There are lots of new charterers who come here looking for tips, so I'd like to jump in here with something we saw SEVERAL times, and we were shocked every time:

If you have a reservation for a slip somewhere, you STILL NEED TO RADIO AHEAD and get your dock assignment so you can set your lines & fenders. You CANNOT just tie up to a random dock & go looking for the dock hands or throw a line to the nearest employee. No less than 3 boats, one private & 2 separate charters (one Moorings cat, one Horizon mono) arrived at Scrub almost simultaneously to jockey for whatever unoccupied spots they could find. The 2 charters had reservations & didn't know they were supposed to radio in & neither had any fenders or lines out. The private boat had no reservation, tied up to the T-dock & went looking for the poor guy who was dealing with the other two. And none of them knew how to dock, so one guy made five fly-bys before getting close enough to throw a line. While it was good for entertainment value, it was utter chaos for about 30 minutes with crew scrambling to get everything out, attached, and somewhat near the dock. And all of them were alongside the dock, not in an actual slip. This also happened at Peter Island with different boats. Both marinas were busy & Peter was more crowded than we've ever seen it.

If you don't have a reservation, YOU CANNOT TIE UP IN A SLIP just because there's an empty one! At Leverick a boat pulled up without calling/radioing & started to pull into the slip beside us. When the dockhand asked them what they needed they yelled back that they were "just pulling in for an hour or two to go do some shopping". Whaaaaat??? Take a mooring ball.

We have all had our share of screw-ups, God knows we make all kinds of mistakes... but not calling ahead was a new one to me. It's not a parking lot. Would you walk into a hotel & throw your bags onto a bed in an open room & THEN go check in? What are people thinking? Use your noodle and be considerate to the people working on the docks.

On that happy note, I'll add: TIP YOUR DOCKHANDS. It is a much harder job than you can possibly imagine, especially when it's busy.

This is one of those posts when I really wish we had a 'like' button. Some people's aragance is totally outstanding. Well stated.

Fantastic post!!!

What a surprise! There is more to life than what is tolerated at the suburban mall parking lot or local Home Depot. The best life in the BVI starts with a deliberate Good Morning, Afternoon, Evening... How are you? With time and thought for all the responses. For the better places calling ahead and waiting for the staff to direct you is always best. No one truly enjoys 10 for dinner(drunk) much. So many confuse tolerated for welcome. Whether in the BVI or anywhere call ahead and tell the harbormaster what time you are expecting to be there. That really helps them plan their day. Usually you will get guidance then on when to call for docking assistance. Never enter the harbor until you are invited to enter the harbor by the master. Can you get away with skipping some of the stuff some of the time. Yes, that does not mean you help yourself or crew in the process of cutting that corner. Next time you hit the dock. Note how the appearance of the harbor staff.

Well said!!

One more rule for docking I try to follow is:

"Only dock as fast as you want to crash!" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Yes!! However: This only works if you're the one driving the boat. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Tonguea.gif" alt="" /> Nothing feels as helpless as watching someone careening toward your docked boat, totally out of control.

I'm going to add one more thing, please: when you bring your dinghy around to your bow to dock stern-to, pleeeease shorten it enough so that it doesn't spend the whole night slamming its prop into your neighbor's hull. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" />
Should you fail to do this, if you're not on board we WILL board your boat & relocate your tender. Be happy I didn't turn it loose. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I really don't mean to complain too harshly, because most people are considerate even if they're not knowledgeable, and I'm still learning as much as they are, so I get it. But omg there are some that are beyond comprehension. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

you are getting to be a real sailor, proud of you girl

Docks Suck. for all the reasons above I'd rather hang on a hook.

Well I certainly already had the mouth for it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Great post! This post should be added along with some other good ones from the past to a "sticky" post for charter newbies.

If it was just us, then it doesn't matter. But with swells running and guests both senior (my parents) and junior (our 17-month-old grandson), getting in & out of the dinghy can be uncomfortable, difficult, or downright dangerous. Much easier to tie up where everyone can safely embark & disembark in their own time and at their comfort & safety level. (And when we're home, I have to carry my 50 lb senior dog onto & off the boat, so anything other than flat water makes it pretty hard.)

I watched a day sail cat unload a group of tourists off their boat which they had pulled alongside the dock instead of stern-to. The first to get off the boat was a 92-year-old woman with a cane who had to climb down the sugar scoop & then leap to the dock. I know NOTHING about cats, but it sure seemed there should have been a safer way to treat a guest. Bless her, she made it... Barely... But I'd like our family to be treated in the best way we know how.

I can't even imagine what Peter must be like when it's crowded - it's a PITA when it's NOT crowded. And bless their hearts, but they don't have Troy and Leroy - their harbor master coming out to help us with lines when we docked the cat there last May was hilarious...

Hey - how's the construction there now, Kris? Have the finally finished??? Last May they still had the same old marina showers even though they assured Gretchen and Bill (one of the couples we had on the boat who love it there and wanted to treat everybody to a slip) that "everything's done!" when they called to reserve - <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> - Nope <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Everything is indeed done. It's beautiful. Hotel & marina reception are both in the new open building & the old reception area is just lounge area. The showers are done but I haven't looked at them. Will try to remember to poke my head in & have a look.

The Harbourmaster, Jackson, knows us now & he's terrific, but the guy who was there for one of our stops moved like January molasses. Ok for us now that I finally know how to cleat properly but a few were struggling.

Peter has become our new favorite stop. It's quiet, beautiful, good food, and the service is impeccable. Never thought I'd say that but there it is.

Oh good to hear! We will likely anchor at Deadman's when we're down in June since we will not have A/C <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> but it will be fun to check everything out. We definitely had Mr. January Molasses when we were there last May <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Where is that damn "like" button? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Totally agree!
Also understand Suburbandharma's situation. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/drinking.gif" alt="" />