Marina manoeuvres can be nerve-wracking, especially for newer skippers. Tight spaces, expensive boats, shifting winds and the ever-present audience on the quay can all add pressure. However, with a few key techniques and a bit of practice, close-quarters handling becomes far more manageable.
Planning Your Approach
Before you even touch the helm, take a moment to assess the conditions. Look at the wind direction, current flow, and space around you. What’s the most straightforward route in or out? Are you going to be blown onto or off the pontoon? It’s not about showing off with a tight turn at speed. A calm, slow approach is your best friend. It gives you time to think and react and makes it much easier to stop if something doesn’t go to plan. Keep talking to your crew if you have one, so everyone knows the plan and their role.
Berthing with Control
When berthing, line up your approach early and commit to it. Adjust your speed with short bursts of throttle rather than keeping the revs on. This gives you better control and helps avoid that panicky feeling when things happen too fast. Always consider which side you want to come alongside. If wind or tide is pushing you away from the berth, you might need a bit more speed on approach. If you’re being pushed on, go slower and use the wind to help you settle against the pontoon. If the marina is tight, don’t be afraid to stop outside for a minute to prepare lines and fenders. It’s better to be ready and relaxed than rush in half-prepared.
Spring Lines Make a Huge Difference
Spring lines aren’t just for holding the boat once it’s tied up. They’re also a powerful tool when manoeuvring. You can use a forward spring (running from the stern forward) to pivot the bow out from a berth or a reverse spring (from the bow back) to swing the stern out. These tricks work especially well when the wind pins on you or you need to get out of a narrow gap. Using a spring and a bit of throttle in gear while the wheel is centred will move the boat in a controlled arc, keeping you away from nearby boats. It’s worth practising these moves in a quiet corner so they feel natural when you need them in busier spaces.
Understanding Prop Walk
Prop walk is the sideways force caused by the spinning propeller, especially noticeable in reverse. On many boats, especially with a right-handed prop, the stern will pull to port when you go astern. Rather than fighting it, use it to your advantage. If you know your boat pulls to port, consider turning to starboard as you reverse into a berth. This helps bring the stern in neatly. If you’re trying to back into a finger berth, set yourself up with a bit of an angle so the prop walk helps rather than hinders. Every boat is different, so it’s worth getting used to how yours behaves at slow speed in reverse. Practise somewhere with room so you get a feel for it without stress.
Handling Wind in Tight Spaces
Wind can be your best helper or your worst enemy in a marina. If it’s behind you, it might feel like it’s speeding everything up. If it’s ahead, it can kill your speed and leave you drifting. Try to work with the wind, not against it. If it’s pushing you onto the pontoon, use it to land gently and keep the boat settled while you tie off. If it’s pushing you off, be ready with a line ashore as quickly as possible, and use a spring to hold you while you secure the rest. Strong side winds need a bit of finesse. Come in at a steeper angle to give yourself a bit of momentum against the wind. Don’t rely on fenders alone to stop you – aim to use the lines to control the boat as soon as you’re alongside.
Confidence Comes With Practice
There’s no substitute for time on the water. The more you practise these techniques, the more confident you’ll become. Try different approaches, test spring lines in different ways and see how your boat behaves in the wind and reverse. Everyone has the odd awkward moment in a marina. The key is to learn from it, laugh about it and keep going. Confidence in close quarters doesn’t come from being perfect – it comes from knowing how to fix things when they don’t go quite right.