Stopping the boat under power is an im- portant step in learning to dock. Always check your reverse gear to make sure it’s working. When stopping into the wind, the pressure of the wind on the hull and rig (windage) will help slow you down. When stopping with the wind, windage will push the boat, so you may need to in- crease the reverse throttle and allow more distance to come to a standstill.
Glide Zone
Bigger boats and heavier boats have more forward momentum and coast farther than small boats. The heavier the boat, the more distance you’ll coast.
Using reverse gear permits you to stop in much less distance. Always slow the engine and pause briefly in neutral before shifting to reverse gear. Then increase re- verse power until the boat stops at the desired spot. Once stopped, put the boat in neutral.
Wind direction will affect your stopping distance.
