5.7 DOCKING AND MOORING
Docking or mooring your vessel can be the most challenging of boating operations. Maneuvering your vessel into a dock or a mooring marker in calm conditions is hard enough – add high traffic, choppy water and windy conditions to the mix and you quickly realize that proper docking and mooring is a real skill. Keep the following factors in mind for effective docking and mooring:

PREPARATION
When you approach the dock, slow your speed, secure fenders on the docking side, and ready the docking lines.

TRAFFIC
If you are headed to a marina with limited docking stations, you may have to wait until stations open up. Be patient and courteous; approach only when you see an open station and have communicated your intention to other vessels that are departing and waiting.

WIND AND CURRENT
The direction of the wind and the flow of the water current have a huge impact on docking.