Docking Your Boat On The River? Tips and Tricks For Smooth Docking

Boating up and down the river enjoying one of the greatest assets Mother Nature has to offer is without a doubt one of the greatest ways to spend a summer day, unless you happen to be or be around someone that does not understand how the rivers current can affect docking a boat.

While boating up and down the river the current sometimes goes unnoticed until you are at idle speed or you are not under power and are just floating along in open water. River current speed varies but at normal pool on the Muskingum River here in Southern Ohio it generally flows between 1 and 2 mph (.8 to 1.8 knots). Of course this flow rate changes with the level of the river.

The rivers current also shows it power when docking your boat and if you don't show it the respect it deserves it will turn what should have been a simple docking maneuver into a docking disaster. Here are a few tips and tricks to follow to insure a safe and uneventful docking experience.

1. If you are not familiar with the dock and water conditions at the dock make an up river pass at idle speed a safe distance off the dock, pay close attention to the water conditions, any noticeable snags or protruding rock formations, the condition of the dock; are there cleats on the dock? Is the vacant space big enough for your boat?
2. Now that you have familiarized yourself with the conditions you will need to prepare your boat accordingly. Put out your boat fenders, get your dock lines ready, attach a line to the port side cleat closest to the bow and attach another line to the port side cleat closest to the stern.
3. Inform your crew of your intentions and what you want each of them to do and when. (tip; have everyone stay seated while you are approaching the dock and maneuvering your boat into position.)
4. Always approach the boat dock heading up river into the current, most of the time you only have one chance to put your boat into place smoothly without incident so take it slow but be assertive. Approach the boat dock at a 45 deg. angle while heading the bow of your boat at a spot on the dock that would represent about two thirds of your intended dock space, when the bow of your boat is approximately 10 feet off the dock change your angle to 30 deg. and power down, at this angle the current will push your bow towards the dock and slow your forward momentum, when your bow is approximately 3 feet off the dock quickly spin the helm full port (counterclockwise) and bump the engine into reverse, this will bring the stern to the dock, stop your forward momentum and make your boat parallel with the dock.
5. At the point that the boats settles in parallel to the dock, step onto the dock and secure the bow with the dock line you previously attached to the forward port cleat. (tip; always secure the bow first, if the bow is allowed to drift out the current will quickly force the boat out away from the dock and push it down river.)
6. Once you have secured the bow line secure the stern line, make sure you leave enough slack in the lines to allow the boat to ride out the wakes of passing boats, add additional fenders if needed and depending on the boat and the conditions you may need to add spring lines to help keep the boat parallel with the dock, and to keep it from moving forward in windy conditions.

When the time comes to leave the boat dock and go back to boating there are a few things you will need to be aware of to insure an uneventful exit from the dock.

1. Start the boat a few minutes before you are ready to leave, bring the engine up to operating temperature, you don't want a cold stall while attempting to exit your dock space. 
2. Designate one of your passengers as the docking hand and have the others take a seat and remain seated until you are out away from the boat dock.
3. It is important to remove the dock lines in the correct sequence; first remove any spring lines you may have used, next remove the stern line, once everyone is seated and the captain gives the word the dock hand should remove the bow line and quickly push the bow of the boat out away from the dock, then walk quickly to the stern and board the boat making sure the stern clears the dock, at this point the river current will have caught the bow of the boat and will have started to pulled it out and down river, once the dock hand is safely aboard engage the drive into forward gear and gently power out of your dock space, if all went well you should be exiting your dock space at about the same angle that you approached it coming in.
4. Once you have cleared the dock area and are in open river remove any remaining fenders and dock lines and enjoy your boating day on the river. 

Always make sure your dock lines and fenders are in good condition, when the time comes to replace and or upgrade your docking equipment or for any of your boating supplies please visit our friends at West Marine.

Boat often and Boat safe.

As always your questions and comments are encouraged and appreciated.