Need lessons on how to dock our boat

8gv · 04-08-2014, 09:22 PM

Laying it up to a dock with boats closely situated fore and aft takes skill. I am admittedly pontoon ignorant. On all the other boats I've piloted, you first approach the dock at a 30* angle untill you almost touch it, then turn the helm hard over toward the dock and give it reverse thrust to draw the stern in. Go to some docks with no boats and set out some PFD's on the dock where the "boats" would be. Practice from both sides. Find other docks that are oriented differently to the wind. Practice some more.

When your good enough without an audience, try it for real with widely spaced boats at first. You'll get good at it eventually.

One last important point:

Don't yell at hubby while docking!

upthesaukee · 04-08-2014, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8gv

One last important point:

Don't yell at hubby while docking!

And don't let hubby yell at you while you are docking

Descant · 04-08-2014, 10:31 PM

Absolutely agree about backing out and trying again. Going out in the lake and just learning to maneuver up to a cushion will help develop skills. It will also teach you a lot about what you can and cannot see that is low in the water like your hat or a man overboard.

Absolutely disagree about the boat hook. To me, that's for picking up moorings and hats, not docking. If you want to help dock, learn to throw a line to someone on the dock. This is a skill that also requires practice. BTW, it doesn't work when your lines are too short or on the wrong side of the boat.
When you dock with a boat hook, people will see that you are new and will come running to help. If you hit my boat rubrail to rubrail, or just with your rubrail against the hull, no damage. Same when you hit a piling with your rubrail. No damage. That's what pilings, fenders and rubrails are for. When you stick the pointed end of your boat hook into my boat it can cause a huge amount of damage and then stick back into your stomach and hurt you or push you overboard.

When you pull into a dock, aiming for the middle to avoid other boats, that's fine. But don't leave the boat taking up the entire middle of the dock. Sure sign of either an amateur or a rude boater. Move the boat forward or backwards by hand to leave maximum space for others. If you think you can't back out between two boats under power, no problem, just move along one side or the other by hand until you have clearance.

Sometimes, learning together isn't the best plan. Find that friend with a similar pontoon and each of you practice individually a couple of times. When you're both yelling instructions trying to protect your boat (or mine) it doesn't make boating as much fun as it does when you develop individual confidence.

Stand on the dock and watch the Mount Washington closely. They do everything that others have suggested in posts above. Go slow, use reverse to stop, throw a line to a dock person, rubrail against the pilings, turn the wheel hard over and apply power accordingly, adjust the position after you're secure at the dock. It all works the same way on small boats too.

Sorry if this sounds preachy.

Greene's Basin Girl · 04-08-2014, 10:43 PM

I wouldn't try docking at Town Docks until you are sure you can dock without hitting another boat. Windy days can be tough. I have been docking boats since I was 4 years old and on a windy day I still can have trouble.
Good luck practicing!!!!

04-08-2014, 10:31 PM	#3
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,475 Thanks: 1,387 Thanked 1,667 Times in 1,086 Posts	Go around Absolutely agree about backing out and trying again. Going out in the lake and just learning to maneuver up to a cushion will help develop skills. It will also teach you a lot about what you can and cannot see that is low in the water like your hat or a man overboard. Absolutely disagree about the boat hook. To me, that's for picking up moorings and hats, not docking. If you want to help dock, learn to throw a line to someone on the dock. This is a skill that also requires practice. BTW, it doesn't work when your lines are too short or on the wrong side of the boat. When you dock with a boat hook, people will see that you are new and will come running to help. If you hit my boat rubrail to rubrail, or just with your rubrail against the hull, no damage. Same when you hit a piling with your rubrail. No damage. That's what pilings, fenders and rubrails are for. When you stick the pointed end of your boat hook into my boat it can cause a huge amount of damage and then stick back into your stomach and hurt you or push you overboard. When you pull into a dock, aiming for the middle to avoid other boats, that's fine. But don't leave the boat taking up the entire middle of the dock. Sure sign of either an amateur or a rude boater. Move the boat forward or backwards by hand to leave maximum space for others. If you think you can't back out between two boats under power, no problem, just move along one side or the other by hand until you have clearance. Sometimes, learning together isn't the best plan. Find that friend with a similar pontoon and each of you practice individually a couple of times. When you're both yelling instructions trying to protect your boat (or mine) it doesn't make boating as much fun as it does when you develop individual confidence. Stand on the dock and watch the Mount Washington closely. They do everything that others have suggested in posts above. Go slow, use reverse to stop, throw a line to a dock person, rubrail against the pilings, turn the wheel hard over and apply power accordingly, adjust the position after you're secure at the dock. It all works the same way on small boats too. Sorry if this sounds preachy.

04-08-2014, 09:22 PM	#1
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,127 Thanks: 64 Thanked 753 Times in 487 Posts	Laying it up to a dock with boats closely situated fore and aft takes skill. I am admittedly pontoon ignorant. On all the other boats I've piloted, you first approach the dock at a 30* angle untill you almost touch it, then turn the helm hard over toward the dock and give it reverse thrust to draw the stern in. Go to some docks with no boats and set out some PFD's on the dock where the "boats" would be. Practice from both sides. Find other docks that are oriented differently to the wind. Practice some more. When your good enough without an audience, try it for real with widely spaced boats at first. You'll get good at it eventually. One last important point: Don't yell at hubby while docking!

The Following User Says Thank You to Descant For This Useful Post:
soupyjr8 (04-08-2014)

04-08-2014, 10:43 PM	#4
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	I wouldn't try docking at Town Docks until you are sure you can dock without hitting another boat. Windy days can be tough. I have been docking boats since I was 4 years old and on a windy day I still can have trouble. Good luck practicing!!!!