| I have just returned from a boat delivery that took me | | | | 5) Again, put the Port Engine in Forward and the |
| from Boca Raton, Florida to a Marina on the C&D | | | | Starboard in Reverse. If the boat starts moving |
| Canal, a major shipping canal between the upper | | | | forward, just take the Port Engine out of gear for a |
| Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay. During this 7 day | | | | couple of seconds to stop the forward momentum. |
| trip, I traveled outside on the Ocean and in the | | | | 6) Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you are clear of any |
| Intracoastal Waterway through South Carolina, North | | | | obstacles and continue safe operating steering and |
| Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Running | | | | speed. |
| outside, with the exception of the seas being | | | | So now, we have been working on this, practicing |
| occasionally rough (7 to 9 ft in places), was not | | | | whenever possible and he has it down really well. |
| eventful. The inside trip I found to be very eventful as I | | | | We pull into a Dock in the town of Coinjock where |
| had the chance to observe Captains, Owners and | | | | transient yachtsmen stop for the night in preparation |
| Mates operating their boats and yachts. Overall, they | | | | for the next days voyage either North or South. It is a |
| all did really good but there were some very scary, yet | | | | great dockage with Great Food. |
| entertaining and educational events that happened. | | | | We are standing on the Dock and we see this 37' |
| Normally when I see a captain doing something wrong, | | | | Explorer/Tug Style boat coming in and we rush down |
| I would just shrug my shoulders and walk away | | | | the dock to greet them. We had passed them earlier |
| shaking my head but what made me pay more | | | | in the day and they thanked us as the only Cruising |
| attention this trip was that the owner of the yacht that | | | | Boat that had slowed down and told them we were |
| I was on had just purchased the yacht and was doing | | | | passing thus minimizing the wake they would |
| most of the captaining and I was there mostly to train | | | | experience, a policy that I have always had as did the |
| him on the difference between his old boat and this | | | | owner and is just plain common courtesy. We thought |
| new one. | | | | it would be great to talk to them about their voyage |
| I have to admit that his docking with the new boat | | | | and look at the boat. |
| was a little rough in the beginning even though I knew | | | | So now, this boat is coming toward the dock at a |
| he was a good captain. Kind of the typical attacking | | | | pretty good pace with the owners wife on the stern |
| the dock and looking for help when he got there. He | | | | with line in hand. As they go by at about 3 knots and |
| had some good experience from over 30 years of | | | | approaching at about a 45 degree angle, she throws |
| owning boats and had a 33 foot Sea Ray Sundancer | | | | the line to the dock hand and yells "Stop us any way |
| prior to this 42 foot Sea Ray Sedan Bridge, which | | | | you can". Oh may... not what any dock hand or other |
| handles completely different from the Sundancer. | | | | captain wants to hear. At the same time, the owner |
| There were other things that he learned about his | | | | captain comes out of the pilot house and goes toward |
| yacht but I'm just going to address the docking in this | | | | the bow. Now, remind you that the boat is plowing |
| article. | | | | forward toward the dock. The boat, after the dock |
| We spent some time working on approaching the | | | | hand quickly ties the stern line to the piling, and hoping |
| dock for a smooth stop. We had plenty of opportunity | | | | that the piling, line and boat cleat all stays in place, the |
| every time we had to stop for Fuel or dockage for | | | | boat comes to a sudden stop and people are running |
| the night. | | | | around to try to get it to settle down. It had to be one |
| The main trick I taught him was how to take a boat | | | | of the scariest and most dangerous dockings of a |
| with twin diesel engines and a bow thruster and move | | | | private boat I had ever seen. |
| it sideways from the dock rather than just driving | | | | I just looked over at owner of the boat I was on and |
| forward or leaning the bow on a piling and backing out. | | | | said..."You're looking pretty good right now. You have |
| This method allows him to leave a dock where he is | | | | now see the extreme of what Not To Do." He |
| between other boats without endangering himself or | | | | laughed and from that day on he did an even better |
| the other boats, and, frankly, it just looks really cool. | | | | job of docking and leaving. Regretfully, this was not the |
| Here is the method: | | | | only dockage of this kind that we saw over the next |
| First, assume a Starboard Side Tie to the dock. | | | | several days. I finally asked on wayward captain that |
| 1) Release all lines from the dock. | | | | left the helm before the boat was stopped a question. |
| 2) Use your Bow thruster to push your bow Port off | | | | "When you drive your car and pull into a parking space, |
| the dock about 5 feet. I would not recommend more | | | | do you just put it in neutral and wait for the curb to |
| than that on the first move because your stern is | | | | stop your car from going forward?" He looked at me |
| going to move toward the dock and could potentially | | | | and said, "Of course not." I could only look at him and |
| hit it with the result being damage to your stern. | | | | say, "Then why do you put your boat in neutral and |
| 3) Put your Port Engine in Forward and Starboard in | | | | just wait for the dock to stop you?" There was no |
| Reverse like you would do to spin your boat around. | | | | answer from the captain. |
| Your Port engine is now pushing against the thrust of | | | | So for all you new boaters, or even ones that have |
| the bow thrusters movement thus causing your stern | | | | been around for awhile, remember that your job in |
| to come out while your bow remains still. Your boat will | | | | docking is to put that boat or yacht right where you |
| tend to move forward so you will want to make sure | | | | want it, and put it in "Park" and then the hands on |
| your RPMs are such that it does not. | | | | board or on the dock should only have to tie it up. If |
| 4) Use your Bow thruster again to the Port pushing off | | | | they have to pull your boat in or stop it's movement, |
| another 5 to 8 feet. You can now push it out a little | | | | you have not done your job and it is time that you |
| further because your stern has moved away from the | | | | start practicing so that you look like the Pro you want |
| dock and the danger of it hitting a piling has diminished. | | | | to be. |