There are a few things you should know to safely dock your boat. Host of DIY's Shipshape Boating, John Greviskis explains. One of the first things you need to notice before attempting to dock your boat is the current. A great way to see how fast the current is moving is to look at how many rings are around the backside of a dock piling (figure A). One ring equals one knot of current. Approach the dock at a low rate of speed, toward the dock at a 45-degree angle. When you are about 25 feet away, put the motor into idle. Turn the wheel so that the prop is pointing toward the dock when you get closer. Then, take the motor out of neutral and into reverse. This will bring the back of the boat toward the dock. Always tie-off the front and back of your boat to keep the boat secure. After you have docked, tie the front line around the cleat. Take the line all the way around the cleat, then make a figure eight pattern around the horns several times. Next, turn the line over and make a loop around the horn (figure B). This is an added step to keep your boat secure. Repeat this entire process for the back line. If you are docking at a slip, you will tie up to a piling. Some pilings will have an ear bolted to them for tying off. If the piling does not have an ear, tie your dock line around the piling. The best way to keep it from slipping down into the water is to use the loop end of the line to tie around the cleat on the boat. Then take the other end around the piling, and wrap it underneath the line coming back towards the boat. Take it around a couple more times. Make a loop through the line leading up to the piling, then go up through the loop that you made. Go around the bend, and then put the end of the line back through the loop to tighten everything up (figure C). Be sure to leave a little slack to accommodate the tide going up or down.
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