Which of the following would be an incorrect step during docking?

• A. With the motor at idle speed, bring the boat parallel to the side of the dock you wish to use.
• B. Once almost into position, put the motor in reverse and give it only enough throttle to reverse the direction away from striking the dock.
• C. Put the boat in neutral and turn the motor off.
• D. Hit the dock to adjust alignment.

Answer: (D)

Docking requires precise, gentle control of speed and steering to avoid contact with the dock. Keeping the motor at idle lets you steer with minimal thrust so you can position the boat parallel to the side you want to use. When you’re nearly in position, shift into reverse and apply only enough throttle to move away from the dock's surface, which lets you back off safely and fine‑tune your angle without slamming into the dock. Put the boat in neutral and turn the engine off to prevent any unintended movement as you secure the boat. Hitting the dock to adjust alignment goes against safe docking practice because it risks damage to the hull, dock, or people—use small, controlled adjustments instead.