Here is a step-by-step guide to driving your boat for the first time. Remember,
driving a boat is easy but doing it safely without stress, frustration and swearing
is a little more involved. Let’s start with the step-by-step guide to driving a
boat.

1. Before heading out to drive your boat, ensure you have all the required safety equipment and enough fuel for your trip.
2. Start the boat in the water (if you have and inboard or stern drive, be sure torun the blower for 4-5 minutes to remove any dangerous gas fumes).
3. If you’re on a federal waterway, be sure to connect your engine cutoff switch
4. Release the lines from the dock or slip with the boat running. Consider how you’ll depart based on the wind and currents and release the lines in the order that makes departure easiest and safest.
5. Adjust the wheel and throttle to depart (oftentimes departing in reverse can be the best approach) using short, controlled inputs, in gear and back to neutral, in gear and back to neutral watching for obstructions and other boaters.
6. Once clear of the dock or pier, put the throttle in forward idle gear, following the navigation markers and no wake buoys
7. Advance throttle to an appropriate speed for the conditions, your boat siz and your skill level
8. Adjust the engine trim to smooth out the ride and improve your fuel economy
9. When you’re ready to slow down, ease the throttle back slowly to the neutral position.

Now that you know how to drive your boat, pontoon, center console, cruiser or
fishing boat, you may want so insight on how to Dock Your Boat.

In addition to driving your boat, you may have a few other questions. It’s why I
created the free Boater Bootcamp at www.BoaterBootcamp.com

 

How to Dock a Boat in a Slip

When pulling your boat into a U-shaped slip, follow these basic steps.

1. Prepare your dock lines and fenders as needed for the situation prior to
   making your approach
2. As you are making your approach, consider how the wind, current and waves will impact your boat as you pull into the slip watching for wind shadows and breaks in the wave action.
3. Make your approach to the slip and pivot the boat so the bow is pointing
   toward the slip going at the slowest speed possible while still having control
   of your boat
4. As you approach the slip, go in gear to steer and out of gear to keep your
   speed down as you put the boat in the slip adjusting for those environmental impacts
5. Use reverse to stop your momentum with the drive in a straight position to
   avoid unwanted side-to-side motion
6. Secure the boat to the dock with the dock lines and adjust the fenders as
   necessary

Although docking your boat is only a small portion of your time on the water, it is
the most difficult and often can ruin an otherwise perfect day of boating. That’s
why we created the Best Boat Captain program at www.BestBoatCaptain.com
which includes a Docking Mastery section

 

How to Dock a Boat on a Side Dock

 

1. Prepare your dock lines and fenders as needed for the situation prior to making the approach
2. Consider how the wind, current and waves will impact your boat as you near the dock watching for wind shadows and breaks in the wave action
3. Make your approach to the dock at about a 45-degree angle
4. When you’re about a boat length or so, turn the boat more parallel to the dock aiming toward the spot you’d like to tie up
5. Once at your spot, turn the wheel towards the dock and put the throttle in reverse to slow your momentum and pull the back of the boat in towards the dock
6. Secure the boat to the dock with your dock lines and adjust the fenders as needed

 

How to Dock a Boat By Yourself

When docking your boat by yourself, you’ll need to be prepared prior to making
your approach. Having the dock lines and fenders positioned for easy and
unobstructed access to the dock cleats.

Once you have your dock lines and fenders on the boat for your specific docking
situation, the next steps are the same as docking with a crew as outlined in
these articles.

Once you are safely at the dock, grab your dock lines to secure the boat as
quickly as possible. Remember, the elements may be moving the boat away
from the dock, so attach at least one line to secure the boat.

Then, with a hand on the boat, attach the second dock line to tie the boat up
properly.

How Do You Back a Boat into a Dock?

Backing your boat into a slip is one of the more challenging skills you need as a
boater. It’s not easy, but with the right practice and training, even a newer
boater can make it look easy to those watching from the docks.

1. Prepare your dock lines and fenders as needed for the situation
2. As you are making your approach, consider how the wind, current and waves will impact your boat as you back into the slip watching for wind shadows and breaks in the wave action
3. Make your approach to the slip and pivot the boat so the stern (back of the boat) is pointing toward the slip
4. As you approach the slip, go in gear to steer and out of gear to keep your speed down as you back the boat in the slip
5. Use forward in gear to stop your momentum and straighten out the boat if necessary
6. Secure the boat to the dock with fenders out

We go into full detail with multiple camera angles in our Best Boat Captain, Docking Mastery section.

How to Back Your Boat into a Dock with Twin-Engines

Backing your boat into a slip with twin engines is actually easier than pulling into
a slip forward because the boat steers from the stern.
Having a solid understanding of how your boat maneuvers is key to backing into
a slip with ease.

1. Prepare your dock lines and fenders as needed for the situation
2. As you are making your approach, consider how the wind, current and waves will impact your boat as you back into the slip watching for wind shadows and breaks in the wave action
3. Make your approach to the slip and pivot the boat so the stern (back of the boat) is pointing toward the slip by using a combination of forward and reverse gears with each of the throttle controls as needed.
4. As you approach the slip, go in gear with one engine at a time (forward or reverse) without using the steering wheel and keep your speed down as you back the boat in the slip
5. On some larger boats, it may be necessary to use the piling or corner of the dock (if it won’t cause damage to the boat) as a pivot point to rotate the boat into the slip.
6. Use forward in gear to stop your momentum and straighten out the boat if necessary
7. Secure the boat to the dock with your dock lines and adjust the fenders as needed

We go into full detail with multiple camera angles in our Best Boat Captain,
Docking Mastery section.

 

What is the most important factor to consider when
docking your boat?

The most important factor to consider when docking your boat is the elemental
impacts on the boat, like wind, current and waves. It is always good practice to
take note of these conditions prior to making your approach to the dock.

In the Best Boat Captain program, I teach the importance of reading the water,
looking at flags, noticing wind shadows and seeing how your boat reacts in real-
time to your conditions.

In addition to the elements, adjusting your approach accordingly is important.
Going into the most impactful element will make your docking experience easier.

So, if the current pushes your boat more than the wind, try to go into the
current if that’s a safe approach.

This technique will allow your boat to slow down while maintaining directional
control.

A good rule is to not go any faster than you want to hit the dock but still have
total control of your boat.

We cover this and much, much more in the Best Boat Captain Program.

How to Tie Your Boat Up at the Dock

When tying your boat up to a dock, it’s important to have the right size and
length of the dock line.

(Watch this video on how to choose the right dock lines)

Typically, a minimum of two or three lines are necessary and four to six if
tying up in a slip.

Put the loop end thru the cleat on the boat and do a cleat hitch on the cleat
at the dock

(Watch this video to learn how to do a cleat hitch)

Tie the lines off with a little slack in the line so the boat can bounce with the
waves but tight enough so the boat does not hit the slip. If you are hitting,
you may need to add a line or adjust your lines.

If you are tying up in an area with tides or changes in water levels on a fixed
dock or piling, be sure to use longer dock lines to account for the fluctuation
in water levels.

Adding a spring line can often be helpful to keep your boat positioned in a
way that will keep it safe and secure.

We detail how to tie up your boat in a slip or a side dock in our
www.BestBoatCaptain.com program.

Some People Wonder, Why is Docking a Boat So Hard?

Docking a boat is hard for most people because the boat is being impacted
by elements such as wind, currents, waves and even the boat’s momentum.
It also steers from the stern of the boat which causes many new boaters
stress, frustration and sometimes embarrassment.

Consider a car with 4 tires stuck firmly to the ground and when you push the
gas or turn the wheels, you know exactly what to expect.

In a boat, it’s bobbing up and down in the water and is never completely
still, even in calm conditions.

To help, we’ve created this how-to-dock your boat resources just for you.

Can you Steer Your Boat in Neutral?

When you put the throttle in neutral, your boat will lose almost all of its
steering control. Here’s why and what to do about it.

Depending on the type of propulsion system you have will impact how much
steering control you have when not in gear.

On outboards and stern drives (or I/Os) you still have a little steering control
because the lower unit acts as a large rudder. But without the prop
engaged, you lose out on the directional force that propeller rotation
provides.

If you have an inboard or V-drive, you’ll lose almost all steering control
because little to no water is passing over the rudder.

If you have a jet drive, you’ll lose almost 100% of your steering control
because there is little to no rudder in the water.

You’ll want to use neutral to keep your speed down and forward or reverse
gear for directional control when in tight quarters. Going in and out of gear
often as you approach a dock or maneuvering in tight areas.

How to Drive Your Boat in Waves

When driving your boat in rough water and big wave, you can do a few
things to make it easier on yourself, your passengers and your boat.
The first thing is to stay on top of the waves. There are a few techniques to
do this. Keep your speed down to match the frequency and size of the
waves. This is more of an art than science and may take small throttle
adjustments as the conditions change.

Often, hitting the waves at about a 45-degree angle can make the ride
easier and more comfortable versus hitting them at a 90-degree angle.
You can also adjust the angle of your engine trim to allow for a smoother
more comfortable cruise.

(here’s a video on how to adjust engine trim)

If heading in the same direction as larger seas, you may want to adjust your
speed to ride the back of a wave. Be certain to maintain enough speed to
stay on the back without having the next wave come over the transom. This
will take small throttle adjustments to match the conditions over time.
Rough water is one thing however keep an eye on the weather, wind and
thunder because rough water can go to dangerous water very quickly and
you want to be tied up safe and secure at the docks before the conditions hit
dangerous levels.

Do You Steer Your Boat Like a Car?

Yes, you do steer your boat like a car. However, the boat reacts very
differently than a car which is important to understand. Let me explain.
First, a car steers from the front and the back wheels follow. A boat steers
from the rear and the boat pivots.

Also, the car has 4 wheels on solid ground so the movement is the exact
same every time. However, a boat bounces in the water and can be
impacted by wind, waves and currents.

It’s the combination of these factors and how the boat actually reacts that I
start the Best Boat Captain program with my trademark 9 Building Blocks
and use those as you progress to Docking Mastery to avoid future docking
stress. Find out more at www.BestBoatCaptain.com

Is Driving a Boat Hard?

Driving a boat is pretty easy if you understand how they steer and how the
wind, current, and waves impact it.

On the other hand, if you have never driven a boat before and want to learn
it by trial and error after watching a few YouTube videos, you’ll likely make
some expensive mistakes that will damage your boat, your pride and make
your boating experience more stressful, frustrating and possibly more
embarrassing than it should be.

Because there are so many little nuances based on the type of boat, type of
propulsion system, where you boat, the types of docks and many more, it’s
important to get the most specific training you can find for your specific
situation.

Its one reason we create programs for single-engine outboards, single-
engine stern drives, pontoons and tri-toons and twin-engine boats.
As well as companion trainings; Confident Coastal Boaters, Trailer Like a Pro
and Tow Watersports with Confidence. These trainings includes several
hours of detailed trainings with multiple camera angles on lakes, rivers,

bays, and open oceans that puts the skills in new boaters’ hands to ensure
safe and stress-free time on the water.
Check out our Guaranteed Best Boat Captain program to avoid the stress
and damage caused by learning by trial and error and be a docking master
and have total control of your boat.

If you are new to boating, you will also have questions about your boats
systems, boat maintenance and rules of boating which is exactly why I
created the FREE Boater Bootcamp. www.BoaterBootcamp.com

How to Drive a Pontoon Boat
How to Drive a V-hull Boat
How to Drive a Center Console Boat
How to Drive a Bass Boat
How to Drive a Cruiser