Boating School Information

Archive for the ‘Docking school’ Category

After years of running a boating school I can confidently say that the most stressful part of the day for most new boaters is returning to the slip and putting the vessel safely away. This important task that inevitably comes at the end of a very relaxing and fulfilling day on the water can actually ruin the day with levels of stress, anxiety and frustration that should not be associated with boating.

How can you avoid these uncomfortable situations? Make sure the company that trains you offers a docking school as a part of their curriculum. Practicing docking a boat in a safe environment with the supervision and guidance of an experienced professional can greatly increase your skills and experience in approaching a dock and make the next time you come in on your own a more relaxing a rewarding experience.

You will hear talk of the “egg shell landing”, well it is not a myth, it is something you can certainly do with a little practice. What is an egg shell landing? It is an expression used to describe how well you maneuver a vessel into a slip, in an egg shell landing you would not have broken the theoretical egg shells surrounding your hull by touching any surface of the dock or another vessel. With a little practice and instruction at a good boating school you will be able to perform egg shell landings the majority of the time.

There are many things to consider when approaching a dock. One of the most important items is the type of boat you are operating and its maneuvering capabilities. A twin engine power boat with bow and stern thrusters will be much easier to bring into a slip then a full displacement sailboat with a folding prop and small rudder. Whatever type of vessel you are operating be sure that you are familiar with its low speed maneuvering capabilities before you approach a fixed object like a dock. What happens when you engage reverse? In most single engine boats the stern will “walk” sideways in the same direction each time. If you can anticipate which way and how far the stern will walk you can use this to your advantage when approaching the dock.

Some other things to consider that a good boating school will teach you: winds, currents, tides, other vessels, line selection and placement, fenders,  low speed maneuvering, etc. Having a plan when approaching a dock is important, having the flexibility and skills to change that plan based on the current situation and conditions can make or break a good day on the water.

And always remember the old adage taught at the WindPath Boat Club docking school: “Never approach the dock faster than you want to hit it.”