Description

This two-day or four-evening course is designed to teach basic and advanced docking skills for boats with single inboard or outboard engines. It covers the theory and hands-on techniques needed to dock and undock boats in an efficient manner and without damage or injury.

Topics Include

Ashore Knowledge

• Four forces that act on a boat during docking maneuvers.
• Forces the helmsman can control or use to advantage during docking.
• Engine and rudder controls used during docking.
• Use of mooring lines, including spring lines, in a slip and alongside a dock.
• Safety considerations during docking.
• Undocking procedures and crewmember duties.
• Docking procedures and crewmember duties.

Underway Skills

• Prepare boat and crewmembers for docking and undocking including assessment of boat condition, dock and fairway configuration, routes of exit and entry, water depths, wind and current direction and strength, potential hazards, docking/undocking plan, crewmember assignments and instruction, and emergency abort options and procedures.
• Demonstrate a standing turn maneuver in a confined space; turn boat through a full 360º of rotation while remaining in a circle not exceeding two boat lengths in diameter.
• Dock parallel to a dock with wind blowing towards dock; demonstrate proper use of spring lines and tie up to the dock.
• Undock with wind blowing towards dock; demonstrate proper use of spring lines to avoid other boats moored fore and aft.
• Dock bow into slip with a cross wind; demonstrate proper use of spring lines.
• Dock stern into slip with a cross wind; demonstrate proper use of spring lines
• Demonstrate proper tying of cleat hitch, bowline and round turn with half hitches plus proper method for heaving a line.