Basic Marina Etiquette
While boating is a great way to get away from the crowds and noise of towns and cities, marinas can be crowded on summer days with many people looking to launch and dock their boats. With some patience on your part, you can deal with these other boaters more easily. If not, it can end up ruining your entire mood, making you regret stepping out of the house.
At Rockingham Boat, we know that some of that sour mood can stem from people simply being unaware of basic marine etiquette. Boat operators and their passengers can be careless, loud, disrespectful and slow to maneuver themselves and their crafts to make way for others, leading to blown fuses and screaming matches. To help you avoid becoming a source of frustration at your local marina, we’ve compiled this short guide on how to behave when you’re there.
If you want to get professional service for your boat, contact the service department at Rockingham Boat in Hampstead, NH. If you’re looking for boats for sale in Manchester and Nashua, get in touch with our sales department to check out the models we have in our wide inventory.
Keep it Slow
You might love top speeds but blazing into the marina just isn’t the way to go, regardless of whether it’s crowded or not. You know it wouldn’t be right to zip into a parking lot at 50 mph because it would be stressful and dangerous for drivers and pedestrians around you. You could crash into something or hit someone. That’s why you should approach the marina at a more sedate speed and be very cautious in your approach. You don’t want to create large wakes that can jostle other crafts and you certainly don’t want to hit anyone because you were careless and didn’t slow down.
Keep Moving
You don’t hang around the gas station needlessly after filling up your tank. So don’t waste time blocking the marina with your boat after you’ve fueled up. You should clear out of there as soon as you’re ready to sail, whether you’re departing the dock or returning to your slip for the night. There’s no need to take up space in the water when others are waiting to maneuver their boats around yours to fuel up or dock.
Keep the Dock Clear
If you aren’t careful about docking your boat, you can end up blocking the walking path on the dock with your bow. To avoid this, use spring lines to control the motion of your boat as you pivot around the dock. If you don’t want to do this, you’ll have to practice docking your boat stern-to-dock instead to prevent overhang.
Equipment like life jackets, watersports gear, tow ropes, etc. shouldn’t be left lying around haphazardly. Coil up ropes neatly before you leave your boat, and don’t leave any trash or old food on your boat that could stink up the place. Make sure the dock around your boat is clear and easy to walk on.
Respect Others
Follow the old maxim of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. This applies to marina etiquette as well. Think of how annoying it can be to be disturbed by others loudly partying, drinking, blasting music from the docks when you just want to spend a quiet evening enjoying nature. Don’t do this to others. If the general atmosphere of the marina is quiet, do your best to keep it that way. You can socialize calmly and enjoy the sunset just as well without making a lot of racket or distraction for other dock users.
Turn if Off
Before you leave the dock for the night, remember to turn everything off. This includes your TV sets, stereos, VHF radios, etc. Electronic equipment can make noises when left on so be sure to switch it off. Also switch off all the lights so you don’t cause light pollution and interfere with those planning to stargaze.
It’s easy to be a little thoughtful and respectful when maneuvering around the marina, and it can change the whole experience when you have a fun-filled day without any arguments or quarrels. If you need to whip your boat into shape before your next trip, contact the service department at Rockingham Boat in Hampstead, NH. We’re happy to be the preferred boat dealer for our friends from Manchester and Nashua.