how to properly dock my seadoo

[robin savell lloyd]

I went to a restaraunt on the river and I tied my boat to 2 pilings [they looked like tellephone poles in the water] one in the front part of the boat and one at the back part of the boat. The water was calm. What would I need to do if the water was a little rough? my boat came with 4 white round things that have air in them that I am sure are used when docking but I do not know how to properly use them or if they will even help when tieing of to these poles. the dock was higher than boat so it was only rubing poles. I plan to go to this restaraunt again and if the water is ruffer I do not want my boat to be beaten up against the poles. Any ideas will greatly be apreciated. Thanks Robin :cheers:

 

[timmyboy76]

Robin, you saying that, this dock is stationary, and doesn't rise and fall with water level.

 

[robin savell lloyd]

That is correct. :cheers:

 

[timmyboy76]

Thats a bummer...throw anchor and swim to shore....j/k, USE ALL 4 BUMPERS...

 

[robin savell lloyd]

how are you going to install all four bumpers to these two poles poles? Do you have any photos? :cheers:

 

[timmyboy76]

Bare with me Robin, try'n to visualize this out......if boat fits between poles, then tie bumpers using cleats up front, back use ski ring..yah?, if doesn't fit, use cleat and handle..yah? Might need extra rope, for rigging up these bumpers to it and for boat.

 

[robin savell lloyd]

The poles are spaced at about 8 to 10 feet the boat is a little over 14 feet. :cheers:

 

[anthony spa]

sounds like if u tyed rope from the front hook to the pole then the back hook to the pole leaving a little slack so the boat can do its thing u should be alright

 

[robin savell lloyd]

That is what I did but I am concerned that if a storm blew threw or if the water had a chop that it might damage my bumper that is part of my boat. Thanks for all the info. Any more ideas? :cheers:

 

[anthony spa]

sorry u should have two side hooks on each side of ur boat makeing a ( Y ) witch some rope then tying off to the poles

 

[robin savell lloyd]

Does anyone have photos? For some reason I can not picture this in my mind I may have to search internet for photos of how to properly dock a boat so I will know for sure how to do this.:cheers:

 

[anthony spa]

top of the ( Y ) being the boat bottom being the pole if u do that on both sides with boat in the center of two poles it will keep the boat off the poles

 

[bfrost]

you should take the boat out of the water as much as possible.
leaving it in the water with stain your hull and decrease any resale value.

 

[robertm]

Very easy to do Robin. Those round things are called fenders. They are designed to attach to your boat and sit between the haul (side) of your boat and the dock or in this case the pillings (vertical beams of wood-usually round).

There are two ways to use a fender. If your boat comes even with the side or edge of a dock then you attach the fendors vertically between your boat and the dock. You attach the fender to the cleats (metal things on the side of your boat) using a rope on one end of the fender the other tied to the cleat.

Now if you are docking next to a pilling (vertical wood beams) you will want to attach the fendors sideways along the side of your boat between the haul and the pilling. The way you do this is with a rope on each end of the fendor. Tie one end to one cleat and one end to another. This way the fender will sit sidways between your boat and the pilling.

The reason for these fendors is if a wave or wind or watever moves your boat in relation to the dock the fendor will absorb the energy.

Hope this helps. If you are having a hard time don't be afraid to ask someone to help you. People are usually very friendly out on the water.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Docking?

Robin, I eat at a nice restraunt on the water too, The Mariner. I have a similar situation but the fenders don't really work well with the 14 Challengers. And too, I have to step up to the dock.

What I found works best for me is to cross tie. I use 2 lines at each cleat, fore and aft. I tie one on each cleat to each pylon. Then, I draw the other aft line to the forward end of the boat to that pylon, the the forward line to the aft pylon. So, your boats line looks like an "x" from fore to aft and then, you have fore and aft lines tied to the pylons nearest the cleats.

This keeps the boat from moving so much, scraping up against the pier. Oh, I do tie with my driver side out so my contols aren't next to the pier.:cheers:

 

[robin savell lloyd]

Thank you all for your ideas. I just recently noticed your posts some how I had mised them I will have to go back daily and read all the threads I have made to see if anyone replied. :cheers:

 

[unclejay]

Fenders

The problem with fenders is that the fenders need to be toward the middle of the boat, not at the ends where the cleats are. Marine stores sell suction cups to help with that, I also back them up with very long bungee cords from Wal-mart so if one suction cup comes loose you dont lose it. The bungees go to the cleats.

never tie anything to the throttle or shift levers

if you think there will be wakes etc Id locate elsewhere, a good wake pounding can do a lot of damage.