. Repeat this test twice. Now you know you might have great response in reverse gear.
5. Quiet, Clear Communications
Keep open communications with your crew while entering. If you change your mind about any maneuver, let them know right away. Crews on huge yachts often use wireless headsets to interact. Or get your crew together and decide on easy-to-understand hand signals.
6. Don't Forget About Bare Steerage
Have you ever thought about what would happen if your engine died? You would most likely drift really far. If you are going fast there might be no stopping your boat and you might damage another boat. You only need enough speed to get you to the dock, anything else is too fast.
7. Emergency Openings
You have to be sure to look for just about any slips that are in the way. If your engine dies, these provide a place for docking. That's another reason to have dock lines and fenders rigged on both sides of your boat.
1. Preset Springlines
Get bow lines and stern lines ready on both sides of the boat. Tie spring lines, equal to your boat length, to boat cleats near the bow. You can tie up a boat of any size with just one spring line.
2. Get The Fenders Ready
Attach fenders along the sides, but don't forget the most essential one-that "roving" fender. Tie a five foot line to a fender and assign one of your crew to handle this job. You want to do this just to make sure your boat doesn't hit the dock and cause damage.
3. Bow and Stern Marine Anchor
Untangle the anchor rode and make it ready for an emergency. Tie a 30 foot rope to your anchor and get it ready for use in case you ought to use it. Do the same with a small anchor at the stern. If you lose power, you've your anchor "brakes" ready to quit the boat!
4. Test Reverse Propulsion
Check your small diesel engine (or gasoline engine) in all three gear positions. Bring the engine down to idle speed; then shift into neutral, reverse, neutral, ahead. Repeat this test twice. Now you know you might have great response in reverse gear.
5. Quiet, Clear Communications
Keep open communications with your crew while entering. If you change your mind about any maneuver, let them know right away. Crews on huge yachts often use wireless headsets to interact. Or get your crew together and decide on easy-to-understand hand signals.
6. Don't Forget About Bare Steerage
Have you ever thought about what would happen if your engine died? You would most likely drift really far. If you are going fast there might be no stopping your boat and you might damage another boat. You only need enough speed to get you to the dock, anything else is too fast.
7. Emergency Openings
You have to be sure to look for just about any slips that are in the way. If your engine dies, these provide a place for docking. That's another reason to have dock lines and fenders rigged on both sides of your boat.
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