Are you a new pontoon owner? Or maybe you are worried about being a little rusty once you get back out on the water after this long and snowy winter. Not to worry - today we are going to review best practices for docking your pontoon boat. Because of their shape and size, pontoons can catch wind more easily and can therefore be more difficult to dock than most "regular" boats (think deck boats, cruisers, etc). So here are a few tips for easily - and gracefully - docking your pontoon boat.
- Don't be afraid to use fenders. There's no shame in it, especially if you're still getting the feel for docking your pontoon. Tie on 2 or 3 fenders to give your boat a cushion from the dock. We'd rather have fenders hanging out than scratches from the dock, wouldn't you?
- Come in at an angle. More often than not, it will be impossible to line up straight to the dock. So don't pressure yourself thinking that's what you have to do! Come towards the dock at an angle, with one front corner approaching before the rear corner. Once you get closer, straighten up and aim for a particular spot on the dock.
- Slower is better. Don't race into the dock. Go as slow as possible, preferably spending most of your time in neutral and bumping it into gear for a second every so often. The best way to turn is with power, but the best way to execute a sharp turn is with the lowest amount of power possible to minimize skidding.
- Back it up. Reversing is actually the best way to slide up next to the dock. Once your front end is close (because you're coming in at that angle), turn the wheel all of the way and push it into reverse for a moment so that the rear will slide into place. Use a bit of oomph when doing this.
- Practice makes perfect. Every boat handles differently, so it will take awhile to learn exactly how your boat works, especially when docking. Just remember: don't use excessive speed. That can cause a little mistake to turn into a big problem.
How often do you practice docking? Are you comfortable with your pontoon yet?
