Slips – Returning

Wind coming into the slip channel and your boat is to be docked stern-to

Steer into the slip channel and maneuver past the slip. Engage reverse and back up into the wind, then turn into your dock. Do a pre-emptive strike on the prop walk.

Light Wind blowing into the slip channel and your boat is to be docked bow-to

Simply steering the boat into the slip works for light winds; however, the below method is safer for stronger or gusty winds.

Above, it is preferable to steer the boat up into the wind and then into the slip.

Wind blowing out of the slip channel and your boat is to be docked bow-to

Simply steer the boat into the slip.

Wind blowing out of the slip channel and your boat is to be docked stern-to. 

Start by reversing all the way from the main channel into the slip channel and then into your slip. This will probably work for you even if you have an inboard drive and associated prop walk. As long as you are making way in reverse, the boat will likely turn with this wind direction. If not then there is another way described below.

Wind across the docks and your boat is to be docked stern-to

For Stern and outboard drives you can just reverse from the main channel into the slip channel and then into your slip. It will likely not work for inboards with prop walk because the windage on the stern may prevent the stern from turning upwind.

For inboard drives, you can use prop walk to your advantage by coming into the slip channel in forward and going past your slip then reversing. Note that the wind direction of coming out of the channel is missing from this diagram because as we always say, it is not a good idea to start with the bow pointed to wind.

For wind coming out of the slip channel, this below may be a better approach since the wind will work to push the bow downwind and the prop walk will turn the stern upwind.

The wind blows across the dock and your boat is to be docked bow-to

Steer the boat into the slip. That is the easiest BUT refer back to the momentum exercise where we had you driving downwind and applying reverse to stop the boat. This is a specific case of why we had you do that exercise. The boat will stop slower than you think.

Conclusion

By understanding how the wind direction acts on your boat as well as prop walk (if in existence), you can design any entrance and exit plan to use the effects to your advantage. It is a good idea to stop the boat outside the marina and observe what is going on, then make a plan and execute on that plan. However leave in the flexibility to change plans due to unforeseen circumstances, such as traffic, the harbor master directing you to a different slip, shallow water, and more.

Remember that you always have the option to change plans and motor back out to the marina to get a fresh start.