Need lessons on how to dock our boat

[Descant]

My wife and I share the duties, and now she drives more than I do.
However, too many boaters and the audience on the dock expect that a man will always dock perfectly, and that women can't drive boats.

Let your wife drive. If she's perfect, say "Perfect, Honey. Just like we practiced. You remembered everything."

If she makes a little misjudgment, and we all do, look at the chauvinists on the dock, shrug your shoulders and say "Close to perfect, Honey."

[pcmc]

Originally Posted by Descant

My wife and I share the duties, and now she drives more than I do.
However, too many boaters and the audience on the dock expect that a man will always dock perfectly, and that women can't drive boats.

Let your wife drive. If she's perfect, say "Perfect, Honey. Just like we practiced. You remembered everything."

If she makes a little misjudgment, and we all do, look at the chauvinists on the dock, shrug your shoulders and say "Close to perfect, Honey."

Hahaha, love this.

[dickiej]

Go to the ramp for some laughs too! More than once, I've backed down and forgot the transom plug!

[winnisummergal]

I was docking rental boat for the first time and was by myself this summer. Approached dock, pulled up nice and slow, put in reverse, cranked wheel and brought rear to dock, put in neutral (I thought), jumped out with both lines to tie off.

Yep, boat was not in neutral, still in very slow reverse (hadn't clicked all the way in). I'm pulling lines and the boat is moving back, had minor panic attack, jumped on board again at last second before I got pulled into lake and got things under control. Took a little ride to calm my nerves before I approached again. I'm sure I was hysterical to watch!

[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.

[GTO]

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.

Never be afraid to ask for help. Your man card won't be revoked if you do. There are plenty of people on the public docks that are willing to take a rope for you and get you into a space

[whalebackpoint'r]

There are helpful videos on YouTube including some on the use of a dock wand. I don't have one but it looks interesting.

[Chaselady]

Originally Posted by GTO

Never be afraid to ask for help. Your man card won't be revoked if you do. There are plenty of people on the public docks that are willing to take a rope for you and get you into a space

This is so true! And remember, don't be proud and refuse to ask for help. There are plenty of yahoos out there who think they know what they're doing, and end up slamming into someone else's boat at a busy dock.

[Just Sold]

Originally Posted by Chaselady

This is so true! And remember, don't be proud and refuse to ask for help. There are plenty of yahoos out there who think they know what they're doing, and end up slamming into someone else's boat at a busy dock.

I have to agree with you Chaselady but way back in the late 80's on the 4th of July at the Alton town docks I did ask a boater to assist as I was pulling away from the dock. It was a very windy day. Mr. boater was sitting in his deck chair on the back of his small cruiser. He did not even acknowledge my request until I almost hit his precious boat and then he jumped up to fend me off with a real sour attitude. So there is always one jerk in the crowd unfortunately.

[Descant]

Thank you Elizabeth for this thread. When I was growing up, my father relayed every Power Squadron meeting to me. Almost every Lake Winnipesaukee cruiser had a PS flag on the transom. On the docks with boating friends, they discussed those lessons, even down to how to coil a rope. And knowing that when you attach it to a cleat, it is no longer a rope. It becomes a line. Or a painter. You don't hear that word much anymore. Anyway, with those decades of history, if not experience, I've learned some things from this discussion. BZ Elizabeth.

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by Descant

My wife and I share the duties, and now she drives more than I do.
However, too many boaters and the audience on the dock expect that a man will always dock perfectly, and that women can't drive boats.

Let your wife drive. If she's perfect, say "Perfect, Honey. Just like we practiced. You remembered everything."

If she makes a little misjudgment, and we all do, look at the chauvinists on the dock, shrug your shoulders and say "Close to perfect, Honey."

In all that is unfair in this man/woman world, I will have to admit that I love that I get a pass when I do not dock well and enjoy the compliments when I do dock well, because it is unexpected for a woman to do this "man's" job.

I know of times when the guy driving the boat gave the docking to the woman in crowded places for just this reason. We are all just a tad silly!!

IG, just watchin' that ice melt!

[jazzman]

I always tie a rope between the bow and stern cleats with about 10 feet of slack (which I pull into the boat). As long as you can get the bow against the dock you can reel the back end in (or the other way around if things go really bad). I also keep a docking loop on board.

http://www.theboatloop.com/boat-accessories/

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

In all that is unfair in this man/woman world, I will have to admit that I love that I get a pass when I do not dock well and enjoy the compliments when I do dock well, because it is unexpected for a woman to do this "man's" job.

I know of times when the guy driving the boat gave the docking to the woman in crowded places for just this reason. We are all just a tad silly!!

The non-Navy types can Google BZ (Bravo Zulu). I know from my pilot days, air not water, that as a group, the ladies are better pilots. Gentle on the controls, calm and focused. Same for boats if they have the chance.

For the non-drivers out there, the Captains need to teach them at least how to call a "Mayday" on the VHF, not 911. Help may be in the boat 100 yards away. They'll never hear your 911 call. (Boat/US says your #1 safety gear is a PFD. #2 is your VHF.) A captain who doesn't teach emergency procedures when....happens, is a ....(fill in the blanks, this is a pass/fail course).

Back to docking lessons. In an emergency, get the boat to the dock, forget about No Wale Zones and do a controlled crash. Go in the ambulance with the EMT's. Somebody else will tie up the boat. Done it.

[pcmc]

Great info here!
Descant, thanks for the scenarios, I wouldn't have thought of such an instance until it's over taken me.

[pcmc]

dickiej, winnisummergal, you both may have the start of a new separate thread that only the brave shall enter. lol.
Aaahhh the memories.

( Referring back to Post 30 & 31)

[Newbiesaukee]

Originally Posted by Descant

My wife and I share the duties, and now she drives more than I do.
However, too many boaters and the audience on the dock expect that a man will always dock perfectly, and that women can't drive boats.

Let your wife drive. If she's perfect, say "Perfect, Honey. Just like we practiced. You remembered everything."

If she makes a little misjudgment, and we all do, look at the chauvinists on the dock, shrug your shoulders and say "Close to perfect, Honey."

If I did this, I better have my PFD on because I'd be going for a swim. A condescending "honey" doesn't go over well in my house. The last guy who referred to my wife as " honey" in a not good way had the phone ripped out of the wall in his guardhouse. This was many years ago but it taught me a lesson..