Just when you think things are going well...

[gunnado]

Trial and error is a big part. The changeable conditions keep you on your toes. I do love watching boats dock on windy days

[Live4boating]

Hitting a dock hard happens to every skipper at one time or other. Hopefully thats your one time! lol

Back in tx on lake lewisville we watched a big cruiser make the turn into the marina, he miscalculated, was going way 2 fast and took out a bow pulpit of another smaller cruiser in its slip. Not to mention the major damage on the side of his boat as the smaller cruisers anchor gouged about 25 ft before the bow pulpit broke off. At least no one saw your hit and you are not paying for another boats repairs.

The thing that always makes me cringe is when the passengers realize they are coming in 2 fast and jump up and try to keep the boat from hitting the dock using their body parts. Do not let anyone put hands, feet, legs etc between the boat and dock when u r docking!

[tamicatana]

Embarrassing experience has taught me:

"never approach a dock at a speed you're not willing to hit it."

[Teknav]

...and in aviation...when taxiing, pilots are trained not to go faster than someone doing a brisk walk...just in case they need to brake and shut the engine(s) unexpectedly.

Mauritz

[Irish rambler]

Yep ! seen it many times, an old farmer thinking he's a jockey on a race horse. Insurance companies love 'em ! A pain in the proverbial fundamental orifice for us though, they should be banned for life.

[DaBod]

Originally Posted by Teknav

...and in aviation...when taxiing, pilots are trained not to go faster than someone doing a brisk walk...just in case they need to brake and shut the engine(s) unexpectedly.

Mauritz

Yep, that's what we taught as well, but only so one could apply the "air brakes." In a helicopter, shutting the engine during a hover taxi opens up a whole new can of worms!

[Irish rambler]

I would think your nether regions would be gripping the seat like Velcro ! Flare the prop my A....E !

[Capt Phil]

Live4boating... very, very sound advice! Never,ever come into a dock faster than you want to hit it!! Phil

[SmartMove]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Live4boating... very, very sound advice! Never,ever come into a dock faster than you want to hit it!! Phil

Unfortunately, we got the same advise this year. $6,000 and 9 days later (plus haul out) you would have never known about our indiscretion! It was really embarrassing!

[sailcruiser]

I would consider using a midship line to stop the boat. Have the line on the cleat with a big loop tied that can be placed over a dock post or cleat.

That or if going back to the same dock regularly set up a catch system where two lines cross at the bow to stop the boat.

I am regularly teased about my docking speed (slow with enough speed to steer or as conditions require). I have hit the dock in a prior boat but not this one YET nor anything else for that matter. <knock wood>

They do it their way at Mach 9 and I'm poking along. It doesn't occur to them that I am 2-3 times heavier that I need to get stopped.
SC