What should you do before docking your boat?

Before docking your boat, it is important to reduce speed to the minimum required for steerage. This approach allows for better control of the boat as you navigate towards the dock. Maintaining a slow speed enhances your ability to react to any unforeseen conditions or obstacles, such as wind, current, or other boats in the vicinity. Additionally, a reduced speed provides you with adequate time to make adjustments as necessary, ensuring a safer and more precise approach.

In contrast, increasing speed to reach the dock quickly can complicate the docking procedure, making it harder to control the boat during the crucial moments of maneuvering into the slip or alongside the dock. Turning off the engine to coast is not advisable, as you would lose all steering control and may drift uncontrollably. Similarly, throwing the anchor out 10 feet from the dock is unnecessary and could create additional complications since it could lead to the boat being pulled away from the dock by the anchor line rather than allowing for a stable approach.