Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

We decided this weekend to rent a slip to store our boat. We just felt it would allow us to use the boat more since we can drive up and be in the water in 40 minutes. Plus the wear and tear and time of hooking up the trailer, loading/unloading, etc.

Well we got a slip spot that is the 1st slip in the dock we are assigned. The dock walkway is to the left of our boat.

It's almost like a 90 degree turn coming into the slip. It's like a channel for the dock with a boat dock on the left while coming into the slip.

Well when I was pulling in I made contact with the walkway while attempting to turn and bent the left bow corner cover. Fortunately it's not really a structure location since it's just the aluminum cover that joins the left side and the front decking.

So I'm looking for helpful advice and suggestions on docking in a slip. It sure is painful to look at damage on a boat that is only a few weeks old.

When docking come in slow. Never go faster than you want to hit the dock. If there is wind you need to move quicker and use reverse to stop yourself and quickly exit to tie up. You can quickly be blown off course if you move too slow. It's gonna take time to learn the turning characteristics of your boat. I tell everyone, if you can master a pontoon you can drive any boat out there. They don't respond well and the wind hits em like a sail boat.

I agree with the previous post. Pontoons are certainly different from glass boats that sit lower in the water. I had all sorts of problems docking our toon until a friend with a toon at our marina gave me the following advice - watch the flags at the marina. Once I did this, it was much easier to determine how to line up into our slip. Toons are like corks and if you have the bimini up, they are like corks with sails. One of the problems that I had in the beginning was that I would cut power too soon and by the time I reached the slip, the toon had drifted off line and I was trying to adjust. Keep practicing and soon you will be a pro.

That's one of the reasons when someone ask "what are the must haves" I will add an extra long paddle (6-7FT) and an extendable hook/push pole. Sometimes there is just no substitute for a firm contact with the object your trying to avoid.

Probably wouldn't hurt to get a couple of paddles/boat hooks. Both to pull you in an push away if you come in wrong. If that corner you spoke of is the little piece of metal that joins the rubrails it should be an easy an not so costly thing.
west marine pg 779 http://ecatalog.westmarine.com/full.asp?page=783
doc

I'll say it again BOAT HOOKS RULE!!

Criyi wrote:if you can master a pontoon you can drive any boat out there.

no shit! I dock 70' house boats at work and it sure helped having already had experience with toons. hitting the dock too fast with one of them spells death for any dock pier in thier path

The first time I put my toon in the slip we had 30 mph cross winds. Took me forever. Almost reduced me to tears and made me think of just selling the boat. And I was 48 at the time!!

My dock set up was just like yours. I was between the A and B docks (about 40 feet apart) with a 24' toon. Very tight quarters.

Sometimes it can be a very difficult thing to do.

So the next day I had off the wind was still and I came down to practice. Spent about 4 hours putting it in and taking it out. Putting it in and taking it out (OK you guys. Get your minds out of the gutter!). After docking and undocking about 30 times I felt pretty good at it. The more practice you get the better you will be.

Go as slow as weather will allow. Use short bursts of motor (in idle) to move you where you need to be.

DO NOT have someone reach from the boat to pull you in. If you have to change course they can go overboard (and between you and the dock) very easily. If they are using a boat hook tell them to keep their center of gravity well inside the boat.

You might get a little extra confidence by tieing some big rubber bumpers at the corners and down each side of your slip. I did and there were a few times they save me from recieving any damage. I can now pull in (tight area and I have 26' boat) with out touching the bumpers most of the time, but is sure is nice to know their there when its windy and choppy.
jd

Get a couple of marker buoys, the kind fisherman use to mark a good fishing spot and drop in lake approximately the same width as your dock. This way you can practice docking without hitting anything solid. You can also practice with the wind from different directions. Also remember you just have to get close with the motor, you or someone else can step to the dock and hand guide the boat into the slip. As others have said, a good hook/push pole is a necessity.
I am no longer self conscious about docking since I watched the new female Lake Patrol Officer try and dock her boat. She now claims all the guys at the dock as her pit crew. But she is getting better with practice.

I can relate to this one....
This is our first boat, and i stuck it in a slip as well for the exact reasons you stated!
Being in the slip is sooo much easier then towing the thing around and having to deal with the NUTS at the BUSY ramp....

HOWEVER, getting it into the slip can certainly be a challenge!

There is no single secret other then Practice makes semiPerfect!

Great advice on looking at flags on other boats, usually sail boats. Gives a great pic of whats going on. Then learn how to 'play the wind' to let it do the work for you!
If i see im gonna be blown big time off to the right, i start way over to the left, get in close, then let the wind 'blow' me into the correct position or even sometimes right into the slip.

Learn how to use reverse REAL well, and USE it when in doubt.
Better to back out n try again 16 times vs el slamo into the dock or another boat...

Practice!

Well I went to our local Academy Sports and picked up two boat hooks.

The only issue that I forsee is the fact that we are kind of boxed in being the first slip with the dock walkway to the left of our slip.

So as I'm coming in the walkway is in front of me with our slip a 90 degree turn to the right. Plus we have another dock to the left and behind when making that turn to the right.

I'm thinking of just getting close to the walkway and then pushing and moving the boat into the slip manually via the boat hooks.

I'll try to take some pics this weekend.

if you always have someone onboard and you're a fisherman then using
a trolling motor on the front while the captain operates the main motor
will let you turn on a dime.

otherwise hire some tugboats.

Much of the advice has already been given here, but here are a few things I keep in mind:

1) GO SLOW -- Never go faster than you want to hit the dock (as stated previously)
2) Pay attention to waves/wind. I normally aim more toward the lake side (as opposed to the shore side) of the slip. The waves normally push me over a little as I am going in. If they don't push you over enough, just wait another couple of seconds...they will.
3) This goes with #1 (and also stated above), Use short bursts, so basically in and out of gear. Don't hesitate to use reverse to slow down, stop or just give it one more try.
4) If it isn't going well, reverse and try again. Some people just want to look like they know what they are doing. It is better to take a second or third run at it then to hit on the first run.
5) Have someone (or people) help as you are pulling in. They can help push off, but always keep passenger safety as the first priority. Don't have them do anything risky.

I keep a spring line on both forward pilings. When necessary, use a long boat hook to retrieve what ever line is going to help, cleat it, then continue to dock. This took some practice but now every one has the routine down.