Skip Novak, Ullman Sails Brand Ambassador

Pick any day down at the marina.  If you’re in need of amusement, standing around watching people docking their boats is always worthwhile.  Having made all the mistakes myself, I know what it’s like to suffer casual spectator’s schadenfreude – you try to avoid eye contact and can almost hear the spectators’ sighs of satisfaction knowing they made a good decision to plant themselves on that bollard to watch. If you are really unlucky they’ll also give you some advice on docking.

So here is some.

Like any maneuver it has to be all thought out.  I suggest you write up a ‘standard operating procedure’ so for every landing you follow the same steps.  Below are some must-dos for docking.

1. Fenders: Hang your fenders out early at the right height for the dock, and if at all possible, avoid tying them to the lifelines as a snagged fender between the boat and dock can bend your stanchions. Instead tie the fenders to the rail or even across the side deck to a winch, cleat or handrail.

2. Lines: You should have all the dock lines pre-coiled into two parts – one for throwing and one for letting go. If you are right-handed, that hand should carry your throwing coil with the other coil in your open left hand so the line peels off unimpeded.  Get your crew to practice this on shore!  At the very least you need a bow, stern, and at least one spring line – usually the aft one led from amidships to stop any forward motion if you can get it made fast quickly.  You can also use the aft spring line to pin the boat to the dock with the engine in forward while you calmly adjust the bow and stern lines and rig a forward spring line.

Also, always make fast the lines on board before throwing ashore.   If someone catches your line, at least he or she can pull the boat in.   There is nothing worse than having someone on the dock overhaul that loose line right over the side, temporarily forgotten when you are rushing around with the other lines.  If no one is there to lend a hand on shore, someone has to jump for the dock from the boat.  When doing this however, always throw the lines from the boat to the dock first – never jump with the lines in hand as you can be brought up short with a dunking at best!

3. Knots: Lastly never mind about doing a fancy knot if you want to secure the boat against wind or tide – just wrap the lines around anything solid and secure with two half hitches. One of Gary Jobson’s one liners that I remember is, “If you can’t tie a good knot, just tie lots of them.”

Photo by Daniel Hug | barba.no