Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

[choppywaters]

I am new to boating but have been around them. The worst part of boating for me is coming back to the dock. I don't know what it is but I get so freakin' nervous even thinking about it. So far no issues and we've been out and back a bunch of times. The last time we were out, we approached the dock nice and slow, no one waiting at the dock which is always a good thing and we brush up against the dock nice and easy but my Wife couldn't get out of the boat to secure the line then she finally slipped and fell back into the rear seat (she was wearing flip flops that I guess were too big). By that time we over shot the first set of docking cleats. She finally managed to get out and secure the rear but by then the bow was about 3-5 feet from the dock. Of course my 14 year old son just sits there! I have much more confidence when we go with my brother in law because he just jumps off when the boat is about a couple feet away and ties us up. Would one of those poles help her because the last things I want to do is snap at her after a fun day.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

my Wife couldn't get out of the boat to secure the line then she finally slipped and fell back into the rear seat (she was wearing flip flops that I guess were too big).

I have much more confidence when we go with my brother in law because he just jumps off when the boat is about a couple feet away and ties us up. Would one of those poles help her because the last things I want to do is snap at her after a fun day.

Uhhh... both wrong and a great way to get hurt. Nobody should be jumping out of the boat. Get a boat hook and use it.

My .02

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

I hear ya ChoppyWater. I have been out in my first/new boat about 9 times now...and the nerves are slowly fading.

The main goal with docking is that you should (unless foul weather) be able to do it on your own. You should come into the dock eventually coming to rest next to the dock just by slipping it into reverse a little as you drift into dock. Take into account wind direction etc also. Have bumpers out ahead of time so you don't need to be stressed about scratches/dings.

Then all your wife needs to do is tie up to a nonmoving dock.

Its tough...but you'll pick it up the more and more you use the boat. Driving it will become an extension of you... you won't even have to think about it. I am not there yet....but hope to soon.

Yes, I also like boating with at least one able boaters like my brother or guy friends. Nice to have a deck hand that can lend a hand without you holding theirs haha

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Get a boat hook as JoLin said. You can find a colapsable(sp) one that is easy to store. Will ease your nerves and make safer for all involved. As many others have said "don't ask me how I know" you can slip in the water very quickly and bang your head jumping out of the boat.

 

[salty87]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

listen to these ^ guys.

the crew should remain seated until the boat has basically stopped moving. fenders and rubrails are made for a little contact. the crews' body parts not so much.

 

[lrlima]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Preparation is key when approaching the dock. Have your fenders out, lines ready, and people SEATED. Oh yeah, never approach the dock any faster then you're willing to hit it lol

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

How big a boat are we talking about here?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Learn to sidle (snuggle, even ) up to the pier without bumping it. That sounds a little hoity-toity and you'll never quite be 100% at it, but the more you can learn to bring your boat along side the pier without needing extra hands or "bumping" the better safety for you and your crew. I was literally doing this just this weekend with my middle kid - she was shooting approaches to the marina pier and I was coaching. The approach was 90? to the pier, and the maneuver was to turn hard to starboard (at low speed) begin a side slip to the pier - put 'er in neutral, hard over to port and a short burst in reverse to bring the stern in.

We even shot a couple of those using a channel marker as a target during the day.

Practice, practice, practice ... and enjoy. You'll get it.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

The key is making sure that your first mate knows what his/her responsibilities are......and to approach the dock SLOWLY. Don't rush because you are afraid that other boaters will become impatient.

Flip flops are a no-no IMO, especially if the person wearing them isn't very agile in the first place. It'll just take one bad spill or stubbed toe on a cleat for a flip flop wearer to learn his/her lesson.

 

[drrpm]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Its certainly easier to dock if you have an assitant with a clue. Wives and teenagers may or may not fall into this category depending on their level of interest. Its not that hard to learn to dock it yourself, which is a good skill anyway. A boathook would help as well. Something i've used on occasion is the T-grip end of the canoe paddle I keep on board just in case.

 

[Geko45]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

I'm a brand new boater too and had to learn how to dock on my own without help (or even advice). My first attempt put a scratch in my otherwise immaculate (grrr), but I seem to have the hang of it now. One thing I figured out was that your sideways inertia doesn't just stop after you make a turn like it would in a car. I now steer as if I'm headed into the slip in front of mine and my inertia carries me over into mine just right. As has been mentioned, a quick reverse bump to cancel forward momentum and I sidle up just perfect and step out onto a motionless dock and tie off.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

check out the chapmans seamanship and boat handleing book. (very thick and expensive). it has a section in it on docking (and most any other aspect of boating skills to be learned).

imho, agree with a few others. learn to dock solo. even if i got folks on board. while docking, leave me alone and let me do what i need to.

play the wind and current. + the momentum of your boat. think about whats pushing you and where you'll end up.

the boat hook idea is good. myself i got one but don't use it.

use a method of docking that fits your boat. like mines a hard top. kinda hard to jump out of the boat with a hard top over you. my answer to that was, i have a stern line falling through my center widow, the bow line ready to grab. when i get where i wanna be, out the center window i go grabing both lines on my way out. with skill/or luck, i want my bow so i can just step off onto the dock then turn around and gain full control of my boat with both stern and bow lines in hand.

never approach a dock (or anything else) any faster than your willing to hit it with your boat...

there's always an exception to any docking moves. wind, current, momentum are some of the variables.

"Do the nerves ever go away? LOL" yep. i've been docking lake boats since i was a kid. i lost any anxiety many years ago. with the exception of some of the variables in excess causing me grief.... sometimes it's (docking) a one shot deal or there may be ramifications...

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

The main goal with docking is that you should (unless foul weather) be able to do it on your own. You should come into the dock eventually coming to rest next to the dock just by slipping it into reverse a little as you drift into dock.

This is the one!

Practice stopping your boat with reverse, it's just like a set of brakes for your boat. Drift in slowly while in nuetral and when you get to where you want to be put it in reverse and give it a little gas to stop.

 

[RMasters]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

CHOxxx, I don't think the nerves ever go away. I guess this is part of what you have to do when coming in or going out, pay attention. And be prepared for anything to happen. I always keep my eyes open.

Everything is pretty much exercise, the more often you do it, the better you get, the more confident you feel.

 

[jkust]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Yes, the nerves will be replaced with frustration at the other boaters who don't know or care about ramp and dock etiquette. The ones, who didn't attemt to ensure the boat runs ahead of time, or the ones who think the lone, single sided courtesy dock is for awaiting friends to arrive, or those...well you get the picture.

 

[RMasters]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Yes, the nerves will be replaced with frustration..

Only if you allow these things to have a negative impact on you, in your case, frustration.

I experienced myself that my motor ran just fine, even just got it out of the shop, and now it wont start. Even though, takes me only 1 second to jump in the water and pull the boat aside so I don't block anyone. And if there is no space, I get the trailer and be gone.

But then, I never launch when the crowd lunches, so I don't run into any of these issues.

 

[jkust]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Only if you allow these things to have a negative impact on you, in your case, frustration.

I experienced myself that my motor ran just fine, even just got it out of the shop, and now it wont start. Even though, takes me only 1 second to jump in the water and pull the boat aside so I don't block anyone. And if there is no space, I get the trailer and be gone.

But then, I never launch when the crowd lunches, so I don't run into any of these issues.

It's like Thunderdome at our ramps and on the days I want to boat, so does everybody else. A big part of the issue is that there's almost always only one ramp and one courtesy dock where only one side is accessable.

 

[BF]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

no matter how much I tell them, passengers seem to always need to jump up to "help" as we come into the dock. I wish they were like your son. It's the same every time. I say, "just stay in your seat and keep your hands inside the boat". I pull up to dock, reverse so we are stopped and at a standstill along dock, kill engine and then step onto dock and tie off stern, move up and tie off bow. I do it by myself all the time, but am constantly annoyed when helpful passengers jump up (thereby rocking the boat), yank the dock (causing my stationary boat to whack the dock), or otherwise stick their fingers between the boat and dock. Even more annoying when someone up front grabs the first bit of dock they can reach before I have the chance to straighten out and reverse to stop us... throws everything off. Kids listen, its the parents and grandparents that won't just sit still and keep seated until we're tied off.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

BF, sounds like you need to get really p.o.'d once or twice and pull back away from the dock if anyone so much as moves in their seat. Kinda harsh, but you're the only one aboard who knows what the heck he's doing. The others are at best a distraction, and at worst an accident waiting to happen.

(or throw 'em overboard or somethin'- you're the Captain... I'll back you up in court )

My .02

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Do the nerves ever go away? LOL

Practice AWAY from a dock...

Find a channel marker, bouy, unused dock etc...away from traffic and just practice your slow speed manuvering skills. It's hand to eye coordination in many instances, and like any other skill needs to be honed.

As I tell student pilots when they first start out..."Any landing you walk away from is a GOOD landing".

Only PRACTICE will make you the envy of the launch...