7 Mistakes Boaters Make When Docking a Charter Boat

7 Things to Remember When Docking a Boat

Regardless of your boating expertise, environmental factors such as a current or wind and unplanned incidents such as mechanical malfunctions might catch you off guard. One reason is that these boating suggestions have been helpful to others. Docking the boat at the end of the day can be a headache or even dangerous if you need to learn the proper techniques and have some skills. It's easy to make a hash of docking a boat because there are so many ways to go wrong.

You need to know how strong the wind is and how the current is dragging the boat, or you could damage your vessel while trying to dock. Skilled boaters always look to see where the most potent natural force is coming from so they can head into it and use it as a brake. Practice restraint, don't slam the throttle, and recognize the time it takes for the helm to affect the boat.

How to Dock and Anchor

Docking or mooring your boat can be the hardest to do when you're out on the water. Even in calm conditions, getting your boat close to a dock or mooring marker is hard. However, when you add lots of boat traffic, rough water, and wind, you quickly see that docking and mooring are fundamental skills. So keep the following in mind to dock and moor your boat well. Using the following seven boat docking recommendations, anyone from a novice to an expert may quickly get the wet markers for liveaboards and transient boaters at Marina into the water. When Docking a Boat, Keep These 7 Things in Mind:

# 1 You need to know and feel your boat

Whether it's a chartered sailing boat, catamaran or your own boat, first, you need to know how your boat handles, especially when there is no wind. The better you get at it, the more confident you'll be when trying to fit it into a tight spot in a crowded marina. Double-check your equipment for any loose items or defects affecting your boat's performance. One of the most common mistakes when docking a charter boat is not giving yourself enough room.

Meaning parking the boat too close to other watercraft, jetties, or dock ends. To get your vessel safely in and out of the dock area, you should always opt for more rather than less space. When parking your boat at the dock, give yourself plenty of room from obstacles. Next, you need to understand local conditions. It is essential to check the local tides and weather conditions before you set off on your journey. Be aware of how these local conditions may affect your boat and route. If you are unfamiliar with an area, seek advice from an experienced skipper who may know more about what lies ahead - strong currents, submerged rocks or other obstacles that could cause issues when docking your charter boat.

# 2 Choosing the wrong speed when approaching the dock

Moving too quickly when docking your charter boat can cause significant damage. For example, accidentally spinning the wheel too hard and driving full-throttle towards the dock or jetty while approaching can cause extreme damage to the boat's exterior and any nearby docks, marinas, and other ships. Conversely, if you move too slowly and cannot control your momentum as you enter the dock area, you could drift away in an uncontrolled manner.

Everyone's on the shore watching you bring the boat in, and because the pressure is on, you come in too hot and slam the dock. As a result, your boat might come away with some scrapes and your ego with bruises. Avoid this in the future by judging your approach to the dock cautiously, balancing gentle acceleration with enough juice to get you there safely. Approach the dock slowly and know when to apply sufficient power to counter and overcome the wind, current, momentum and other factors at play. It's always better to approach the dock in short bursts of power rather than a strong, steady pace. This way, you can manoeuvre the boat without worrying about a lot of forward momentum. It's much easier to give the motor a little gas and speed up than to slow down a boat in motion.

Apply attention to over-correcting on the throttle.

It takes a moment for the corrections you make at the helm to be reflected in the boat. Be sure to turn the steering wheel before applying power, as this prevents the vessel from travelling too quickly. Reduce your speed to the bare minimum required to steer. It will give you additional control, allowing you to dock safely without striking anything.

One of the most important parts of boating safety is operating at a safe speed at all times, especially in crowded areas. Be alert at all times, and steer clear of large vessels and watercraft that can be restricted in their ability to stop or turn. To complete the task, use the appropriate amount of throttle.

# 3 Determine wind and current

You need to consider the wind, current, or depth when docking the boat. One of the most common mistakes when docking a boat is misjudging wind, current or depth. Before moving the boat into its final position, it is important to ensure that the weather has stayed the same in a way that could change the boat's speed or direction as it moves closer to the dock. For example, if the wind or tide changes suddenly, you must change your course. Also, the water needs to be deeper near the pier. In that case, you might need help to make some navigational moves, like turning at an angle with your bow facing the dock or going backwards at full speed without running aground. Instead, face the wind or current when you move forward, whichever is stronger, as this will help you keep control. When docking, it's important to pay close attention to the wind's direction and the sea's current. If the wind is blowing into your face, you should come close to the dock at a steep angle (30°–45°) and quickly swing the boat. First, tie down the bow, then turn the boat around until the back swings in. If the wind is behind you, you should make a shallow approach to the dock (about 10 to 20 degrees) and then stop, allowing the wind to blow into the dock.

Reduce your windage when the wind is strong. This can make or break how easy or hard it is to dock, especially in a small boat.
For instance, a Bimini top or an Isinglass curtain on a powerboat can act like a sail and throw you off. The same thing can happen when a sail is left unfurled on a sailboat.

# 4 Position fenders

Understand how to dock a boat by putting fenders in the right places. There's more to this than just trying to hang the fenders out over the side. You need to figure out where the boat will touch a piling and how to position the fenders so they might not get caught underneath the pier or sway freely above it.

If you put them in the right place, even the best skippers in the world will only be able to dock better without damaging the pressure points. Fenders protect your yacht and the neighbour's boat from getting damaged when you dock. Again, there's more to this than simply placing the fenders over the side.

# 5 Get your lines ready

Secure lines so they are ready to tie your boat but keep them in the boat to avoid getting caught up in the propeller. The first line to toss is your spring line, with a loop fed through your boat's cleat.

# 6 Tie up your boat

Not Tying Off on the Cleats Properly

Check our most used boating knots blog post: HERE

So, you've got the boat docked, but you get preoccupied with something else and forget to make enough wraps or twist the line to finish the cleat. This wrong move can send you drifting off, and you'll have to catch it before you can dock all over again. So always make sure to tie off properly before starting the next task. Once your boat is parallel with the dock, immediately tie it up to avoid your boat drifting off. Then shut off your engine.

Another important piece of advice:

Your boat must be tight enough but not too tight. You have to allow for the rise and fall of the water. Rest the boat be left hanging by its lines at low tide or pulled under by its ropes at high tide. Loosen it up so it can float a little bit in the slip. To prevent the cleats from being ripped out when a strong wind blows and the boat from heeling or becoming stranded when the tide drops.

# 7 Turn off the engines once you're sure all the lines are secured

Only turn off the engines once you're sure all the lines are secured.

Individuals who have yet to learn how to dock a boat well often turn off the engine as soon as the boat is in the slip. However, you never know when a crew member will drop a line, or a piling will move out of reach. Keep the engines on so that you can move the ship as needed. Don't turn off the engines until the lines are tied down.

Do not be scared to abort. These boating tips are crucial for single-screw inboards, sailboats and other boats with limited manoeuvrability. When one approach does not seem to work well, please don't force it! Instead, circle back and give it another try.

Docking a boat requires a lot of patience and caution. So be careful even if you've already dealt with this scenario a thousand times. The use of an appropriate dock can also aid in correct docking.

What's the lesson to be learned? Of course, you can look like a complete idiot regardless of how well or poorly you know how to operate a boat if you are confronted with something new, if the weather isn't cooperating, or if anything unexpected happens, like a malfunction. However, with these seven tips in mind, any sailor, from novice to experienced, may manoeuvre the waters without causing themselves too much trouble.