Docking Endorsement Standard (ASA 118)
General Description: This course is designed to teach basic docking skills for boats with single inboard or outboard engines. It covers the basic theory and hands-on techniques needed to dock and undock boats in an efficient manner and without damage or injury.
- Name four of the forces that act on a boat during docking maneuvers and how each of these affects the speed and orientation of the boat.
- Describe which of these forces is dominant.
- Describe which forces the helmsman can control or use to advantage during docking.
- Describe engine and rudder control as used during docking.
- Describe how to properly secure mooring lines in a slip and alongside.
- Describe use of spring lines during docking.
- Describe safety considerations during docking.
- Describe undocking procedures and crewmember duties.
- Describe docking procedures and crewmember duties.
- Prepare boat and crewmembers for docking and undocking including assessment of boat condition, dock and fairway configuration, routes of exit and entry, water depths, wind and current direction and strength, potential hazards, docking/undocking plan, crewmember assignments and instruction, and emergency abort options and procedures.
- Demonstrate a standing turn maneuver in a confined space; turn boat through a full 360º of rotation while remaining in a circle not exceeding two boat lengths in diameter.
- Undock boat as planned without collision, grounding, damage or injury.
- Dock parallel to a dock with wind blowing towards dock; demonstrate proper use of spring lines and tieup to the dock.
- Undock from parallel to a dock with wind blowing towards dock; demonstrate proper use of spring lines to avoid other boats moored fore and aft.
- Dock bow into slip with a cross wind; demonstrate proper use of spring lines and tieup in the slip.
- Dock stern into slip with a cross wind; demonstrate proper use of spring lines and tieup in the slip.
- Demonstrate proper tying of cleat hitch, bowline and round turn with half hitches plus proper method for heaving a line.