How To Dock Your Boat in Three Easy Steps

Story by Craig Ritchie Aug. 04, 2015

While just about anyone can drive a boat in open water, the mark of a master mariner is how smoothly you can bring your craft into the dock. Here’s how to land your boat like a pro in three easy steps.

Slow and Steady

The real key to docking is to do take it slow and stay in control. Get your fenders and your lines ready ahead of time, so as you approach the dock you can focus solely on the task at hand.

You want to approach the dock at a shallow angle – 20 to 30 degrees is about perfect. Because boats don’t have brakes, it’s best to approach it as slowly as possible. Keeping your hand on the throttle and slowly touching the boat into and out of gear lets you go more slowly than leaving it in gear all the time, so you can adjust to currents or gusts of wind more easily. This stop-and-go technique also lets you coast up to the dock gently, without fear of hitting of or having to wildly fend off the boat at the last second.

Secure the Bow

As you gently coast up to the dock, you or one of your crew should be able to just reach over the side and wrap the front line around a cleat on the dock. If you’re alone, tie the line off, being sure to leave a little bit of slack so it won’t bind when you pull the back end in (if you tie the bow off on too short a line, you won’t be able to swing the stern over). If you have help, you don’t need to tie the bow line off just yet — simply have your helper loop it around the dock cleat and hold on to the tag end of the line to keep it snug.

Swing in the Stern

Once the bow is held securely in place, turn the steering wheel all the way toward the dock and briefly touch the engine into reverse gear. This should pull the back end in toward the dock.

If you’re driving a boat with tiller steering, then move the tiller as if making a sharp turn toward the dock, then briefly put the engine in reverse. Presto – the boat stern should gently crawl in to the dock.

Nice job, Captain! Now just tie off your bow and stern eyes securely, and you’re done.