How do I dock my boat safely?

1. How do I dock my boat safely? The simplest thing that scares an amateur sailor is the task of docking the boat alongside a structure like jetty. Just like parallel parking your car perfectly, docking a boat is something that requires practice and patience. Hastily docking your boat will cause it to bang against the structure, docking it too slowly will tire you. So you must know how to anchor and dock your boat when the need arises. Here are some tips to do so. Make sure you do not approach the pier head on. While you are on sea and at least two boats length distance away from the pier, start aligning your boat in a parallel position. This will save you some effort while docking and anchoring as your boat will already be its docking position. Once the boat has been aligned properly, switch the engine into neutral. Once the boat as come near enough to the jetty due to its momentum, you can now anchor and dock. Make sure the people on board know that docking is about to start. Have ropes ready as the boat slides along the pier. Once the boat is close enough to the pier, you can now dock using the ropes. Docking and anchoring are two things all the boat owners should be familiar with. You never know when you might have to make a stop in the middle of ocean. Sure enough, you won’t be needing to dock them, but anchoring will help your boat stay in one place while you make a stop. Don’t be one of those boat owners who are often found asking themselves “How do I dock my boat this time”? Approaching the pier slowly is something that is recommended to a beginner. But do not go too slow, as controls may not work then. Make sure to find the slowest speed at which you can maneuver your boat conveniently, while the controls are still working. This takes some time and experience. One of the many reasons why going slowly is recommended initially is that it will give you ample time to react in case anything goes wrong with docking and anchoring procedures. If the boat moves out of its parallel position, you must switch the engine into reverse and maneuver it accordingly. During all of this, the motor propellers must be facing the pier or jetty. Do not give the engine full throttle while reversing. A little burst should do and boat’s momentum will take care of the rest. For amateur sailors, this whole procedure might feel a little intimidating. But with a little practice you will be able to easily and safely dock your boat.