Don't know what kind of drive you have, inboard(s), I/O(s) or what have, but the advice is thee same for all:
Keep it slow, try not to use throttle.
On an outgoing, I'd get a straight into the current as possible and let the current drift you in.
Use the motor(s) to maintain the speed as slow as you can and for steering.
Om an incoming, you'll be backing down into the current, it's the same deal, except you'll have to use more throttle to fight the current.
My basic rule is "You can't dock slow enough!!"
Tell you crew NOT to move around to unbalance the boat or NOT to grab a piling or try to stop the boat, unless you tell them.
Their little arms will be break trying to keep a boat from hitting something. The pilings are there as a guide and to be used during docking, if necessary.

Thanks! Should have mentioned the type of boat... 23 foot cuddy/walkaround with an outboard. My last slip was very difficult to maneuver in and out of. But it didn't really have the current to worry about so much, and it was just a 21 foot center console, so we could pretty much just get close and walk it in. I figure we will have to bump in and out of reverse and make minor changes to get the bow and stern to make a 90 degree turn in a small space (while dealing with a current). Thanks!

Try this site, they have some docking tips:

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/bdock.htm

Holy smokes batman!
Good luck; thats all I can advise. I know that area well. You would be best at researching time of slack tides as best you can. Slow speed is the word, but you will be fighting a nasty current through there most times.

I agree with Steve, I would get the current book not the tide book or Eldridge it has both. Tide stage and current speed and direction in the river are two completely different animals.

You're between a dock and a hard place there. Sorry about that. With a moving current you might have to crab your way from the end of the dock to your slip. You have zero manuevering room.

Thanks guys... There are a bunch of even bigger boats next to me, and maybe the pictures look a little worse than it is.

I swung by last night for another look, and I figure I can swing in.

I was hoping to catch someone coming back in, to watch and see how they handle it, but no luck...

I'm less nervous about actually getting in the slip now, but trying to tie up for the first time will be interesting...

Just don't over do it. Once you are into the slip far enough to grab the lines put her in neutral. You can pull her in the last few feet with the lines. No need to be in the exact spot she rests while tied up. That is where I see a lot of guys in my marina go wrong. They tend to over do it a lot of times. I was at fault to this when I first got my rig too. If you move out of position while trying to grab the lines then you can bump in and out of gear to get back in or out depending on current.

Not sure if you get Motor Boating Magazine but they have a lot of docking tip short articles. Usually something in each issue.

I have a 23 ft Deep V I/O w/cuddy cabin (and a swim platform). The boat's beam is just a hair under 8 ft. Transom not much narrower. The outer pilings are less than 9 feet apart (inside dims). I just get one corner of the transom inbetween the pilings and walk it in on the lines. I have one line running from the piling to the dock which carries the spring line. I use that line to just walk it in. Style isn't important. Getting it in undamaged is...and the boat in the next slip is mine as well!!

Run a rope on both sides from the piling to the bulkhead. Once you get the stern in you have the ropes to help you.

I did that with my Parker:

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o295/TheMaryAlice/parkerprofileMedium.jpg

Did the same with my 27' pilot house. They help tremendously. Even if you are perfectly lined up and on the way back, a gust catches you, the house acts as a sail and away you go. With the lines, either myself or a crew member make sure we stay lined up.

Thanks for the suggestions... Well, we made in from our maiden voyage. Had a bit of starting trouble at the ramp, but once she got going she ran beautifully. Got to take a look out in the ocean at the sunken fishing vessel, ran up the beach to get a feel for the boat and engine, then made our way to the dock. Had the river running upstream (high tide)and hugged close to the slip pilings, made a sharp turn towards the bridge then quickly into reverse into the slip. Not too bad for the first attempt. Hung around the docks for a bit, making sure the lines were set right. We had found an older line, which we scavenged for a springline which will help for the outgoing tides as a just in case line. I'll run a new Hand-line the next time I'm out there, so we can walk it in if need be.

Bring on the fishing!!!!

That's great. Congrats on your first run.
Sounds like it was a GREAT confidence builder!!
That's half the battle, knowing that you can do it!!!

Good luck with the new boat

Fantastic!

Best of luck with her - you're off to a great start!

A little late but?

Let the pilings be your friend. Once the stern is past the piling you can turn the engine towards the piling and bump it in gear and rotate around the piling while pulling the boat in.

At first it can be overwhealming but practice, practice, practice.

Since this topic popped up again.... re my: "one line running from the piling to the dock which carries the spring line." This is on the side of the boat opposite the "finger" dock.

IF you can splice nylon line... The way I "built" this line is as follows. Run a line from the front piling aft to where the stern cleat is. I leave some extra line at the piling so I can "adjust" the line as I like to have an eye spliced at the boat end of the spring. About 3 to 5 ft up from the end of the spring, I splice a line that I run to the dock. This gives me a spring line and a walk the boat in line all in one. In tigth slips, I'm a fan of double springs (on on each side), especially in storm situations. Don't use line with a braided over cover. Lines are supposed to stretch to absorb shock. Also don't use a line of larger diameter than needed. For example, my 4000 lb 23 ft Deep V has 3/8" three strand nylon lines all around. IMHO, 1/2" line would not have enough "stretch". Storm time, I double up the springs, not the bow or stern. Sometimes I "trim" the stern line length. Purpose of bow lines is to keep boat centered in slip, stern lines (should be crossed!)also to keep centered in slip, and also limit how far out (usually not an issue). Springs are supposed to limit movement aft towards the dock and possible damage. My druthers...stern and spring lines have spliced in eyes at the boat (cleat) end. The bow line is left without a spliced in eye but a tape mark to indicate proper length to the bow cleat(s) under normal conditions. Buy extra fenders :-).

Like John G and several others, I have a walk it in line running from the outer piling to the piling on the finger dock on the other side of my boat. Then a spring from that piling.

Another thing you can do for your bow lines or any line you don't have an eye splice in to mark where it hits the cleat is take a short 3-4" length of 1/8" nylon (either whip or burn the edges to prevent fraying) and tuck it through the strands similar to marking an anchor rode. Tape can weather and fall off or leave marks on the deck depending on what type of tape.

Thanks guys! I guess I haven't posted too much back on this topic. After docking in different tides and wind scenarios, I will say that this is a tough spot to get in and out of... I've spent some time watching other guys come in and out, and the pilings are definitely used here.... most guys come in and point the bow towards the railroad bridge, then just hammer it in reverse and use the pilings as a pivot. I tried being "gentle" but it really doesn't work in an Upriver current. Pounding the boat off the pilings seems so wrong, but thats how everyone does it... oh well...


I guess I've had it pretty good, no major catastrophe's, but I watched a guy with a new to him 34ish express fisherman that bounced off the million dollar yacht, then got himself pinned to the railroad bridge sideways in an upriver current. Just he and his wife, trying to push his boat off the bridge sideways while pinned in the current... painful to watch...

Wow, what a tough slip! You have to "come in like a party boat" as I say under those conditions; plenty of throttle, and tell the unwary to hang on, as I've had a few people get thrown by my quick moves in the past in these type slips. Say hey to Alex on the Cape Horn for me if you see him there.

Tombro, that's exactly what happens, my unsuspecting fishing partner who hadn't been out with us yet got thrown to the deck, I know its my responsibility to inform everyone what's happning, but in the heat of the moment.... and he's a little clueless to start with...


I'll keep an eye out for the Cape Horn, not sure where he is, but I'll look around... been a very slow season for me, just not getting out as much as I should.