Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin
Everyone here has given great advice. But there are a few more things to state:
1. If you ever have another boater tell you that they dock perfectly every time and never make the mistake they saw you make... Laugh at them.. I have 30 years of boating experience, all over this country... dealing with all types of conditions. Yep mistakes happen and the best thing to keep in mind while docking, is do your best to mitigate the potential complications. Don't go for that tight spot up front where you will be closer to shore. Take the spot that may be a longer walk but has more room.
2. When looking for that place to dock, if you see a space that you think you can get to easily, but still feel unsure, look around, many boaters are good about lending a hand. I myself always help out around the public dock. I just have one rule... Don't expect me to tie your boat... It is not that I don't trust my skills, I just feel I don't let anyone else tie my boat, and I think every skipper should make sure his own boat is secure.
3. Realize you may have all intentions of going to Center Harbor, to go grocery shopping at Heaths, and may find the docks to crowded, to try and get in... Just remember your mission may not have gone as planned, but you got a dam nice boat ride in.
4. When you find a dock empty, take the time to practice. doing different things... I myself, when it is appropriate, like to back into a spot. It is a great skill, and when there is no risk, it is great fun to do... Yep sometimes I do really good, and impress myself, other times I have to pull out the boat hook to reach the dock.
Boat handling period is all about practice. I have driven and docked several types of boats, yes including a pontoon boat. and they all act differently. On the flip side I also took a boat one day, and spun it around in between the tight piers in Wolfboro. Sure it was only a 16' boot, but with slow movement, and hands at the ready to fend off boats anything is possible.... That day, everyone in my boat, and the people in the other boats around us realized the conditions that day, weren't going to allow any of us to back out... My boat was the smallest and easiest to get spun around first... and out I went.... with the room my boat left the others where able to move themselves around and go out front first...
Bottom line, is the boating community, is full of good people. Talk to them, let them give you advice and help you... Over time you will become quite good and docking, and wonder why you where ever nervous.
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