Our yacht insurance will provide coverage for accidents, storms, injuries and tricky situations that don’t always turn out like you hoped- such as docking under less than ideal circumstances.

Aside from not wanting to be the next viral video of a power yacht docking disaster or having to call your yacht insurance company to make a claim, nobody wants to damage their yacht this way (or any other!). But power yachts are notoriously difficult to dock and this is why we are seeing more and more videos of power yacht docking, um, challenges.

Now of course, if you’re experienced in boating (or yacht insurance coverage) you know how many factors can make docking a challenge for even expert crew members. Things like high winds or strong currents, unfamiliar shoreline and marinas, or mechanical issues can conspire against your ability to look good docking a power yacht. This is why it’s crucial to have comprehensive yacht insurance to protect yourself and your valuable marine investment.

That said, here are some tips we have for power yacht docking:

Take it easy. You will never regret going too slowly as you approach docking, but going quickly can cause a lot of damage that you will regret. Better to bump than to smash – though you do need to know when to use a little burst of power to compensate for strong winds or currents.

Be watchful. You need to be aware of hazards like stray mooring lines, other boaters who may not be paying attention, or perhaps pilings where you don’t expect them if you’re in unfamiliar territory.

Know where and how to position fenders. This is an art! When should you know exactly which areas need protection against scraping a piling or scraping against a pier? The trick is to get them right where they need to be, not swinging too high or getting caught underneath. Miscalculate and you risk damage to your yacht.

Check your lines are secure before you shut down. Experienced yacht crews always make certain that all the lines are tied and knotted securely before turning off the engines in case you drift out of reach unexpectedly.

Don’t take unnecessary risks. Of course, you might think you’d hear this from yacht insurance specialists! But it’s true. If things are not going well, choosing to stop and retreat before attempting again might be your best decision. We’re guessing a lot of the power yacht docking mishap video subjects would agree with us.

We hope you never have to contact us to make a claim after a power yacht docking mishap, but if you have to, you can count on us for great service. Contact the yacht insurance professionals at Global Marine Insurance if you have any questions or would like us to review your policies.