Owning a boat for the first time is exciting, but there are many things to learn. Once you have your OC boat insurance taken care of, how can you get onto the water without stepping on anyone’s toes? While most marinas have a few clearly stated rules about how to dock, load and launch your sailing vessel, there are a few “unwritten” guidelines that ensure everyone has fair access to the water. Before you head down to the lake, make sure you review these basic points of dock etiquette.

Don’t Abuse the Courtesy Dock

Many marinas have a courtesy dock that’s available to everyone. However, it has limited use to prevent boaters from hogging the ramp. You should only use the courtesy dock for loading and unloading passengers. Everything else has its own time and place.

Know Which Spot Is Yours

Harbors and marinas that offer docking generally charge for the privilege. To minimize confusion, boat owners have designated spots. That means you can only dock in your assigned location, even if it’s less convenient. An open spot isn’t an invitation.

What should you do when docking your boat? First of all, make sure you approach slowly to avoid damage to your boat, those around it and the dock itself. Second, focus on the task at hand until you’re safely tied up. Finally, practice docking and driving your vessel until you’re completely comfortable with how it handles.

Don’t Clog the Ramp

Many places only have one boat ramp, so make sure you keep it clear when not launching. One cardinal sin is leaving your trailer after getting your boat onto the water. Others can’t approach with the trailer in the way, so make sure you always move it to the designated parking area. If you’re with loved ones, someone can move the trailer while you see to the boat, thereby cutting down the wait time.

Be Prepared

Getting your belongings in order before approaching the ramp is a common courtesy for docking a boat. Making other people wait while you go through your checklist is incredibly rude and backs up the entire line. While the marina may not ban you outright, you won’t make friends with that kind of behavior. Before you even think about the ramp, make sure you complete all your non-boating tasks:

• Loading inflatables
• Transferring beer coolers
• Moving all equipment

Don’t Speed

Keeping a reasonable pace isn’t just good for your OC boat insurance premium. It also prevents waves. Zooming around the lake is a lot of fun, but you can endanger smaller vessels with your wake. Slowing down when you’re close to other boats keeps everyone safe and ensures you don’t have to worry about a civil suit for boating damages.

About Mariners Insurance

Mariners General Insurance Group was founded in 1959 to protect boat owners and marine business clients. We are marine insurance experts and insure boats worldwide – in every ocean on the planet. Marine insurance is critical if you own a boat or nautical business. Trust the professionals with all of your Boat Insurance needs – trust Mariners Insurance. Call us at (888) 402-5018 any time you have questions or concerns about insurance for your vessel or marine business.