They are the three little words that can cause both fear and anxiety for new boaters.
Docking the boat.
I often hear from first-time boaters who dread the thought of bringing a boat into the dock. There are members of Freedom Boat Club who will not take a boat to Whitey’s Fish Camp for fear of having a docking mishap.
At one time or another, we have all been there. Docking can be tricky, as wind, waves, or current come into play. Don’t let your fear take away the joy of boating.
There are many tools to help you became comfortable and confident in docking a boat. You can find useful information on discoverboating.com. And there is a helpful video from Boat US at
You can even practice with an online docking simulation at www.BoatUS.com/dockit.
The four keys that are mentioned in the video are the most important. The most common mistake I see people make is coming in too “hot”. My simple advice: Slow down! Take your time. Simply “bump” your boat in and out of neutral and make sure your crew knows their responsibilities.
Check out my previous blog post for how to toss online and you should be fine
The bottom line: There is always going to be a learning curve in mastering a new skill, but it is worth it. There are no shortcuts. The only way to learn how to dockis to actually do it.
Now, do a little homework, check the online resources, and don’t be too hard on yourself. We have all been there.
