Outboard Powerboat Handling, Part 1 – How to Dock A Boat

19 Responses So Far to “Outboard Powerboat Handling, Part 1 – How to Dock A Boat”

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  Winston Shaw says:

  Great tips! One of the biggest mistakes I see folks making while docking is coming into the dock parallel to the face of the dock while trying to get as close to the face of the dock without hitting it. As Ben demonstrates in this video coming in at an angle and then using reverse to kick the stern in works better. Over the years I’ve also learned to limit the length of my normal bow line to just shy of the prop. That way if I somehow forget to secure the line onboard after shoving off it won’t get wound up in the prop…not, you understand, that Imever do that.. If a particular docking situation requires a longer bowline I have one handy to use.

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  Bill Perkins says:

  I’ve got the same engine .As it aged I was occasionaly embaressed by it conching out at idle when manouvering in tight spaces .At my mechanics recomendation I started useing Yamaha’s RingFree fuel aditive .End of problem -Smoooth reliable idle .

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    Ben Mendlowitz says:

    Thanks Bill, my 2006 Yamaha 115HP rarely dies when shifting. It can be a bit rough at idle, so maybe I’ll try a can of the additive. I’ve been lucky to have ethanol free gas available for the last few years, so that has helped eliminate any fuel issues and gives a bit more power over the alcohol diluted fossil fuels.

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      Bill Perkins says:

      Yea ,2006 . I use my boat year round here inGeorgia ;but intermittently .Sometimes the boat is idle for a couple of months at a time . I think haveing the additive in the injectors during storage may be doing the good . This is my first fuel injected engine and my first 4 cycl. All good .

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  martin gauthier says:

  Your comment “Nothing says you don’t know what you’re doing like riding around with your fenders hanging over the side” reminds me of our departed friend Dick Wagner. I’m sure he wasn’t the first to say it but he said it often.

  Thanks for the video..

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  Captain Nemo says:

  Great video, Mr. Mendlowitz, and I love Abaco – she’s a dandy! I have a couple of observations though, regarding some things which I do a little differently when getting underway. My volunteer dive unit owns 6 boats, all under 20-feet in length and only one of which has a prop. The rest are jet drives because we routinely operate with and around divers in the water, and a jet drive lower unit is far safer for that situation. At 6:22 seconds into the video, you reach in and start the engine while still on the dock. I feel this isn’t the best practice, and advocate only starting the engine from the helm. Also, if you do this with a jet drive – even with the engine in neutral – the boat will slowly back away from the dock, since jets have a clamshell device which sits in the nearly down position while in neutral, directing a small amount of thrust backwards until they’re shifted into forward. The thrust isn’t as great as when the engine is in actual reverse mode, but its still apparent, and if one were to start the engine while outside the boat with the bow line loose or disconnected, things could get a bit dicey.

  Instead, what I do when getting underway while running solo is uncleat the lines while leaving a single turn around each cleat, then take them back into the cockpit with me as I board. Then, after the engine is running, I can flip them off the cleats and get underway. Alternately, I may lead one line from its single turn around a dock cleat and secure it to the boat’s quarter cleat, then place the engine in either slow ahead or slow astern (depending on which way is best) then go forward or aft to remove the other line. (Sort of like a spring line in reverse.). But I do love your videos and the entire site. I’m very glad I finally decided to take the plunge (pun intended) and join OCH.

  Sincerely,
  Greg Mactye
  (AKA Capt. Nemo)

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    Ben Mendlowitz says:

    Hi Greg, Your line system makes perfect sense and I too will often leave a line or two hooked around a cleat if the conditions call for it (wind off the dock or other boats close by). My Yamaha and most if not all modern outboards will not start unless they are in neutral, so I do not have the same worry as you with a jet drive walking the boat slowly aft even when in neutral. Certainly with an older engine that could start in gear, it would be bad practice if no one was at the helm. Best regards, Ben

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  alan carlisle says:

  Would appreciate an illustration of the same challenge with a fixed engine and rudder .. perhaps down the road…
  The island ferry boat Captain (10 passengers) does a wonderful job.. How does he do it?

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    Steve Stone says:

    Hi Alan. Here’s a video that’s along the lines of your request — perhaps you haven’t seen it yet?

    How to Dock a Boat – Single Screw Inboard

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      alan carlisle says:

      Could not find for lookin’..
      Navigatin’ the Index 101 needs another look..
      Very helpful… Thank you Steve..

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  Joseph Lincks says:

  I really learned alot from the docking video. I am buying an 18 ft bowrider this winter to use on the lake property with a dock that I purchased last fall. I have a lot to learn. I signed up as a member moments ago. Joe

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    Dustin Urban says:

    Welcome aboard, Joe! Here’s a head start I some videos that will help you prepare, if you haven’t seen them already (you can browse the various video categories by looking at the right hand column on the “All Videos” page https://www.offcenterharbor.com/all-videos/ ):

    Powerboat Handling: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/category/powerboat-handling/?ref=1

    Anchoring a Boat: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/category/anchoring-a-boat/?ref=1

    Seamanship Skills: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/category/seamanship-skills/?ref=1

    Marine Electrical Systems: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/category/marine-electrical-systems/?ref=1

    Marine Engines: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/category/engines/?ref=1

    Enjoy and best of luck,

    Dustin

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  Lynne Fraker says:

  I have always approached the dock heading into the wind or current depending which is stronger, using your demonstrated techniue, but a good friend, and excellent boat handler, believes that with an outboard engine, there is more control docking with the outboard into the wind. What do you think?

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    Ben Mendlowitz says:

    Hi Lynne, coming in to a dock with the stern towards the tide or wind works fine. Part two will show this technique when approaching anchored boats. For a dock, you can easily edge the stern in with complete control as the bow will naturally stay down wind or current. Get a stern line on pretty tight, or an aft leading spring line, and then the bow should come right in, use a little bit of forward throttle, if there is an off shore component to the wind.

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  benjamin herrmann says:

  Ben, could we have a little more info on your boat? What a great, simple runabout!

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    Steve Stone says:

    Hi Benjamin. While shooting this series on outboard handling, we also shot a “Good Boat, Up Close” video on ABACO, so stand by for that one, hopefully soon.

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    Ben Mendlowitz says:

    Hi Benjamin, She is a great boat, which I appreciate every time I set out. If you want to know more before we have a chance to edit the upcoming video that Steve mentions, please explore the links above in our “Navigate Further…” section to learn a bit about Abaco.

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  michele del monaco says:

  Why don’t make a lesson about mooring a sailboat in a river, it has always a problem 4 me

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  Doug Wood says:

  Ben makes it all look effortless. If you guys ever want to film a piece on how NOT to cozy up to the dock, give me a call. I can probably help you out with that.