| If you are anything like me, you want to make tight | | | | without leaning out over the water. If in a sailboat, |
| quarters maneuvers without the worry of whether | | | | place the boat hook on the coach roof to prevent it |
| you have all the gear you need--out on deck and | | | | from becoming a trip hazard. |
| ready for docking. Follow these easy preparation | | | | 4. Assign a roving fender to one of your crew. This |
| steps to help you learn how to dock a boat like a | | | | becomes the most important position of your crew |
| pro! | | | | during docking and maneuvering. Take a fender and |
| Make preparations before you enter a marina, canal, | | | | make a large loop from the eye in one end to the |
| or other narrow docking area. This single point can | | | | other. The rover uses the fender to cushion |
| make or break your docking. Follow these five easy | | | | wherever he or she sees contact will be made. This |
| rules of docking for any type of boat. They apply to | | | | prevents costly damage to your hull, pier structures, |
| cruising or racing sailboats, or inboard or outboard | | | | or other moored yachts. |
| power boats. | | | | 5. Know your wind and current. Near the entrance to |
| 1. Rig docking lines on both sides of the boat. The | | | | the marina or yacht basin, stop your boat. Which |
| pros know that things can change once you get into | | | | way does she drift? What signs do you see inside |
| a narrow maneuvering situation. With lines rigged on | | | | the basin to indicate wind direction? Look for flags, |
| each side, you are ready to tie up on port or | | | | masthead wind indicators on the top of sailboat |
| starboard side. | | | | masts, or ruffles on the water. For current, check |
| 2. Hang two to three fenders on each side--one near | | | | water flowing around pilings, day-beacons, or light |
| the bow and another near the beam (widest part of | | | | structures. |
| the boat). This protects you no matter which side | | | | Now you know five basic preparations you need to |
| you dock on, and protects other boats in case you | | | | make each and every time you enter a marina or |
| make contact while maneuvering. | | | | basin for close quarters maneuvers. Learn how to |
| 3. Break out a boat hook or two. Open up the | | | | dock a boat like a pro and you will boost your |
| collapsible type boat hook to the full extended | | | | skipper skills to new levels--guaranteed! |
| position. This helps your crew reach hard to grab lines | | | | |