I need practical docking tips from the gurus

First off, I love this forum. It's deeply informative on a subject I've come to love (sailing in the Virgin Islands) over the last 30 years, and I especially appreciate the way you all interact in a familiar and respectful tone (mostly). In light of this, I want to go out on a candid limb here and pose a revealing question. Over the years, I've been first mate or skipper on 20 or more bareboat charters to the BVI, during which I think it's fair to say I've developed proficiency at the fundamentals of handling a sailboat in open water. However, the one area that continues to give me profound heebie-jeebies is docking, particularly considering I usually only do it once or twice a trip. As a result, in this one notable respect I consider myself an abject novice (with sincere apologies to those who may find themselves fending off against my sloppy entrances). Thus, I would really be grateful for practical tips on proven maneuvering techniques in taking a berth without injury to person or property. p.s. Assume I have the use of bow thrust and will be navigating a 45 foot monohull.

Shifty from Indiana

In very general terms many who get themselves in trouble near a dock or mooring are going too fast.

A second mistake is not taking the time away from the dock to see how their boat will respond when reverse thrust is applied.

Then many do not understand or use the benefits of the spring line when approaching a dock. When deployed properly the spring line will serve as your brake and bring you gently against the dock to allow the other lines bow and stern to be secured. In almost every instance the spring lines are the two key tools to be used when approaching a dock.

Before you get anywhere near a dock make sure those on deck understand how and why you will use the spring lines. Approach the dock very, very, slowly. Understand how your stopped or nearly stopped boat will react to reverse thrust. You should not need the bow thruster at all when approaching a dock.

Here is one of the many videos on using a spring line to your advantage near a dock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjUMocc1_4w

Hint: When you see a crew set up to dock a boat with the bow line in their hands. That crew does not understand the spring line and the best practices to bring a boat to the dock under control. Have the bow and stern lines ready. But, leave those bow and stern lines secure on the deck until the spring lines have your securely in your place against the dock.

Try to keep your crew off the bow when docking. If you have a crew positioned to get off the boat or to toss a line to the dock? That crew should be at the widest spot on the boat with the forward spring line in their hand.

Slow; Almost Stopped! No Crew on the bow, forward spring line ready to go.

Way too many variables to answer without more information. Docking alongside, bow in or stern in? Wind and current can dramatically change your strategy. If your only opportunity to practice docking is on a once a year charter you are not going to master docking. When I bought my first sailboat 20 years ago it took me dozens of docking attempts to get proficient enough that I didn't sweat it.
Pulling alongside is usually pretty easy. Pulling bow in is easier than stern in. If your shore power cords will reach the power pedestal stick with bow in docking.

Go slow and easy, there are no prizes for docking quick. Learn how the boat handles under power. Know how your boat handles thrust and prop walk. Practice, practice, practice. Get a captain to help you practice one afternoon while your're chartering.

This video demonstrates the common errors. Lots of hustle, all wrong. The helmsman is is using way too much power and speed. No one in the group understands how to use the lines to facilitate getting the boat properly against the dock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAnfcAxFelw

Once near the dock only one spring from amidships should have been used forward or aft to bring the boat to the dock. The person hanging his legs over the side should not be there. The person standing and tossing random lines is lucky she did not end up in the water between the boat and the dock.

Low and slow is the key. I've seen too many come in hot and it wasn't pretty.

I'll second what Tradewinds said; the most important aspect of docking is to go slow. If you're going slow and you make a mistake, chances are nothing's going to get broken.

Take lessons in close quarters maneuvering! You can't learn it from reading about it or viewing it, only by doing it. Find someplace where they will spend a day or two with you on 30+ ft. monohulls. Docking (or grabbing a mooring) require some basic techniques, but you have to "feel" what the boat is doing and that is only achievable by experiencing it standing behind the wheel with your eyes open. Guess what, when you go to cats, you'll get to learn some additional skills.

StormJib nails it. Only thing to add is to be prepared to ignore the person on the dock insisting on being thrown the bow line. I'm amazed when I think about all of the supposedly experienced dock hands I've met who still don't understand spring lines. Worst jam I've ever gotten into while docking was because I allowed myself to be intimidated by the lady in a white shirt and khakis uniform demanding the bow line when because of the crosswind, I knew damn well the spring line was called for.

Remember, YOU are the captain, YOU now know better. Stick to your guns and throw 'em the spring line.

Another referral for NauticEd.org. They have a couple of courses (online) with video and even a practice game for monos and cats. Helped me a lot! Crew is a big factor no matter how great your skills may be. I bumped a fuel dock (not hard, no scratch) because my crew basically stood there and gave no hand signals or verbal feedback. On our boat, 43pc I couldn't see the port side very well from the helm. When the crew said nothing I assumed I was coming in perfectly then felt the bump! Also, the roving fender! Make sure one crew member is tasked with this. No matter how many times I told them, they tied all of them on! Next trip the pre trip lessons with be much more thorough.

Not a guru, but I've had lessons from them and continue to get them. In bareboat sailing school in the BVIs each of the two students had about eight practice dockings per day - wind on the dock, wind off the dock, wind across the finger piers and pilings, maneuvering restricted, depth restricted... with a great instructor. Practice taught me to be ready for anything. I still get anxious and take it very slow.

Cheers, RickG

I've always heard rule #1: Only go as fast as you want to hit something. :-)
Agree with what everyone's said above. If you can't make it on the first try, abort and try again. Your ego is much cheaper to repair than fiberglass.
My husband and I still learn something new or something we can improve on every time we dock.

OK. Everyone says "Go slow". But this can be very dangerous advice if used in the wrong situation.

Going slow can end you up in an undockable situation if the wind and or current pushes you perpendicular to the slip!

Your engine thrust is one vector in the equation. The other two are wind and current. In essence you are solving an equation involving these three variables to end up at zero velocity, docked.

I had a slip one summer in East Hampton New York where the wind was always abeam and the slip narrow, only 1 foot wider than the boat.

Any slow approach to the slip was doomed to fail. You needed enough weigh to overcome the 20 knot breeze on the beam or else you were dead meat.

So let's not oversimplfy by saying "go slow". The proper mantra should be: "Approach the dock with an understanding of the forces involved with enough weigh to control the vessel's direction to end up docked with minimal terminal speed".

Just my 2 cents worth.
PG

Agree about the spring .. Reef song is a 52 mono and Ward is a Harbor Pilot who deals with docking of cruise ships and super tankers so he is a slow and steady ( but enough speed to control the boat ) spring first man also. And don't be afraid to make sure you play around with maneuvering the boat lots before your first dock attempt . Ward describes it as being one with the boat and knowing how it will respond . Every boat is different until you get the proper feel.... Apparently ( I'm a pretty good first mate but leave the docking to the expert ) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

You might raise a lot of eyebrows in actual practice, but every mooring field gives one opportunities to practice ( even in one's mind) with bow thrust and prop walk and reverse thrust.

Just for instance, say you'd like to raft up with a boat already moored. How would you approach ? Which side ? If the boat was anchored fore and aft, and not subject to windage ( but YOU are under weigh and therefore subject to windage, current and tide ?) Little steps of thinking through the variables, and the boat response to helm, are necessary before the whole comes together.

Commendations on realizing that you need practice and experience. That realization will likely keep you out of trouble until you ultimately realize yes, you can do it.

"ignore the person on the dock insisting on being thrown the bow line"

+1

Also be prepared to tell the person on the dock which cleat you want that spring on.

Thanks a ton to you all. Really great suggestions that clearly come from the tutor of experience. Be assured that I'll take the guidance to heart. I've never had a. bad incident yet, but I'm looking forward to establishing at least enough proficiency to get past the heebie-jeebies. Among the comments I know I'll incorporate are spring line, go slow, and get the feel of the boat before approaching the dock.

Shifty

1) Hire skipper for 1/2 day if you can
2) Do excersises (NauticEd) to get a feel of your boat ....turning (forward and reverse), backing, etc. Use a mooring ball to practice approaches in all directions.. Boat stops faster when engaging Forward when going backwards (as opposed to engaging reverse when boat is going forward.
3) Get crew educated about Spring lines (As well as bow/stern lines), hand signals, and ROVING fenders.

Lots of good advice thus far. I would add, that while it may be simplistic, make sure you evaluate the situation (wind direction, speed, current, obstructions etc.) and have a plan of attack before making your approach. Don't wing it and react. Anticipate how that 20k crosswind is going to impact you.

And if it isn't working don't be afraid to power out and start over. Sure, people might be watching but that's a heck if a lot better than pranging the boat. Use what you learned the first time to nail the second pass.

Along those same lines, slips aren't all created equal. I've had my current boat for 11 years at this point and on an average Saturday we might dock 4-5 times. I have a lot of experience maneuvering that particular boat, but I'm not opposed to waving off a dockhand if they're trying to put me in a slip that I'm not comfortable with. Discretion is definitely the better part of valor.

As someone who has sailed for fewer years than you and on far fewer trips and has probably an unjustifiable confidence in his own ability, the only possible tip I have is this:

They make them out of plastic for a reason. Hitting the dock at low speed with the right fenders out will probably cause no damage. You might have to buff out some rubber, worst case.

That's how I cruise through each day with confidence!

Another great tip is to ensure you have called ahead to determine port ir starboard side tie up and ready your boat lots in advance ..... also be ready to change them quickly if the dock staff change their minds ... Remember a very fast scramble at the sopers fuel dock one trip when we went from port to starboard side tie up in 5 minutes . Your crew needs to be able to change fenders and lines quickly as needed ... And don't be afraid to tell the dock staff in advance hen you call that you will need assistance to secure . Not all dock staff are created equal. The boys st Leverick for example are incredible , others not as reliable

This thread oughta be archived and kept for easy retrieval for anyone searching for "docking tips". Lotta advice here I wish I'd had when I was a beginner.

Lesson learned the hard way...

When you come into a dock, ask/plead assistance to suggested approach, lines ready, personnel at station. Let them know you want their assistance...and are willing to tip.

REASON: many dock hands are running into arrogant know/it/all/"captains that take offense to the dockies telling them to do this/that.

Insist that their guidance, patience, help will be welcomed. and not result in a flaming diatribe to a really nice person at Leverick for instance.

No, I was not that person. But someone here knows who:)

Another vote for the guys at Leverick. Dave are you still there?

When I dock the phrase is actually:

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

The boys at Leverick are excellent and Francis, the dock master at Soper's Hole Marina is good, too.

Here's some additional advice. Assess the whole situation prior to putting yourself in a position where you have limited options or are committed.

For example, we were docking at scrub. We needed to back in for shore power to reach. So I pulled in and turned the bow away from the dock and proceeded to back in. My mistake was already made.. wind was strong and now into the bow so it pushed the boat sideways towards the dock. Fortunately I have great crew and they got fenders in place and no damage was done.

Looking at the situation after the fact, I realized the best approach would have been to start outside the marina bow to the wind and back all the way in. This way I would have had far better control. I've since used this method, backing up from a distance away and it has worked well.

While I certainly appreciate dock staff helping me I ONLY ever give them a dock line with a loop for the cleat/bollard and ask them to please just put it on -- I always want my crew to control those lines -- not have the dock staff ever have control - crew members wildly throwing coils of line at dock staff and letting them deal with it is the biggest indication for me of inexperienced Captain and crew [if that is what they are told to do.] <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

This weeks episode of Below Deck had Captain Lee docking at Leverick Bay and he was discussing with his crew how the 25 knot winds were blowing him off the dock...been there done that....slip #16 comes to mind. The guys at Leverick are always excellent help!

MAYTRIX:

Nauticed has some good modules on wind and choice of docking techniques. Some "mental excercises" helps in your eventual water performance.

One docking option is to motor all the way to your final docking location and then attach the dock lines. If you use this method there should be only minor adjustments of the boat location by hand. Another docking method is to get one corner of the boat near the dock, then attach one line in the correct orientation so you can use the motor to rotate the boat the rest of the way into position using the line as a pivot point. You should practice both methods. Try to plan which method you want to use before you approach the dock. However, be ready to change your plan at any point depending on how it works out, and the skill level of the line handlers. Try to stay calm. Yelling at people doesn't help anything. If you miss your first approach, just calmly go around and try again. There's no shame in doing that.

Also, many people don't know how to properly tie up a boat after docking. You can learn this from a book. Read about what bow, stern, and spring lines do and how to set them up properly. One of the most common mistakes is to setup lines too short, especially spring lines.

The best money I ever spent boating was paying the Sunsail boat-movers a case of beer so they could show me how to dock boats (back when Sunsail was at Hodge's Creek). I've been singlehandedly docking my monohulls ever since.

One thing taught to me by Mark (of the boat Sealife), another singlehander, about two years ago when we were taking out a catamaran for the Heineken Regatta was to do practice figure 8-s in reverse around 2 moorings. On the catamaran we did this without using the rudder, but the principle applies to close-quarters maneuvering of a monohull as well. Whenever I get to drive a new-to-me mono, I'll idle forward at slow speed and then put the boat into reverse, with rudder amidships. This lets me see how strong the prop-walk is. Some boats have almost no noticeable prop-walk while others will actually travel sideways for a bit before picking up reverse speed.

I have found that reversing into a slip is easier for me than going in forward, mainly because there's little or no prop walk when putting in a bit of forward prop to stop a reversing boat.

As others have already noted, key is preparation and planning. Because I'm alone, I will spend up to 20-30 minutes bobbing along outside of the marina and setting up every single fender I have (minus 1 which is a "rover"), and putting on 4 lines on the docking side (fore, aft, and forward/aft springs) plus one spring on the other side - just in case. I flake the lines on the lifelines so that someone on dock can just grab them easily, but it also lets someone on the boat easily handle the lines as well.

I go slow, with just enough speed to keep steerage but if there's a crosswind pushing the boat away from the dock I'll go a bit faster to give the wind less time to push my boat around.The guys at Nanny Cay and Leverick usually indulge me while I slowly back in but I know they'd rather cross their arms and tap their feet in impatience or beckon me to hurry up; but at least I don't have to do a go-around.

I have to agree with the comments about Leverick - those guys are good and can make even the least experienced skipper look like a pro coming in.

Not at all helpful, but....

One time we were pulling into Village Cay with our 62' ketch, crewed charter boat, Shearwater. We had guests on board, and were just finishing up a lovely charter.

My wife was amidships, ready to step off with the forward spring line. My mate was at the bow ready to toss the bowline after she was sprung. Although I was by no means a 'hot dog' captain, I had to come in pretty fast to maintain steerage, and the offset prop was working against me.

As we got in perfect position, my wife stepped on the dock and secured the spring line with a few feet slack. In those few feet I was SUPPOSED to reverse the engine, and she (my boat)would gently walk herself into the dock, with any forward motion halted with the spring line. We had done it a hundred times before.

But....CRAP! What was that sound? It was the prop key shearing and the engine racing. I had no reverse! My wife stood at her post and watched the spring line get tighter, tighter, then SPRANG RIIIP, the cleat pulled right out of the deck, smack into Mary's left boob, and then 'plunk' into the water! But the resistance was enough to stop the boat, and my mate secured the lines.

Mary was still clutching her chest and starting to cry. I peered over the edge of the dock looking for the lost cleat. In what turned out to be a much-repeated quote throughout our (ongoing) 36 years of marriage I stupidly said: "CRAP! That was an eighty dollar cleat!!"

Ask me about other famously stupid quotes, such as:
"What difference does it make whether the mate is a male or female?", and
"No, you can't take the gun with you shopping (in St. Thomas)! That's just what we need is to lose a $300 pistol!"
And...so many more.... sadly.

Great story!

This is a pretty long video, but one of the best I have seen. Covers a number of possible docking situation.

MD School of Seamanship - Docking

Still trying to perfect the backing into slip with high wind on the bow technique... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

one of the very first posters hit the nail right on the head: don't move towards a dock at a speed greater than you would feel comfortable hitting .. My comments, which are basically the same are .When you switch from a 20'-25' from back home up to a 45' or 50' you just do everything slower.. everything happens slower on a big yacht ,often times worth at least a half a million dollars .. just keep it slow and have one good bow man you can count onine knew that when he was where we wanted to be as we came up from downwind to our anchor we were trying for he wouls simply close his hand and I knew we were ther .BUT, we have a boat thet weighs 45,000 pounds or more that always keeps moving so he knew that when he closed his fist that I was gonna hit reverse ,a bit forcefully as it takes a lot of power to stop a boat that weighs that much .therefore ,he was always ready for my sudden reverse that might throw him forward . But because we knew other so well , no one got any surprises and we have never missed grabbing an anchor on the first try <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" />

As many others have said
"Slow is Pro"

Not quite docking, but in a twin-screw vessel the captain can always take the "face the stern" approach.

Twin screw handling, facing the stern

I found this video a couple of years back, and the kid for his age is impressive in his handling of the boat, but He sure is hard on the transmissions with constant shifting ....daddy will be overhauling those at some point! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Not a big fan of the gimmicks and tricks like turning around and reversing your hands to drive anything. Better to understand what you are doing and why. It can help to put yourself where you can see what you are doing. Or at least put someone else who understands completely what you are doing to see for you and then be capable and willing to follow the directions relayed to you.

What is demonstrated very well in the kid video is the VERY SMART "bumping" the throttles in and out to limit speed to an absolute minimum anywhere near a dock or in a tight spot. Always you just the thrust you need then back in neutral. On the high performance fishing machines with big wheels, big engines, and little below the water to go fast that is critical. It is always important on any boat approaching a mooring or dock. If you are leaving the clutch in gear most of the time you are probably doing it wrong.

Here is how gimmicks coupled without basic knowledge + speed can get someone in trouble. Someone should have stopped that lady and boat as soon as she left that clutch in gear at the start of the approach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-NkUKn5vyQ

If the kid just left those clutches in gear there would be no way to keep that type of boat under control. Just like the lady facing the wrong way to gain one advantage and losing all the others.

One thing that saved me in a tight docking situation last trip was to have someone with a fender at the ready who can clamber around quickly and drop in between the boat and the dock if necessary.