Momentum when Docking a Martin - Don't Count on Much

Each time I go to dock one of our Martin's I forget that they behave quite differently from the way our J/24's, our old Sharks and larger boats do.

On all of the other boats in the fleet - I have a tendency to line up the boat for the docking maneuver then shift into neutral and rely on the boats momentum to let me steer alongside. Rarely - but as necessary - if I've got too much forward momentum when I'm parked next to the dock - I might shift into reverse to slow to a stop.

Several times now I have tried a similar routine and come close to messing up big time. On one occasion a crew member (for the bow line) was able to take a giant step then accept the stern line from the stern crew-mate still aboard. On another occasion it was more a case of "the braille method" as we went hand over hand along the rail of another boat moored astern of our spot.

What both of these (ahem) near incidents have in common was me relying on the momentum of the boat when there wasn't any to be had. The Martins clearly weigh less with their weighted bulb on a very narrow chord keel that does little to keep her underway in a straight-like direction once you take away the power.

The solution - keep the outboard in gear - much longer than you would on a J/24 or one of our old battleship specification Sharks. You have to practically motor it right onto the dock and recognize that you may have to pop it in reverse to complete your "parking" maneuver.

Oh, and by the way - if you do resort to some reverse thrust then be aware of which way the outboard is pointed as the stern will naturally move in the direction that the prop is facing.

Try it and see - and let us all know if you have developed some other fool proof techniques.