Tips for Mooring Your Fishing Boat

Beginner Tips for Mooring Your Fishing Boat

A common misconception of Mooring is that it is an easy task only for thoroughly experienced people. The truth is, mooring is a simple task that can be done by anybody provided the person…

1. Pays careful attention to the mooring area
2. Monitors the direction and strength of the current
3. Watches the speed and direction of the wind
4. Selects the most suitable method of mooring for the boat and situation

Photo Caption: Don’t tie yourself in knots! Take the stress out of mooring.

Steps for Mooring with an outboard motor

The simplest means of mooring is to allow nature to make-up for any errors. Follow these steps and you’ll be back on shore without a hitch:

1. Approach the dock up current. This is done by pointing the bow into the current and approaching the dock from a shallow angle. This allows more control of the boat.
2. As the front of the boat approaches the bollard (the appendage on concrete piers used to tie the boat to), go ahead at a very slow pace with the rudder slightly turned away from the dock.
3. The current will try to push the boat sideways. Turn the wheel towards the current and increase the speed slightly. This will move the boat sideways towards the pier.
4. Once the bow meets the pier, have someone put the dock line over a bollard then fasten it to the bow cleat of the boat.
5. Once the dock line has been fastened on the bollard, tie the other end of the line on the cleat.
6. Take the engine off the gear while steering the boat away from the pier and allow the boat to move backwards slowly until the line is tightened.
7. Once the line becomes taut, the boat will catch the current and gently move the stern of the boat towards the pier.
8. Have a deck hand drop a line on a bollard and fasten the line to the stern cleat.

Steps for Mooring in a marine dock using a spring line and outboard motor

Photo courtesy of ProFloat.com

Marine docks can sometimes get crowded with boats such that the boats are separated by a mere few inches. Using a spring line can be an effective means of mooring in such conditions. A spring line (or docking spring line) has eyes on both sides with an equal length between the stern and bow cleats. The mooring procedure is so simple:

1. Set one of the eyes of the docking spring on the bow cleat on the side that will be next to the concrete pier.
2. Move the boat into the space at a 45-degree angle until the bow is so close to the pier for the deckhand to step off with the unattached eye of the spring line in hand.
3. Have the deckhand drop the line over the bollard where the stern will be tied.
4. Gently turn the bow away from the concrete floating dock. This will pull the line taut and force the stern towards the pier. Drop the other eye of the spring line over a bollard and tie it to the stern cleat of the boat.

Care for even more info? Check out this detailed article about best practices to dock your boat. Be safe and enjoy your time on the water!

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