Docking Techniques Seminar

Docking techniques for single engine boats with right hand turning propellers based on eight years of docking training courses conducted at the Maryland School of Sailing & Seamanship. This seminar was presented by Captain Tom Tursi who is author of the American Sailing Association's ASA118 Docking Endorsement textbook.

[@lio-shai1103]

great tips need a convenient search 00:00 - Intro 04:00 - Agenda 04:34 - Theory 05:02 - Pivot point 05:40 - Propeller direction 06:30 - propeller wash 07:33 - Rudder control of prop wash 08:30 - Prop walk 09:47 - Turning arc 10:30 - Tiller vs. wheel steering 11:18 - Effects of wind 12:08 - Effects of current 12:24 - Momentum 13:23 - Throttle speeds 14:04 - Throttle kicks 15:05 - Rudder position 16:04 - Standing turn 20:25 - Doubling a line 20:54 - Shifting gears 21:26 - Mooring lines 23:15 - Essential knots for docking 24:21 - Heaving a line 24:42 - Docking safety 25:55 - Crew assignments 27:47 - Glossary of some terms 29:36 - Mooring arrangements 29:44 - Mooring in a slip 32:08 - Parallel mooring with an anchor 32:52 - Mediterranean mooring 33:11 - Undocking 33:19 - Pre-departure preparations 36:19 - Parallel undocking, favorable wind 37:22 - Parallel undocking, wind opposed stern out 39:03 - Parallel undocking, wind opposed bow out 39:45 - Heading bow out of slip 43:22 - Backing out of slip bow to wind 45:45 - Backing out of slip stern to wind 47:07 - Parallel docking 47:20 - Pre-docking preparations 50:15 - Pre-docking options 51:15 - Parallel docking - Hemmed in dock with forward spring 55:45 - Parallel docking - Open dock with after spring 57:06 - Docking bow into slip 57:45 - Wide turn with crosswind 59:59 - Backing into slip 1:00:03 - Backing into slip principles 1:00:57 - Backing in - Portside approach, no wind 1:08:58 - Backing in - Portside approach, wind ahead 1:12:33 - Backing in - Portside approach, wind astern 1:14:33 - Backing in - Starboard approach, wind ahead 1:15:55 - Backing in - Starboard approach, wind astern 1:17:37 - Backing in - Other wind conditions 1:18:57 - Waterman’s spring line 1:20:39 - Docking summary

[@mdschoolofsailing]

lio-shai... Thank you for doing this catalog. I do appreciate it and hope it will help others in reviewing this video... Tom

[@leeoshatrumpeldor7164]

@@mdschoolofsailing u br welcome sir. Your lessons r excellent and very useful

[@nearlynativenursery8638]

Captain Tom Tursi, that was the best well described presentation on docking techniques I have watched. Thank you for this class and for offering it at no charge on youtube.

[@dougcowie5983]

Excellent. What a comprehensive coverage! Thank you for sharing.

[@ivomirassi6712]

4:04 ------ AGENDA ------ 4:32 ------ CHAPTER 1: THEORY------ 4:36 The Pivot point 5:38 Propeller Direction 6:24 Prop Wash 7:32 Rudder Control of Prop Wash 8:32 Prop Walk 9:47 Turning Arc 10:30 Wheel Steering vs Tiller 11:16 Wind effect 11:55 Current effect 12:18 Momentum 13:18 Throttle Speeds 13:54 Throttle Kicks 15:06 Rudder Position 15:59 *** Standing Turn 17:18 *** Standing Turn - Diagram 20:20 Doubling a Line 20:50 Shifting Gears 21:07 Mooring Lines 23:16 *** Knots for Docking - Check website: animatedknots 24:08 Heaving a Line 24:42 Docking Safety 25:55 Crew Assignments 27:42 Terms Glossary 29:35 ------ CHAPTER 2: MOORING ------ 29:41 Mooring in a Slip - Pylons 31:31 Crossed Stern Lines 31:42 Parallel Mooring: Pier 32:06 Parallel Mooring: Anchore 32:46 Mediterranean Mooring 33:07 ------ CHAPTER 3: UNDOCKING ------ 33:14 *** Pre-Departure Preparations 36:19 Parallel Undocking - Wind OUT the Dock 37:15 Parallel Undocking - Wind IN the Dock - *** Stern Out 38:56 Parallel Undocking - Wind IN the Dock - *** Bow Out 39:43 Pylons - Heading Bow out of Slip 43:11 Pylons - Backing Out of Slip Bow to Wind 45:33 Pylons - Backing Out of Slip Stern to Wind 47:10 ------ CHAPTER 4: PARALLEL DOCKING 47:20 Pre-Docking Preparations 50:12 Parallel Docking Options 51:15 Parallel Docking - Hammed in Dock with Forward Spring 55:40 Parallel Docking - Open Dock with After Spring 57:06 ------ CHAPTER 4: DOCKING BOW INTO SLIP (Pylons) 57:13 Docking Bow into a Slip - Steps 57:44 Docking Bow into a Slip - Diagram - Wide Turn with Crosswind 59:58 ------ CHAPTER 5: DOCKING STERN INTO SLIP (Pylons) 1:00:03 Backing into Slip Principles 1:00:55 Scenario-1: Portside Approach No Wind 1:08:52 Scenario-2: Portside Approach Wind Ahead 1:12:30 Scenario-3: Portside Approach Wind Astern 1:14:30 Scenario-4: Starboard Approach Wind Ahead 1:15:49 Scenario-5: Starboard Approach Wind Astern 1:17:36 Other Wind Conditions 1:18:52 Waterman's Spring Line 1:20:31 ------ CHAPTER 6: SUMMARY

[@wowi55]

thank you!!!

[@dannyash3805]

To the top!

[@ivomirassi6712]

Moving up

[@LeighWilliamatgoogle]

One of the best docking technique videos that I've come across. Excellent content. Thank you for creating and sharing this video.

[@CB-bg3xy]

Many thanks for a very detailed lesson. I was looking for a instructor to learn how to dock a single inboard fixed with rudder and here it is. I reallly appreciate your time you have put into this lesson. One of the best instruction videos out there to follow and practice. Happy and safe boating.

[@theos6848]

I've watched this many times. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing this. You're making the waters safer and helping a lot of people

[@brettmiller8512]

Thank you for sharing this great information. Truly appreciated.

[@Eurus721]

Thank you very much sir. Picked up my 1st boat, a 40 year old 25 foot single stright shaft right turning power boat APR 2013. Drove it 5 miles from launch point to marina, 5th boat in, tied up alone and haven't left the dock since. Looking forward to a few short trips. Prop walk, so that's what made me look good pulling in. Thank you for posting and doing such a great lesson.

[@mussfamily8391]

Amazing content! I just purchased a 35' trawler with a single screw and I'm so happy I found this! Well done.

[@cindyh82]

Excellent course from expert instructors. I took this course in person, they are great.

[@ericcoffin1696]

Thank you, Capt Tom, for a great (and free) detailed seminar! This is a great service to learning boaters like myself. Much appreciated.

[@WalterKaan]

From all those who are not in Maryland (or even in USA) - thanks for a great series of videos!

[@Mark_KE8YCV]

Thank you for this informative tutorial!

[@paulgorman3553]

Excellent video, Thank you for sharing. Paul, Ireland

[@ulrikbrndum8383]

Thank you for a great video - just what i need to “understand” my first boat.

[@crazyhorsetrading8655]

Thank you so much for this valuable information. I think I am going to have to watch this video a good few times for all the info to sink in. Thanks once again.

[@sassy6292]

Awesome! You sir are an ace instructor. I thought I would never understand propwalk until I watched this video. You are methodical and you know exactly what a novice may be thinking which makes you intuitive. Thank you:)!

[@davester32]

Incredible video! thank you!

[@humanbeing2009]

Excellent. Thank you!

[@rafaelcamilo2904]

Very instructive, detail oriented like not other. Simply the best.

[@elliowb2]

Great instruction. Very methodical. CaptainTursi confirmed a number of things I've been doing and I learned a variety of new techniques and tips. Thank you very much!!

[@efetackno.2807]

Very much and many thanks, Sir, for this great explanation and offering for free out here. I am heading into an app to practice these theories and soon in real life onto the water. Looking forward to it. So, a part of your spirit in here will always be with me when I am docking in for the first time. Wishing u a happy living and fair winds. Kindest regards, Efkan

[@MrMath245]

Excellent instructions!

[@paulb2022]

Great. Thank you for posting

[@fabianortease1440]

Excellent and detailed review.

[@markph0204]

Great video -- can't wait to put this to good use soon! ❤⚓

[@paulvr3158]

Great presentation , thanks!

[@nigellbutlerrr2638]

very excellent ,learnt a lot of thingsready ,,

[@earthling3875]

Each boat is very different. I find an isolated buoy or anchor a fender at sea and practice coming up to it foward or reverse at different angles. Great practice with no risks.

[@HeaanLasai]

Thank you for posting this!

[@homefront3162]

Best videos on the web

[@docramyj]

Thank you very much. Much appreciated!

[@davecopp9356]

Great Videos. Thank you. I hope you are well.

[@bobbysworld7278]

Awesome video on docking techniques, liked it very much.

[@chriskilmer6670]

Thank You for a great presentation. I liked it so much, just purchased your book through the ASA. Thanks again!

[@jimmycleveland1373]

Excellent, thank you

[@Robert.S459]

Great job. Very informative and well presented. Thanks.

[@potatokitty]

Woah. Thank you for the information .

[@johnnylam9286]

Very Useful. Thank you Sir!

[@Dan_C604]

Excellent instructive. One of my hardest and still not mastered (and I hate it too) is backing in. Thank you!

[@lubberwalker]

Choose the tide to park into your slip backwards, into stream and a light breeze from anywhere other than against stream. Blown-on is good. 2 crew. One for the 1st line. One for roving fender and 2nd line. Stop the boat stern into the stream (out in the river) Stand forward of the helm facing aft. Never move from this helm position. Hold it there. Stationary in relation to pontoons. Glance at the bow sometimes but 90% look aft (where you're going). Practise just with the throttle. Ease and she creeps forward. A tad more revs and she holds. A little more and she creeps backwards into the stream. Keep holding it in reverse against the stream for a long long time. Until voyeurs get bored and wonder off while you really get the feel of hanging her off the prop, equaling the stream. Now driving like a car, turn the wheel slightly slightly left. Wait. She will ferry glide left. Then have a go at ferry gliding right... Forget port/starboard. You're in control. Reverse Ferry glide into your fairway. At first she'll lose against the stream so Increase revs, just momentarily. Turn more and more into the fairway. Use the +/- throttle to stay central. Get nervous? Turn the wheel back toward the river and ferry glide back out. So, the further in and closer to shore, the weaker the stream. Compensate with helm adjustments. You're 45%-70% now and as your slip opens up will need to turn back towards it with a tad more revs. You are moving slooowly into your slip, fewer revs as you go. No matter how slow, because you're into stream you will always have water over the rudder and so steerage and you have a clear view of the finger and the pontoon (end of your berth that you will stop 11 inches away from). Slide her in, slow to a stop and hang off the prop again. Tie off the stern breastline first, hang off it and into neutral. Tie off bow breastline and bow spring. Finished with engine. Stern spring. Kettle on. Remember the bow spring is the aft one and the stern spring is the forward one. Now reread the lines order again.

[@Dan_C604]

Ellul Walker thanks for taking the time to respond. Good advise to stand on until one gets the feeling, i’m always trying to rush a bit. Cheers!

[@lubberwalker]

@@Dan_C604 I'm slow as drying paint. Those looking for calamity get fed up and stop gawping. Also, I think slow. I like time to see what the the boat wants to do and use that rather than fight it. I like to be going slow enough to have more time and less (wrong) momentum to change if I need to goto plan B. You can always add revs. It's harder to unadd momentum. My own take is a little different. Swap the contingency and mission. Plan A. Go up the fairway, turn the boat and leave the fairway. Keep doing that. (survival confidence) Plan B. When you master plan A, go up the fairway again and if you see a good opportunity to get her in her slip have a go at that. Otherwise complete plan A. Priority is avoiding collision damage, it is not "to park the boat at all costs". Or stick with dive in as soon as you're back, barrel up the fairway, take a flier at the turn point, get it wrong. Use even more revs to undo the momentum. Get screamed at because you didn't allow for drift. Wonder what the plan B should have been that you can never visualise anyway. Get teeboned across bow rollers or worse (because you were giving it manly welly to beat whatever "element was king" ).

[@msemana813]

Nicely done. Very informative. Thank you!

[@andrewwilliams9419]

Just what I needed

[@sailingcatcharay]

Great lessons, super video, greetings from Quebec

[@Nigeno]

Many thanks, really helpful.

[@ikoukou]

Great video! Thanks a lot!

[@aitor4294]

wow what a great vid!

[@nigelfrith]

Excellent and very clear - great info.

[@martinrasmussen]

Very helpful👌🏻 thanks for sharing🙏🏻

[@Madislandsailing]

I appreciate the instructions very much. Would love it if you did a presentation on single-handed docking.

[@captsalama]

thank you for the information very useful

[@robertovivir257]

very good, very informative to seamanship subject!

[@frakkedillen]

Fantastic instructions!! It’s just so good. Thanks a lot from Denmark 🙂👍

[@rossmitchell1848]

Excellent session on docking. Very informative. Looking forward to my upcoming class in March.

[@LIamaLlama554]

Thank you! Very helpful video!

[@ICHWILL2002]

great lesson. greetings from Germany!

[@pirateradio8336]

Thank you so much

[@bmch99999]

Thanks for the seminar. Very helpful! I'm doing a flotilla in a few weeks in the med, so this is a great refresher before this. If you could have the mouse pointer larger, or more highlighted it would be a little easier to follow, but this is only a tiny thing.

[@tnyima]

Nice and detailed lessons. Thanks.

[@s.v.gadder1443]

I was gonna comment and say my boat will do a standing turn at idle, but like you said only right hand turns.. this is a good explanation for me to do a left hand turn, maybe I missed that part but idk... very good explanations.

[@MonkeySpecs301]

very informative and comprehensive. thx

[@henrycagle7827]

it is a art in docking properly. Take time to present your boat in arriving and departing from your slip or dock side.

[@HelgiFelixson]

My slip gives me about 8 inches on either side of my 28' sailboat boat, past the fenders, but we only have piling on the starboard side, and an old PT boat on our port, which we don't want to nick and sink. Your video showed me how to use that piling. Thank you!

Thank you!

[@lyndondorway3634]

Very Informative.

[@3vdad]

Thank You, I looked like a pro my first time

[@1PhilHarmonic]

Thank You.....

[@marineboy305]

Comprehensive, indeed. Dealing with all situations of docking!

[@121five]

Some great tips there thanks. To some off the unanswered questions below I'd recommend really thinking about how the wind at different speeds and directions affects the bow, and where prop walk will take you and try to come up with answers of your own. Any ideas that include higher speed or high power are higher risk... Thinking it out, then time on the water is what makes you proficient. I learn by trial and error trying different suggestions ha ha. Cheers.

[@sasapac4183]

Very useful presentation :-) I learned a lot :-)

[@robertroberson5421]

I really enjoyed your video on exiting and entering your slip. Could you please do one using a pontoon boat

[@ricardophynque5128]

Thanks for your excellent help....For years, every time I entered my slip at Marina Del Ray, I always yelled "Stand by for a RAM" and you would be surprised how fast people appeared ready to help me manhandle my 42 foot Grand-banks on a gusty Day.

[@glideinblue]

great lessons. greetings from Denmark

[@ChrisDenny28]

Great seminar. Thanks. How do you best SOLO dock a 26' (Pearson 26 OD) sailboat in a river? It has a 9.8 HP outboard. Slip is 2 pilings on each side as shown in seminar. Slip is perpendicular to river. River current is average 3 knots. Current depends on tide shift, so unless I hit it at slack tide, I have current ripping in or out, perpendicular to slip. Wind is usually 10 knots, parallel to river--so when the wind is opposite the current, it's easier to dock, but that is not often the case. It seems like the waterman's spring seems the best option, but once I get the stern in, the bow quickly spins with the current and against the opposite piling. Is there a way to use the waterman's spring and prevent the boat from twisting as I back in? (Going in forwards seems impossible solo.)

[@user-vw1xc4md5u]

Thanks

[@mchaves7663]

thanks for video, it was very informative.

[@bobthackery257]

Very informative and helpful video. Your presentation is planned and executed very well, so that it's logical. In the case by case scenarios, you address all the key forces that may be involved, except for current. You do mention current forces and describe how they affect the boat in the early portion of the video. In cases where there are also current forces, it's important for sailors to also consider and account for these forces in addition to all the others.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Definitely, though wind is a bit more confounding since it can turn the bow.

[@joshbaxter5036]

Just took ASA 118 yesterday. Regarding "Parallel Docking - Hemmed in Dock with Forward Spring "(52:00), our instructor demonstrated this maneuver with a bridle / one long line tied between bow and midship cleat. The bow crew used a boat hook to help place the line over the cleat. A little cumbersome for set up but worked like a charm.

[@mdschoolofsailing]

Josh... We published a video on the Docking Bridle last year at kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHupaKGoa7l9rpY

[@joshbaxter5036]

@mdschoolofsailing Great! Just watched it. Very helpful. Thank you! We used your slide show as a handout in our class. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge.

[@craigb2334]

Excellent!

[@random_life_videos]

This was an amazing seminar!! Can you help me figure out how to back out of a slip qith fairway exit to the left with wind on the nose. Thank you!

[@rickwagner9657]

I'm curious: why such strong emphasis on backing into a slip at the end? My marina has very consistent westerly winds which blow me toward my slip neighbor. PLUS my prop walk is to the right. Thus, if I were to back in - prop walk would carry me toward my neighbor as the wind carries my bow toward my neighbor. So I go bow in to counter-act. This was a great video... I realize that my smartest choice is to get myself turned around bow to wind. Thus I have to do a standing turn in a narrow fairway. Thank you for sharing this video!

[@phygital1]

Hi, With respect to the parallel undocking segment, is the procedure the same (engine forward / reverse and lines aft or bow) for left handed props with the dock on the starboard side? As well is the procedure the same if a right handed prop and the dock is on port side.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Yes. Spring lines use prop wash to spring the boat out, not prop walk. Should work the same regardless of prop direction or which side of the boat is towards the dock.

[@elecco925]

I really enjoyed this presentation, lots of takeaways. For backing a boat into a slip, all of the examples start bow first and then turning to setup the boat to back the stern into the slip. Any thoughts about backing down the fairway stern first and approaching the slip? This is how I normally do it and and its worked well....so far. That said, I'm going to practice some of these techniques.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Backing may be easier overall if it's into the wind or for a starboard approach when going forward and the boat has significant prop walk. It avoids the problem of prop walk working with the wind during a turn from bow forward to stern into the slip. In other words it avoids some of the problems of the starboard approach.

[@wd1000]

Standing turn in boat with outboard. Same rule right rudder only applies or is different than with inboard?

[@JohnBobRoger]

Great advise on dock lines. My boat is left hand screw....lol.... Newfie once more.

[@uncledeadlythefirst]

Is this maneuver able to be performed when you have a tiller and an offset outboard?

[@romeowhiskey1146]

Tom, Great presentation...EXCEPT...the small white cursor arrow is very difficult to see. Please consider ENLARGING the size of the cursor and CHANING it's COLOR to a higher CONTRAST color like YELLOW. Much easier to follow. Raymarine is now using this.

[@SVYAKU]

Can you please do a video on how to use The capstan Of a Windlass for docking or other sailing procedures?

[@s.v.gadder1443]

I use a doubled line a lot, when I'm getting ready to leave somewhere ill switch my lines over to this, so they can all be released and retreated from the boat ... it works good for me...

[@feliccieandorro408]

pretty informative indeed ........................

[@georgelippitt6764]

I have a folding prop. i seem to have problems with kicks in reverse. what do i need to do?

[@s2sailorlis]

George Lippitt folding props typically are lousy in reverse. My martec prop was great going forward..reverse not so much.

[@markdt7179]

Love this video. Any suggestions coming stern in, starboard tie only with another boat on portside, (no ties, posts to port), and having wind coming off the dock. I could only get this slip in my area, switching is not an option, only going bow in which I don't wish to do. We have a clockwise prop, Hunter 410. I've used the technique at 1:12:40. Trying to find the goldilocks angle position to enter where wrongway stern kick, versus bow falling off is a challenge. In light winds this works well, even though my instincts to centre the rudder early are wrong.

[@MirandaIVV]

Me too please!

[@slehar]

How about the "pivoted sway turn" described here? cns-alumni.bu.edu/~slehar/Victoria/CaptainsManual.html Will that do it for you?

[@sailingsvtesla9052]

Can some one tell me if I'm wrong about the position of the rudder at the 43:10 mark of this video? In this particular photo it is showing the rudder facing the port side of the boat but if it's a right turning prop wouldn't the rudder want to be towards the starboard side due to the prop walk??? any help is appreciated in advance. thx, RJ

[@mdschoolofsailing]

It's the spring line that is steering the boat backing out in this view, not the rudder

[@sailingsvtesla9052]

Understood... Thank You

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

​@@sailingsvtesla9052 Also, at low speed through the water, prop walk would have more effect than the rudder. But the spring line is doing most of steering the boat at that point.

[@egorfedorets1529]

Hi! Is it possible to download that PowerPoint file? Thx!

[@SuperSnallygaster]

My new slip doesn't have any useable pilings to warp from (floating dock). Any tips I can try or am I basically limited to just driving it in?

[@Rob-xz6uv]

You need to fit big cleats to the corners & other parts of the slip to warp from.

[@adammaradi]

Going into the slip is much better starting from downwind position and going in one go with slow speed

[@gmngpbb]

Very instructional, however I thought you short-changed the discussion regarding heading in to a slip. Perhaps that is because you don't use that method as much at your school, but a lot of boaters are relegated to heading in to their slip and must do so in some pretty difficult conditions.

[@richjobin3606]

Great presentation. - In a parallel undocking wind opposed situation you mention that you prefer stern out vs bow out. Would explain why you believe this to be the case? Thanks..

[@mdschoolofsailing]

Rich Jobin I prefer stern out because it's easier to fend off the bow, if necessary, than to fend off the stern. Also, when going bow out, you use your rudder to avoid the boat ahead, and this pushes your stern toward the boat ahead... So in my view, stern out is the better of two evils

[@connormcgregor4500]

I’m trying to understand gps and how to read charts and find positions and how to stead the boat and hold the position

[@NotMitch69]

The illustration of arc was helpful in determining which way to steer to partially minimize prop walk.

[@michaelj9559]

Irrelevant! Prop walk appears on reverse only.

[@jcmac7709]

Michael J - I disagree