Last month we tried to get an understanding of our local tides. In this month’s article, we will discuss the influence of the strong tidal currents on docking our boats. Prior to docking, you should determine the direction of the current by looking at your tide tables, observing the wake around fixed objects (pilings, docks, etc.), or by noticing the direction of floating objects (bubbles, dead Spartina grass, etc.). Or, simply go dead in the water and observe your drift.

Generally it is best to dock into the current, not with it, if possible. This way, you maintain control – the current is not pushing you where it wants. (If you dock with the current, you must travel faster than the current in order for your rudder to have any effect at all… and docking at high speed is rarely advised!)

What I am going to suggest to you next is counter-intuitive, so stay with me for a moment. The temptation is to drive straight to your spot. That gets many folks into trouble (particularly in the larger yachts). They approach the dock using the proper crab angle, but when they slow down, they fail to adjust their crab angle to compensate for the reduced speed and end up striking another boat. Instead, we are going to let the current move you sideways to your spot on the dock.

Approach the dock into the current until you are aligned with your docking spot, but at least a boat’s width away. Let off power until you match the speed of the current. You will remain stationary (provided there is no lateral wind). If the current is slow (or if you have a fast idle), this sometimes requires you to alternate between idle speed and neutral to match the speed of the current. Hold this position until you are comfortable maintaining your position. (Remember, Neutral is a Gear!)

Believe it or not, with a current, you can actually move your vessel sideways bysimply presenting one side of the bow to the current. This will create a resultant force that is proportional to the angle of attack and speed of the current; thus moving the boat sideways, toward the dock. In this way, you can figuratively “walk” the boat into a parallel docking situation. If too much lateral motion is occurring, turn the bow back, straight into the current to stop the motion, or in the opposite direction to “walk” the boat back out. Understanding this simple principle is like adding a bow thruster to your vessel.

There are times when docking with the current is required in order to bring a particular side of the vessel to the dock. Under these conditions, you should bring the vessel along side the dock, then reverse thrust and back in to the dock, using the same principles of vector forces as when docking into the current. Be aware, however, that the boat handles very differently in reverse than in forward.

The stern of your boat does not present the same configuration as the bow, the pivot point will have shifted backward*, the bow will tend to fall off into the wind, and the discharge of your prop will be against the hull of your boat. In short, the handling characteristics will become quite different. However, the basic effect of the current against the side of your boat will be the same.

Use your controls, not to drive the boat, but to setup the correct angle into the current. Let the current move your boat to the dock. Observe your track and adjust the angle of attack into the current and speed of the engine to give you the desired track. Let me repeat… it is the track of the boat that is important, not the heading! When docking with the current, always secure the dockside stern (quarter) line first. Get the slack out of this line and secure it tightly – the vessel will naturally come to rest against the dock, provided there is no off-dock wind. If there is off-dock wind, just slowly drive forward, with the wheel turned toward the dock, then tie your other lines. Never turn off your engine, until the boat is fully secured.

There are times when you might need to back the vessel down a long dock or into a slip while moving with the current. The temptation when backing with the current is to drive to the dock (creating an angle with the current). If you do so, as you slow down, the current will take the bow and push it away from the dock. Instead, back to a position that is even with where you want to dock, maintaining parallel alignment with the current. Apply minimum forward thrust to hold your position, as you angle the bow slightly toward the dock, and allow the current to push you into your spot.

Anticipate the effect of currents while docking. Be safe.