Powerboat Docking with NauticEd

Anecdote: The lead captain of a water taxi fleet was water-testing new skippers when a real salt stepped aboard. This fellow had been running fishing boats for his many-decade career and even owned a fleet of them. When he took the helm while the boat was in the slip, all he did was tap it in forward, then lean over the side and study the water intently. Then in reverse, the same thing. It was like he was on a Zen plane with boat docking: before untying he needed to know everything he could about wind, tides, current and how the boat, the keel, the rudder, the shaft and propeller all interacted with each other. That skipper made the deepest impression on the lead captain, and turned out to be one of the most skilled in the fleet. 

Studying the effects of your actions and the impact on your boat is helpful, and thinking about and communicating what you intend to do with your crew is very useful as well. And remember, if things go wrong, just re-enter the slip, call off the maneuver, and think it through a second time. No need to rush or get flustered. Doing a “pause” can save you face and your boat and crew from damage or injury. 

Wind coming into the slip channel and your boat is docked stern-to

This maneuver is best handled by steering out of the slip, then immediately turning downwind. Back out of the slip channel and well into the main channel before you engage in forward gear.

Wind blowing into the slip channel and your boat is docked bow-to 

In boats with stern and outboard drives, simply back out of the slip into the slip channel, then into the main channel. You may need a bow line to the windward dock to prevent the bow from blowing downwind or being at risk of contacting the adjacent boat as you engage reverse.

Alternatively, when using an inboard with a tendency to propwalk in very high winds, allow the stern to blow downwind as you leave the slip. You may need a bow line connected to the windward dock as the boat comes out of the slip in order to prevent the boat from being pushed against the adjacent boat. It is imperative, though, that the person in the bow be instructed on when to release the bow line. That way they can clear any potential knots in the bowline to become caught in the dock cleat. 

Wind blowing out of the slip channel and your boat is docked bow-to 

 Back out into the wind using propwalk, then engage your boat forward.

Here is an animation which a sailing student asked us to make in a high-wind situation. He needed to reverse out of the slip without his boat hitting the boat next docked downwind of him.

Wind blowing out of the slip channel and your boat is berthed stern-to

This is the simplest of scenarios, since all you will need to do is power your boat out of the slip and into the main channel.

The wind blows across the docks and your boat is docked stern-to

Once again, you are simply to drive the boat out of the slip and into the main channel. If the slipway is narrow, then leave slowly, and wait until the stern is clear, then apply a burst of reverse throttle to use propwalk to your advantage. With boats using stern and outboards, apply reverse with the helm over (in this case to port) in order to quickly turn the boat and slow its progression towards the opposite docks. In a very narrow channel, you can snub off a dock line to a midships cleat which will assist you in turning the boat.

The wind blows across the dock and your boat is docked bow-to

On boats propelled by stern or outboard drives, you simply reverse the boat out of the slip, into the slip channel, then into the main channel. If the wind is light, then you may elect to turn the boat in the slip channel, and come out in forward gear.

For inboard drives, you can use propwalk, and for for stern and outboard drives use the below.

Other configurations wind and current are solved using variations of the above techniques.

Note about current: Since water is 800 times denser than air, a half-knot to one knot current can push your boat around quite inconveniently. Becoming an expert at boat docking in current needs experience. But at the same time, being knowledgeable about how the boat gets pushed with current and how to use spring lines to take advantage of the forces and moments as shown in the previous module can be extremely valuable skills for you to harness for safety and efficiency.

For more on docking check out  this article here!