I love your videos. I just completely renovated a pontoon, which took 2+ years because I've never owned a boat before. I finally got to drive it and my girlfriend and were dropping F-Bombs as though it was wartime. With your advice, I believe that we can now eliminate the stress, tension and fights. Thank you..!!
Seriously the best docking video I’ve ever seen. I’m a rookie boat owner with an I/O. I’ve had a hard time turning my boat in the correct direction. I watched this video once and my confidence was at an all time high. I can now control the boat perfectly and going out with my family is much more fun. Thank you so much.
I have watched every docking video on RUclips and I still didn’t feel like I had it . Until I came across this gem. You are a great instructor, I learned a lot from you. Thank you for your service.
I"ll echo what others have said. This video made it so much easier to understand than some of the others. No shade against the others, they say the same thing but they say it in a different way. As a new boater who has struggled with docking I used what I learned in this video to dock the boat 4 different times today in four very different conditions. For the most part I had no problems. Thanks Dave I appreciate the help
This video is absolute magic! THE best way I have seen these movements explained in all ways and possibilities. The next thing is to just go out and practice and do these very movements to make them muscle memory as they are for him. He is doing smaller things without explaining them, but he does a great job brining everything together! I cannot wait for the day I feel this comfortable with docking my boat into its slip.
I feel so much more confident about taking my boat out for the first time today after watching your video. You’re a great instructor and simplified this perfectly for me. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this video. I just bought my first boat and still a few months away from when i can use it here in Ohio. Lots of anxiety about docking, but really appreciate the clear, simple and direct way you explain things.
Your welcome you can practice by anchoring a few love vests in the water and maneuvering your boat through them in different situations. Just remember if your engine gets near the anchor lines and it’s windy go to neutral so you don’t wrap them up in the pro
50 years boating. Just moved from a 20 ton trawler to a single center console. Feel like a stone cold rookie. Great video. Really well done. Thank you!
This is my first video to watch from your channel. As a retired educator of 25 years I really like your style. You explained clearly what you wanted to accomplish and then modeled the required inputs to get the job done. You have a new subscriber. Thanks for posting the video and sharing your knowledge.
So helpful. Better than my husband yelling directions at me while I panic. For me, trying to figure out how to swing the stern of the boat the right way in reverse has been the problem. Thank you!
I'd enjoy a video regarding dealing with wind and currents getting into and out of a slip. I've gotten myself into tough situations. You do make it look easy though.
Thank you for your instructional videos. You have me (a new boater) more than you will ever know. Much appreciated and I'll keep learning everything that I can from you!
I really appreciate how you explain this. I do not own a boat but I rent boats multiple times over the summer months and your video was very informative. Thanks for posting!
Very helpful! Thank you. I have been guilty of grabbing a post or having someone step onto a dock with the boat moving in order to stop the boat.These videos make boat captain's like myself better which makes everyone safer.
I've been helping my wife learn how to drive our pontoon boat. She really enjoys it but struggles with docking which will come with more practice, and good videos like this. Thank you!
Okay….I’m impressed. This is your second video I’ve seen of you doing this lesson and I hope you’ve made more. I’m going to browse your channel, since I subscribed, and see how many of these you’ve done. I would like to add that if you made the exact same video at different docks every time I would watch them all. Every situation is different and I loved watching you just nonchalantly talk and teach and drive and think and figure it all out with such ease. I hope to be as great as you someday. I’m going to Florida to pick up my first pontoon next month, sadly my father-in-law passed away and he told me to take care of the boat and go have fun. With your lessons I am feeling pretty good. All the other videos I feel less “real world situations”. Do you also do lessons on trailering on and off the ramps for us who don’t have docks?
that sure was calm water and seemingly no wind. a trick is having a small rear view mirror, so you can see the engines direction, assuming it's an outboard and visible, that can also help in a tight area, but nothing replaces looking backwards to ensure what's there. bumping, grinding and wrapping lines in the prop isn't fun, same for running into heavy seaweed. I had to paddle and dock pole out of seaweed a few times so I could clean the prop and get moving again, not fun. 🙃
Thank you so much for this video. We just bought a 24' pontoon boat, we live in the Berkshires. We do great getting out of the slip but have had a devil of a time getting back in. The marina is so nice, they assist us when they see we're having problems, but we keep saying we need to do this ourselves. I'm going to use your suggestions the next time we go out. I think our issue is we have a boat on our port side and a dock on our starboard side. We're more concerned about the boat than the dock. Thanks again!
Like ur video very much. My issue has always been docking into my slip similar to the one at this marina. My biggest obstacle is that the wind and current always come from behind me so it certainly makes me getting into my slip difficult when I turn to my port side. I will certainly practice ur methods. Thx
Wow. Thanks for the tip!! I thought it would all be common sense (and this video probably is basic Info for boaters) but I certainly didn’t have this technique down… I was like the Wild West my first time not long ago parking!! This helps a lot. Thanks again. 😅
Do you have a video where the fairway is much narrower? I am having trouble docking at my marina where there is a wall on the opposite side of the slip that is just a few ft more than the length of the boat away. when i miss the slip its tough to fix because i cant go forward or back without hiting something.
Depending on the reaction of the boat in the oncoming current I’ll go in and out of forward gear. On that particular day it was a double hit with current and wind so it was mostly in gear
Your welcome, I typically go in and out of forward gear but that day was a perfect storm of wind and current so I was mainly in gear to get the boat in before it was taken over.
Not if you stop the boat and then react. That’s the whole point of the video. It doesn’t matter what’s there……. If you think your going to hit….. Stop the boat first……then get yourself out of the situation by going in and out of gear. Slowly
A right hand rotation prop will pull toward the left when backing up. This is most prevalent on an inboard boat obviously as the prop shaft is stationary. But on an outboard or IO the pro will change direction and allow you to pull backwards either way.
Doesn't all the gear shifting stress the gearbox? I'd rather shift gears though than run into something for sure. I guess my question would be... if I can achieve the same bearing and speed with a single 2 sec burst vs two 1 sec bursts... should I shoot for that? In any case, as I am learning I will shift the way you did
As long as your hitting neutral before reverse you shouldn’t be stressing the gear box. Just make sure your getting into gear and not grinding by being half in and half out
I love your videos. I just completely renovated a pontoon, which took 2+ years because I've never owned a boat before. I finally got to drive it and my girlfriend and were dropping F-Bombs as though it was wartime. With your advice, I believe that we can now eliminate the stress, tension and fights. Thank you..!!
Seriously the best docking video I’ve ever seen. I’m a rookie boat owner with an I/O. I’ve had a hard time turning my boat in the correct direction. I watched this video once and my confidence was at an all time high. I can now control the boat perfectly and going out with my family is much more fun. Thank you so much.
I have watched every docking video on RUclips and I still didn’t feel like I had it . Until I came across this gem. You are a great instructor, I learned a lot from you. Thank you for your service.
Very kind words thank you
Your very welcome glad it helped
Every new boater needs to go pay for good instruction. Some of them are free. No excuses
Thanks for your kind words. I plan on making a few more videos soon as there has been a request for some specific instructions.
I"ll echo what others have said. This video made it so much easier to understand than some of the others. No shade against the others, they say the same thing but they say it in a different way. As a new boater who has struggled with docking I used what I learned in this video to dock the boat 4 different times today in four very different conditions. For the most part I had no problems. Thanks Dave I appreciate the help
Great and easy instructions. You are a good at teaching. Keep it up.
Best video on the internet by far. More docking and leaving dock (parallel parked situation)
Thanks I plan on making some within the next week.
Looking forward to it. Best teaching style on the internet by far.
Can't wait :)
I can't tell you how much this video helped my docking skills. Best docking video I have viewed!!!
@@gpabrown8225 thanks glad you enjoyed it
This video is absolute magic! THE best way I have seen these movements explained in all ways and possibilities. The next thing is to just go out and practice and do these very movements to make them muscle memory as they are for him. He is doing smaller things without explaining them, but he does a great job brining everything together! I cannot wait for the day I feel this comfortable with docking my boat into its slip.
Thanks, Practice practice
Everybody kept saying just give it a bump. Now I know exactly how to bump. Thank you!
Ha ha glad you got some good stuff out of it.
I feel so much more confident about taking my boat out for the first time today after watching your video. You’re a great instructor and simplified this perfectly for me. Thank you!
Your very welcome feel free to ask for specific videos and I'll keep making them.
Thank you so much for this video. I just bought my first boat and still a few months away from when i can use it here in Ohio. Lots of anxiety about docking, but really appreciate the clear, simple and direct way you explain things.
Your welcome you can practice by anchoring a few love vests in the water and maneuvering your boat through them in different situations. Just remember if your engine gets near the anchor lines and it’s windy go to neutral so you don’t wrap them up in the pro
Prop
50 years boating. Just moved from a 20 ton trawler to a single center console. Feel like a stone cold rookie. Great video. Really well done. Thank you!
Absolutely it is definitely different with small boats, wind and current.
Excellent information and instructions..
This is my first video to watch from your channel. As a retired educator of 25 years I really like your style. You explained clearly what you wanted to accomplish and then modeled the required inputs to get the job done. You have a new subscriber. Thanks for posting the video and sharing your knowledge.
Thanks you. very kind words from a fellow instructor. I will try to get more videos out. Always feel free to request specific situations
Great video!!
This video needs more views. Incredibly helpful. You make it look so simple and explain it even easier. Thank you.
Thanks for your kind words.
So helpful. Better than my husband yelling directions at me while I panic. For me, trying to figure out how to swing the stern of the boat the right way in reverse has been the problem. Thank you!
Glad you got some good stuff out of it. I'm going to do one with my wife on backing into a boat ramp and pulling out.
Nicely done - thank you for this!
Regarding operating in the marina and docking, the captain who taught me said this many times- "Never go faster than you want to hit something" 🙂
Words of strong wisdom
This is the best tutorial on docking in a slip and controlling a boat. I’ve seen them all… this is the best. Thank you!
I'd enjoy a video regarding dealing with wind and currents getting into and out of a slip. I've gotten myself into tough situations. You do make it look easy though.
Thank you, The secret is when your nervous stop the boat first then back yourself out of trouble and reset.
Just dropping in to say: this video is excellent and does a great job explaining the parking process. Thank you Dave!
I’m impressed with this-very little information out there on docking SINGLE engine outboards. EXCELLENT--THANKS
Thank you for your instructional videos. You have me (a new boater) more than you will ever know. Much appreciated and I'll keep learning everything that I can from you!
WOW! THIS GUY IS GOOD! You make it look so easy. Tysm!
That was one of the best , informative, easy to understand videos I have seen, he explained what to do and showed you , so you can understand, thanks
Very well explained. Thank you
your very welcome
This is the best video I've seen to really help boaters control their boat and dock safely with confidence.
I really appreciate how you explain this. I do not own a boat but I rent boats multiple times over the summer months and your video was very informative. Thanks for posting!
This is my first ever comment on RUclips, which I'm making just to thank you for your outstanding video.
This is one of the best docking bodies I have seen. Great explanations on tips and techniques and emphasizing slow and easy is your friend!
Very helpful! Thank you. I have been guilty of grabbing a post or having someone step onto a dock with the boat moving in order to stop the boat.These videos make boat captain's like myself better which makes everyone safer.
I've been helping my wife learn how to drive our pontoon boat. She really enjoys it but struggles with docking which will come with more practice, and good videos like this. Thank you!
Extremely helpful. I thought I was handling boats correctly. But this makes much more sense.
Best instructor I've seen.
Okay….I’m impressed. This is your second video I’ve seen of you doing this lesson and I hope you’ve made more. I’m going to browse your channel, since I subscribed, and see how many of these you’ve done. I would like to add that if you made the exact same video at different docks every time I would watch them all. Every situation is different and I loved watching you just nonchalantly talk and teach and drive and think and figure it all out with such ease. I hope to be as great as you someday. I’m going to Florida to pick up my first pontoon next month, sadly my father-in-law passed away and he told me to take care of the boat and go have fun. With your lessons I am feeling pretty good. All the other videos I feel less “real world situations”. Do you also do lessons on trailering on and off the ramps for us who don’t have docks?
Your very welcome. Yes I have a a few trailer backing videos as well in my channel
Very, very few good docking demo videos, especially with pontoons (in your other videos). Really well done; I got some great tips. Thanks!
that sure was calm water and seemingly no wind. a trick is having a small rear view mirror, so you can see the engines direction, assuming it's an outboard and visible, that can also help in a tight area, but nothing replaces looking backwards to ensure what's there. bumping, grinding and wrapping lines in the prop isn't fun, same for running into heavy seaweed.
I had to paddle and dock pole out of seaweed a few times so I could clean the prop and get moving again, not fun. 🙃
ruclips.net/video/wz6v0HrYHrE/видео.htmlsi=OWclHZ_XExKvOPO8
thanks for explaining it slowly and clearly.
Thank you so much for this video. We just bought a 24' pontoon boat, we live in the Berkshires. We do great getting out of the slip but have had a devil of a time getting back in. The marina is so nice, they assist us when they see we're having problems, but we keep saying we need to do this ourselves. I'm going to use your suggestions the next time we go out. I think our issue is we have a boat on our port side and a dock on our starboard side. We're more concerned about the boat than the dock. Thanks again!
This is the best video I have seen on this. Thank you for taking the time out to make this video.
thanks! this helps a lot for someone who's been boating for 20 years but new at docking. :)
Great video.
Thanks a lot sir good tips and the confidence has definitely rubbed off on me.
Excellent video, by far the best I’ve seen, looking forward to putting into practice here in the UK
Great information that was easy to understand and follow 😊
Like ur video very much. My issue has always been docking into my slip similar to the one at this marina. My biggest obstacle is that the wind and current always come from behind me so it certainly makes me getting into my slip difficult when I turn to my port side. I will certainly practice ur methods. Thx
you made it look so easy 🙂
Amazing video!!! Watched this video many times. A real help!! Thanks!!
The best docking video of youtube!! Thanks!
Wow. Thanks for the tip!! I thought it would all be common sense (and this video probably is basic Info for boaters) but I certainly didn’t have this technique down… I was like the Wild West my first time not long ago parking!! This helps a lot. Thanks again. 😅
Most informative docking video ever, especially for tight, similar marina access we have!
Great job explaining how this is done.
Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video. Just a masterclass A+
Good teacher Sir.
I try to help in my marina all the time. It's like no one knows neutral exist. Sheeesh
Huge help Briscoe, thanks and keep em rolling!🎥
What an EXCELLENT helpful video!! Thank you so much, super helpful!
Very helpful. Simple technique for docking. Thanks Captain Dave!
It’s very easy to follow your instructions. How about doing a docking method for inboard motors?
Been using your maneuvers this summer! Awsome
Strong presentation with firm but kind warnings. Good job, dude!
Incredibly helpful video as a new pontoon owner. Thank you!
Beauty video, Captain
Thank you for making these videos!
best video. Thanks
Great video! Very well taught
Truly a great video. I appreciate it.
Excelente video Dave. Extremely helpful. Thanks a lot for taking the time to make this video !!!
Making it look easy
Nice and clear instruction!!!
Great Videos. One of the best.
Thanks. Excellent explanation and demonstration.
Best video!
Thanks that helped me a lot everything you said was right on point you helped me not be scared
Awesome vid.. excellent tool to put in my box👍😎👌
Awesome information thanks for sharing!!
This was an awesome lesson! Thank you !!!!!!!
This is a great video!! Thank you!
Great tips i struggle with getting the boat to stop where i want it using neutral guessing because of wind and/or current, always looking for tips
Awesome thanks
This is so helpful! Thank you!
Brilliant explanation. Any tips on how to best assess distance from the dockside on a larger 30’ boat?
Thanks awesome video well explained.
The advice I needed
Thanks!
Thank you
I need this video with a 26’ cruiser lol
Thanks. Turn your wheel them put in gear.
Totally awesome
Please please make a backing into a slip video. Many thanks
Fantastic!
Thanks
You should do a video on backing in
Thank you, I will make one. I love when people request things needed.
Awesome
Lol I live in st James ,,, gone like Cadillac tail fins. Ya know if ya know.
Do you have a video where the fairway is much narrower? I am having trouble docking at my marina where there is a wall on the opposite side of the slip that is just a few ft more than the length of the boat away. when i miss the slip its tough to fix because i cant go forward or back without hiting something.
Hi.thanks for the video. So when you turned full lock into the slip you were in forward gear?
Depending on the reaction of the boat in the oncoming current I’ll go in and out of forward gear. On that particular day it was a double hit with current and wind so it was mostly in gear
Your welcome, I typically go in and out of forward gear but that day was a perfect storm of wind and current so I was mainly in gear to get the boat in before it was taken over.
If there were boats in those empty slips, would you have hit them pulling in at that angle?
Not if you stop the boat and then react. That’s the whole point of the video. It doesn’t matter what’s there……. If you think your going to hit….. Stop the boat first……then get yourself out of the situation by going in and out of gear. Slowly
With a right handed prop is it easier to pivot turn clockwise vs counter clockwise or no difference?
A right hand rotation prop will pull toward the left when backing up. This is most prevalent on an inboard boat obviously as the prop shaft is stationary. But on an outboard or IO the pro will change direction and allow you to pull backwards either way.
Doesn't all the gear shifting stress the gearbox? I'd rather shift gears though than run into something for sure. I guess my question would be... if I can achieve the same bearing and speed with a single 2 sec burst vs two 1 sec bursts... should I shoot for that? In any case, as I am learning I will shift the way you did
As long as your hitting neutral before reverse you shouldn’t be stressing the gear box. Just make sure your getting into gear and not grinding by being half in and half out