An additional hint on docking: It's generally wind that can make the docking process a tad tricky at times. I have a burgee on the bow rail that provides some useful feedback as to the wind direction and how it might affect your docking strategies. However, the most accurate wind indicator can be found at the top of most sailboat masts. The wind vanes used by sailors are very accurate and provide valuable feedback to power boaters. If conditions are windy or gusty, I always do a quick visual check on the sail boat vanes when coming down the chute to my slip. Glancing at a handful of sailors' wind indicators and finding these all aligned in the exact same position provides a good reassurance that winds are stable and that you have an accurate picture of how the wind might affect your docking. One final bit of advice: don't pussy foot your way into your slip if winds are substantial. You will need moderate rpm's to control your boat and limit the chances of drifting off course. All of this becomes automatic very quickly as you gain confidence and experience from repeated dockings.
