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While Atlanta is not a big Marine town, it’s time for people who are going to use the docks here to start to learn the rules.  If they don’t, someone could literally get hurt.  Here then, is some basic etiquette for using dock space.

1. The people who work on and maintain the docks have first right to them.  That means at location such as Azalea Park, Crew Sculls get first dibs.
2. Next come non-powered boaters: canoes, kayaks, and rafts.  While slower, they’re being controlled by people, not engines and come next.
3. Powered marine vehicles that are picking up or dropping off folks come next.  If there are no cleats at your dock, you perhaps should not plan to be there long.
4. If you have nothing to do with any marine vehicle, you’re lowest on the totem poll and when anyone else needs dock space, your job is to get out of the way.

Further, some more basic rules for those “just visiting” and with no real business on the dock

1. Watch your kids.  Really.  Even with something as simple as a kayak, if your child’s fingers get caught between the shell and the dock, they could break.  Imagine what happens when it’s an outboard motor.  If there is a boat nearby, your kids should be no more than arms length from you.
2. Picnics are great… at picnic tables!  Nearly every park by the water has these.  You don’t need to sit on the dock and eat.  If a number of boats come quickly your food will get wet, your beer will spill and it will be your fault.
3. Fishing from Docks has a long tradition, but you also need to be ready to get out of the way.  If your hook catches a boat, you could lose your equipment, or if your stubborn, you could be pulled in to the water.  Again, this is on you and not the boater.  If you have kids, remind them that casting at people is both rude and dangerous
4. Don’t feed the wildlife on the docks.  Yes, the geese, the ducks, snakes, bats, fish, and otters love the food (yes, there really are otters).  Feeding them on the docks puts boaters at risk and leaves the dock a mess.  You’re not going to clean it up, so don’t leave it for others.  Feed the animals from the shore, not the dock.
5. Don’t try to help unless you’ve been asked.  Most boaters know their boats and how to launch them.  If someone needs help they’ll ask for it.
6. Don’t run toward the arriving boat unless you’re a passenger.  Give passengers a wide berth to get from the deck to the dock.
7. You’re a guest.  Be smart.  How would you want strangers to treat your driveway?

For more on Georgia Boating Laws and Regs, click here!

This entry was posted on Monday, May 14th, 2007 at 2:22 am and is filed under ATL Rants, Venues and Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.