Docking a Big Boat with a Skeleton Crew

Recall from earlier cards that a boat has no brakes — you stop it with reverse thrust, spring lines, and the dock itself. Shorthanded (one or two people), the trap is trying to do what a full crew does: someone drives, someone jumps ashore with four lines at once. Instead, the shorthanded rule is let one line do the work first, then adjust everything else at leisure.

The key tool is the midship spring line — a line led from a cleat near the boat's widest point (the beam) to a dock cleat. Rig it in advance, step ashore with just that one line, drop its loop over a cleat, and put the helm to idle forward against the spring. The boat pivots and pins itself flat against the dock, held there by its own engine, while you calmly walk the bow and stern lines ashore. One line and idle throttle replace three pairs of hands.

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Everything else is preparation. Rig all fenders and lines before you enter the marina, not while you're maneuvering. Approach slowly — you can only fix mistakes made at low speed — and always keep a bail-out: if the spring doesn't catch, you should be able to power away and circle for another try. Solo sailors often add a lasso loop they can drop over a piling without leaving the cockpit, so the boat is secured before anyone steps off.