Docking 101 Goals

Docking is a critical skill. You are often at the mercy of the wind and current. You must necessarily go slowly, reducing maneuverability, yet you are confronted by boats and other hard objects that threaten the safety of your boat and crew. 
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Docking 101 is an attempt to mitigate the stress and provide helpful strategies to get you on and off the dock efficiently and safely.

​During this course, you will learn:

• Proper procedure to depart from Celtic Song’s slip
• Proper procedure to return to the slip
• Prop wash and prop walk and its implications for docking
• Concept of FWP — Forward, Wheel, Power
• How to dock boat using a single spring line
• How to spring out the bow using a spring line
• How to spring out the stern using a spring line
• Difference between a forward and an aft spring line
• How to safely run in reverse
• Best way to proceed toward a mooring​

Your texts provide material on each of these topics. Please review before coming to class.

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Docking 101 Lesson

This guide is meant to help you understand the steps necessary to safely and successfully leave and return to a slip or dock. Learning the proper sequence of events is important, but practicing them is vital. Understand, too, that conditions change, and you must be prepared to anticipate and change with them.

1. Three conditions affect docking:
   1. Wind (tip: wind will always blow the bow down)
   2. Current
   3. Vessel — its maneuverability and the effect of its propeller
2. Prop walk pushes Celtic Song's stern to port when in reverse. Compensate with the wheel to starboard which will work as soon as you have speed through the water. You can eliminate prop walk by putting the engine in neutral.  Remember you can use the bow thruster.
3. Steps for departure from slip:
   1. The helm factors in wind and current conditions and outlines the exit plan and assigns crew responsibilities.
   2. Crew members are stationed on the dock on each side of the boat.
   3. The helmsman centers the helm by turning the wheel all the way in one direction and then back to center. Check the instrument above the cockpit steps to make sure indicator shows helm is centered.
   4. Helm briefly engages transmission in forward (then back to neutral) and reverse to make sure everything works. Also tests bow thrusters.
   5. Upon signal from the helm, crew releases lines in this order: bow then stern, announcing to helm after each action. Bow and stern lines remain on board; crew boards at shrouds, ready to release red spring lines that remain  on dock.
   6. Before helm gives order to release spring lines, he places engine in reverse idle. Crew release spring lines and places them on dock.
   7. The helm applies power in reverse and, keeping his hand on throttle, backs away. Increase throttle to about 1,500 RPM to get water moving over rudder and boat moving, then reduce RPM. When most of the way out of the slip, turn the wheel hard to starboard. Use of bow thrusters may be necessary to keep the bow parallel to slip during the exit. Thrusters move the bow in the direction of the thruster arrow. Remember to keep a firm grip on the wheel at all times in reverse.
   8. Once out of the slip with plenty of room away from lee shore and with enough momentum to clear dangers off the bow, the helm deploys FWP — Forward, Wheel, Power. Remember to shift from reverse to neutral before engaging forward gear.
   9. Crew stows lines and ties fenders to stern pulpit. 
   10. Continuous communication among helm and crew is critical throughout the process both in leaving and returning to the dock.
   11. If bow thrusters are unavailable during this maneuver, then crew on windward side of boat will use the bow line to keep the bow parallel to dock during departure.​​

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1. Steps for returning to slip:
   1. Crew deploys fenders and readies bow and stern lines being careful to run the lines on the outside of the lifelines and flaking them on top of the lifelines for easy deployment.
   2. Helm assesses wind and current conditions and adjusts approach accordingly.
   3. Helm outlines arrival plan and assigns crew responsibilities.
   4. Helm adjusts speed to conditions: slow enough to stop when necessary but fast enough to maintain steerage control. Celtic Song weighs about 24,000 pounds so keeping speed to minimum in neutral is necessary. Try not to rely on reverse because prop walk will turn the stern -- and  the bow -- just as you’re trying to go straight.
   5. Approach the slip with a speed of 1 to 1.5 knots, using forward and neutral to maintain steerage. If you're going too fast, apply 1,500 to 2,000 RPM in reverse to slow the boat and lessen any impact.
   6. As boat glides into slip, crew members step off from shrouds onto dock and secure the boat with the spring lines. These will stop any forward motion.
   7. Helm powers on reverse to completely stop boat. Crew secures stern and then bow lines.
   8. Three things to keep in mind:
      1. If wind shifts or boat is at an angle coming into slip, keep going. Small bumps into a cushioned dock won’t damage boat. Trying to back out in a panic will.
      2. Crew on dock must not attempt  to stop boat by grabbing the lifelines or shrouds or even hauling on lines. Don’t ever place yourself in harm's way.
      3. Be self sufficient. Politely refuse offers of help during docking. Rely instead on our trained crew
   9. Helm should take a walk around the boat to make sure all lines are secured properly.
2. Approaching a dock: Use these procedures when stopping or tying up at fuel dock or any other dock:
   1. Crew deploys fenders and readies the appropriate lines. Here we’ll focus on docking by securing the boat with a single spring line.
   2. Helm surveys the scene, develops a plan and communicates to crew and assigns roles.
   3. Best approach is into the wind so it can help slow the boat. Other approaches may be necessary. What’s important is for helm to develop a rational plan and communicate it to crew.
   4. Arrange spring line at aft third of the boat on the side you will dock. Lead spring line through chock near gate (taking care to run line outside of lifelines) then back and secure to horn cleat and jib winch.
   5. Helm slowly approaches dock at a 40- to 45-degree angle. As boat nears dock, helm turns wheel so boat is parallel to dock. Crew steps off  at shroud and secures spring line to cleat.
   6. Helm centers wheel and places throttle in forward idle. Helm may have to adjust position of wheel so the boat lies parallel to the dock.
   7. The boat will remain in this position with engine in forward idle allowing the crew to secure the stern and bow lines for an extended stay.
3. Springing off: You can use spring lines to spring out the bow or the stern. The overall technique is essentially the same. 
   1. Helm explains the maneuver to the crew and assigns roles.
   2. To spring out the bow clear of the dock, crew leads the forward spring (a line secured to the stern) to a cleat forward of the stern and wraps the line a full turn around the forward horn of the cleat. Crew steps back aboard holding other end of line.
   3. Another crew holds a fender near the stern of the boat to cushion it from the dock during this maneuver.
   4. Helm places engine in reverse idle to back down against the spring. That will force the stern against the fender-cushioned dock and move the bow away from the dock.
   5. At signal from helm, crew flicks the spring line off the horn of the cleat.
   6. Helm employs FWP — Forward, Wheel, Power — being mindful not to swing the departing stern into the dock.
   7. Springing out the stern (leaving stern first) is similar except you use an aft spring, cushion the bow with a fender, ease the gearshift into forward idle and let the boat push against the spring. Turning the wheel toward the dock will speed the process until boat is at a 45-degree angle to dock. Crew flicks off line and boat backs away.
4. Running in reverse: Key concept here is to hold the wheel firmly since pressure on rudder is intense and could cause damage if wheel is allowed to turn freely. The stern turns in the direction you turn wheel. Make gradual rather than sharp turns. If you’re running in reverse for an extended distance, consider stepping on the other side of the wheel facing the stern. ALWAYS MAINTAIN A GRIP ON THE WHEEL WHILE IN REVERSE. You can remove prop walk in reverse by putting the engine in neutral.
5. Running for a mooring:
   1. Helm assigns crew the responsibility of directing how to head to mooring.
   2. Crew stations himself forward of the mast and directs the helm to the mooring using the same signals as anchoring. It’s important that helm acknowledges each signal from crew.
   3. Whenever possible, crew directs helm to stop the boat at the mooring facing directly into the wind.
6. Spring-line nomenclature: An aft spring line leads aft from the bow and keeps the boat from moving forward; a forward spring line leads forward from the stern and keeps the boat from moving aft.
7. Remember that docking conditions constantly change depending on wind, current and surroundings. Use the most valuable instrument on board: your brain — to determine proper procedures and then communicate clearly among the crew. Best way to become proficient is to practice, practice, practice. You won’t get it all in one outing.