Welcome to “Dock Like a Pro” — a brand-new, four-part series from The Log, where we’ve teamed up with certified, seasoned experts to deliver practical, no-nonsense tips for docking your boat with confidence and ease. Whether you’re returning from a coastal cruise or easing into your slip after a long day offshore, this series is designed to take the stress out of one of boating’s most nerve-wracking maneuvers.
In this first installment, we’re diving into functionality. We’ll cover the most common mistakes boaters make when docking (and how to avoid them), the ideal order of operations before approaching the dock — and how to get a feel for your vessel’s behavior at low speeds. These insights come straight from Captain Joe Lovejoy, a USCG 200T Master — so you can be sure the advice is solid, tested, and trustworthy.
Keep an eye out for the next three installments, where we’ll dig even deeper into technique, gear, communication, and safety — everything you need to truly dock like a pro.
Docking is the process of maneuvering a boat into a designated space — typically alongside a dock, pier, slip, or mooring — where it can be safely secured. It’s an essential part of boating, whether you’re returning from a day on the water, stopping for fuel, picking up passengers, or docking overnight. Docking can be done at marinas, private docks, harbor slips, or public landing areas, and often involves careful handling of the vessel at low speeds, the use of fenders and dock lines, and awareness of wind, current, and surrounding traffic. While it might seem simple, proper docking requires skill, planning, and a cool head — especially in tight quarters or crowded conditions.
Let’s get into it.
Captain Lovejoy kicks things off by focusing on one of the most overlooked aspects of docking: functionality and communication. According to Lovejoy, the most common mistake boaters make isn’t about boat handling — it’s about failing to clearly communicate a plan.
“Even if you’ve docked your boat hundreds of times, your passengers likely have not,” he said. “Each person aboard will have their own idea of what should happen when docking, but only one person is the captain — YOU.”
Lovejoy stresses the importance of making sure everyone on board knows what’s expected of them before approaching the slip. He recommends choosing one or two capable helpers and giving them specific instructions about how to assist and how you’ll be communicating during the docking process.
“Sometimes, the best task for an inexperienced or incapable passenger is to have them sit still and not get in the way — there’s nothing wrong with that!” he added. For Lovejoy, a calm and coordinated crew is just as critical to a smooth landing as the helm itself.
With a plan in place and crew communication dialed in, the next step is ensuring your vessel is fully prepared before you even begin the approach. When asked what every boater should do before attempting to dock, Lovejoy emphasized the importance of knowing your equipment and anticipating how your boat will respond. “One of the best ways to be prepared for docking is to understand what forces you’re able to control as you enter the docking area,” he said.
Start by testing your propulsion and steering in open water to check that everything is functioning properly. “You never know when a strand of kelp might have gotten wrapped around a prop or some floating junk could have wedged in your rudder,” Lovejoy noted. He recommends checking the rudder’s responsiveness by turning the wheel all the way to port and starboard at low speed. Similarly, shift your engines from forward to neutral to reverse to confirm smooth operation. If your vessel is equipped with bow or stern thrusters, test those too.
Next, make sure your fenders are properly deployed and mooring lines are untangled and ready to be passed ashore. “Fenders should be raised or lowered to the approximate height of the dock you’re approaching — not the one you left,” he advised. Running lines along the rub rail or over a handrail can make them more accessible from key positions on the boat. He also suggests using a “roving fender” — tied to a 6- to 10-foot line and carried by a crew member — that can be lowered quickly if the boat gets too close to a piling or neighboring vessel. These extra precautions, Lovejoy explained, can make all the difference when pulling into the slip with confidence.
Once your gear is ready and your crew is briefed, it’s time to consider one of the most critical — and often underestimated — factors in docking: how your boat behaves at low speeds. Captain Joe Lovejoy told The Log that understanding your vessel’s handling characteristics is essential, not just for docking, but for safe navigation in any condition. “Knowing the handling characteristics of your boat is essential for safe operation — in restricted and open waters alike!” he said.
Lovejoy encourages new boaters to start with the fundamentals — before they even leave the dock. “I recommend spending some time learning shiphandling theory. There are great resources for this no matter your learning style — books, videos, and coaches… but make sure your source is credible!” His advice? Start with the basics. “Learn from square one — a single engine boat with no thrusters — even if you have a multi-engine vessel with thrusters on every corner. You never know when an engine may fail or a computer chip will burn out.”
Once you’ve built a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge, practice becomes essential. Lovejoy advises boaters to be honest about their abilities and not to shy away from seeking professional help. “If you or your crew have very little boating experience, seek higher levels of help at the start. It’s better to be humble and hire an experienced captain to train with for a few days than to wreck your boat because you thought ‘it can’t be that difficult!’” He recommends starting in calm conditions with an easy approach and gradually working up to more challenging scenarios like docking bow- or stern-first in moderate winds and currents.
And finally, don’t forget your safety net. “Always maintain towing insurance and remember that you have it for a reason,” Lovejoy reminded. “No need to limp into your marina on one engine when you’ve already paid for professional help to get you home. Stay humble and stay off the rocks!”
If you’ve picked up a few helpful tips — or just want to give Captain Joe a well-deserved round of applause for keeping boaters off the rocks — you can find him on Instagram at @crown_city_trawlers. Feel free to drop a comment, ask a question, or just send some virtual high-fives his way. Stay tuned for part two of our docking series, where another pro takes the helm, and we discuss real life situations and tips to execute them safely.
