What is your policy when docking

B

BoatCrazy

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So what is your policy when you go to dock your boat, and there are people on your boat, or on the dock.

This question applies to backing into a slip as well as docking to a floating side or bulkhead.

When I am in my little boat and I dock to the floating dock, I want NO ONE to move, I ask for them to be seated and not to shift weight. I ask for that because on a 17 footer, when people start moving, the boat leans and sits a different way. Doesnt really throw off the ability to dock, but its just not what I prefer. We all have enough to worry about with wind, current, other boats around etc.

I also ask for all hands to remain IN the boat and do not reach for lines. I will bring the boat right to the lines (I lay the lines out so they go right to the cleat once docked, no reaching no pulling. Also, I ask for hands to be kept in the boat because I do not want anyone pushing off, thats how bones break.

When backing into a slip with the big boat, the same applies. If needed I will appoint someone to throw a line. Also, I discourage people on the dock from jumping onto the swim platform to help tie up before the boat is even fully at the dock. I make sure that people are sitting not in the rear corners of the boat so I can easily get to the cleats and lines without tripping over people.

What do you all do?
 
BC, exactly the same as you. When we had the big boat I told all "guests" to just stay seated and away from the gunwale and cleates during departure and return. With our 20 ft bowrider I not only tell them to stay seated but also where to sit depending on tides and winds.
 
I vary depending on visitor.

With some, I assume they'd like to learning something about boating so I put 'em to work -- with a specific assignment (pick up dock line, deploy fender, whatever) and specific instructions on how to accomplish that.

With others, I park 'em out of my lines of sight.

No one on the swim platform in any docking maneuvers.

No fending off -- partly 'cause if I can't solve it with 900 hp a mere mortal ain't gonna fix it much better, partly because unanticipated fending can hose up my approach, and partly to keep human appendages out from in between hard boat and hard piles.

-Chris
 
The GF said to me a few weeks ago that she wants to learn how to run the boat. I said no problem.

We loaded up the small boat and I stood at the front of the boat and said OK, start going through the procedures. She sees me do it a million times, and she replies with, NO NO I want to run the boat in the bay not at the dock. I said, we crawl, walk, then run. I continued with, in order to OPERATE a boat, you first must RUN the boat. She did not see the difference.

To me, when you run the boat you call the shots, you check safety equipment prior to leaving the dock, electronics, do the radio check etc, check the bilge, fuel level, start the motor. She goes yeah thats too much to do, forget it.

I said no way you are going to learn. So we spent an hour going over EVERYTHING for the little boat. She turned on the GPS (for speed), she did her radio check, she primed the bulb and started the motor. When it came time to undoing the lines, she just took them off the cleat and threw them up on the dock. I walked back and turned the motor off and gave her a lesson on how to put the lines on the dock so when we come back they are right there. She told me I was anal.

Oh well.. She will get it one of these days.
 
My boat barely fits in my slip so it's important I get it right and it's totally on me to get it in there.
My rules are:
- Don't block the view down the bridge steps (that is my only reference point to dock)
- Don't reach for lines until I say so.
- Don't touch poles at all.
- Don't go on the swim platform until I am in neutral and say you can.
- Don't open transom door until I am in slip completly and boat is in neutreul (though recently I learned opening the transom door greatly improves my visibility when docking).
 
Anyone on board is ask to have a seat out of the way except my wife who knows what needs to be done. If someone is on the dock my wife will give very clear instructions as to which line is ok to grab and exactly were to place it. In the past I have received lots of well intended help that has completely screwed up my docking such as placing a spring line on the wrong cleat so that half way into the slip the boat swings out because it runs out of line. There are a handful of people at the dock that have learned how to help and I appreciate this but most of the time I require no help this said I don't want to turn away the help because some day I may need it and they won't be there.
 
quote:
Originally posted by BoatCrazy

The GF said to me a few weeks ago that she wants to learn how to run the boat. I said no problem.

We loaded up the small boat and I stood at the front of the boat and said OK, start going through the procedures. She sees me do it a million times, and she replies with, NO NO I want to run the boat in the bay not at the dock. I said, we crawl, walk, then run. I continued with, in order to OPERATE a boat, you first must RUN the boat. She did not see the difference.

To me, when you run the boat you call the shots, you check safety equipment prior to leaving the dock, electronics, do the radio check etc, check the bilge, fuel level, start the motor. She goes yeah thats too much to do, forget it.

I said no way you are going to learn. So we spent an hour going over EVERYTHING for the little boat. She turned on the GPS (for speed), she did her radio check, she primed the bulb and started the motor. When it came time to undoing the lines, she just took them off the cleat and threw them up on the dock. I walked back and turned the motor off and gave her a lesson on how to put the lines on the dock so when we come back they are right there. She told me I was anal.

Oh well.. She will get it one of these days.

Click to expand...


Yes your are anal and are taking the fun out of it. She doesn't want to be captain she just wants to steer a little . You don't need a masters license to be a helmsman.

The shutting off of the motor because you forgot to instruct her on where the lines were to be placed was also over the top IMHO.

Let her have fun, if she likes it she will naturally want to expand her capabilities and practice docking and getting underway.
 
I didnt forget to tell her where to put the lines.

I dont think I am taking the fun out of it. Operating a boat needs to be taken seriously. Once you get the basics done, then you can have fun operating.

I know silly me for being anal to check my safety equipment, and making sure my electronics are working.

So going by your logic, I should (when he is of age) let my nephew just jump behind the wheel of a car and let him "have fun" Shouldnt you teach the basics like checking tires, mirrors, lights etc before he gets to "have fun" Same thing with the boat...
 
Nobody moves and no body TALKS ! I see boats with people on the swim platform and Bow . Now thats an accident waiting to happen.

If its not my home port and My mate throws u a line u better not FING pull on that line or ur going to get ur ass reamed !

Ahhh

Rob
 
One thing I had to make clear to my wife when backing into our slip is NEVER JUMP TO THE DOCK, not even a little jump. If you can't step off, stay on board.
 
Rob, good point about pulling the line. People do not realize that, that will throw off your whole course of action.

Great point as well, if you cannot step off, then you are going to stay on the boat.

I was taught, slow and stead wins the race
 
Rob, funny but I agree my wife and I have a routine we generally need no help or conversation while docking. My brother in law and the wife's sister came for a boat ride un-announced last year. Strike one, they are good people but the 1st thing that rubbed me wrong was they both boarded the boat with black soled riding boots, black marks all over the swim platform and cockpit before I could ask them to remove their riding boots. I'm not a no shoes person but come on black heel marks and slippery footwear? Next we went out for a couple hous cruise in the Ocean after I instructed everyone on safety, showing them the locations of the life presservers and safety equipment and what to do if there is a MOB or fire ect..... .
All goes very well until we return to the dock I turn my head as I am swinging my bow 180 degrees with the swim platform inches away from the main floating dock and I see my BIL jump over the cockpit onto the platform and then take a big step onto the dock. I put the boat in neutral and just gave him the look. Yes he had the black riding boots back on and the rear platform was wet. Once we tied up I asked him to think about what would have happened if he slipped and the boats props amputated his legs? They haven't been back to the boat since this episode. I'm glad I dont need people onboard that put me into a liability situation or that don't listen. I'm still PO'ed at his carnaval like manuver when I was spinning the boat. I only took my eyes off him for a few seconds. At least he didn't slip and I didn't have to deal with a wrongful death or injury suit.
Bill
 
Gees,
I'm still learning to dock my boat :)

If the person(s) on my boat are boaters, they usually ask what they want me to have them do, then I tell them. Same is true with my kids and wife. Non-boaters, please, just sit and don't move till were tied up. I also request no talking to me while I am trying to dock (key word her is trying :)). I have learned to shut down my ears and not listen to anybody, the boat
or on the dock.
 
Billy,
My wife and I always talk prior to docking, its not like, 95% 0f the time,its gonna be the same conversation, I guess I just like to talk and be sure we are all on the same page.
 
I was really anal about noise, people seated etc. but have relaxed a bit over the years.
Still a few basics apply...
-No one reaches for anything unless instructed.
-Lines are NOT to be tossed to anyone unless I say so (dock attendant skills vary too much)
-No one is on the aft deck/swim platform until I'm done manuevering.
-Keep the aisles clear in case I need to move quickly to the bow or stern.

When operating with someone who I've "trained": GF, son/daughter, etc.
I do use them for certain tasks that I know we've covered off previously.

Since I've been single-handing for so long, it's harder to think of how to use others than to just put'er in myself.
 
quote:
Originally posted by mdoherty

quote:
Originally posted by BoatCrazy

The GF said to me a few weeks ago that she wants to learn how to run the boat. I said no problem.

We loaded up the small boat and I stood at the front of the boat and said OK, start going through the procedures. She sees me do it a million times, and she replies with, NO NO I want to run the boat in the bay not at the dock. I said, we crawl, walk, then run. I continued with, in order to OPERATE a boat, you first must RUN the boat. She did not see the difference.

To me, when you run the boat you call the shots, you check safety equipment prior to leaving the dock, electronics, do the radio check etc, check the bilge, fuel level, start the motor. She goes yeah thats too much to do, forget it.

I said no way you are going to learn. So we spent an hour going over EVERYTHING for the little boat. She turned on the GPS (for speed), she did her radio check, she primed the bulb and started the motor. When it came time to undoing the lines, she just took them off the cleat and threw them up on the dock. I walked back and turned the motor off and gave her a lesson on how to put the lines on the dock so when we come back they are right there. She told me I was anal.

Oh well.. She will get it one of these days.

Click to expand...


Yes your are anal and are taking the fun out of it. She doesn't want to be captain she just wants to steer a little . You don't need a masters license to be a helmsman.

The shutting off of the motor because you forgot to instruct her on where the lines were to be placed was also over the top IMHO.

Let her have fun, if she likes it she will naturally want to expand her capabilities and practice docking and getting underway.

Click to expand...


I agree completely. She might eventually "get it", but she could also "get tired of boating". Make sure your mate enjoys the boat - while you still have both a mate and a boat!
 
All great points . Its funny when people come on the boat for the first time ( and I hate visitors . those that know me can atest ) The HEAD conversation is the very first instruction given. NOTHING , I REPEAT NOTHING other then what came out of u and Toilet paper go in the head !

And yes U come with black sole shoes ur banned for life .

Rob
 
quote:
Originally posted by Robski97

If its not my home port and My mate throws u a line u better not FING pull on that line or ur going to get ur ass reamed !

Ahhh

Rob

Click to expand...


Note: Avoid at all cost or be an extremely active participant in all Robski dockings depending upon sexual proclivities.
 
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