skibum
Well-Known Member
This is my process as well. Just prior to pulling into any dock, I ask any passengers seated in my way from the helm to the stern to switch seats so I don't trip over them. If they've never been on my boat before, I will tell them, "I'm going to get next to the dock, and then walk this way to get off the boat so I can attach the bow line. Once I step off of the boat, you can follow me off, and hold the stern to the dock by grabbing this (usually the camper top frame). If I do not get off of the boat, please stay seated.". I rarely have pax on rough days, so it's usually safe to do that. I let them know that I dock my boat by myself on a regular basis, and that if I need any help I will ask them to help. I tell them that if I ask them to do something, and it is not crystal clear to them what I am asking them to do, to do nothing at all and to speak up right away to tell me that they didn't understand. Doing the wrong thing is often worse than doing nothing.But before we even pivot the boat in front of the slip, I tell any guests aboard to sit "here" and I point at the seats I expect them to sit in and tell them: "We do this all the time and we can handle the lines and the boat so please stay seated until I turn off the engines."
I find that experienced boaters will understand, and will stay seated. If nothing else, out of sheer curiosity of what my solo docking routine is. If I dock a second time with the same experienced boater(s) on board I'll say, If you want to help with the bow line this time, please do and spring it to the center cleat just like I did the last time.".
Every once in a while, someone with a memory span of less than 3 minutes will do something else, but that's only happened once or twice.