Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hi guys, Luc here. We run a couple of pontoons as water taxis in Toronto Harbour during the summer, and I’d estimate that we’d be performing at least 3000 solo docking procedures per boat, per season. As some or you know, I’ve been playing around with all sorts of different docking “gizmos” for the past couple of years. Last spring, I started using the “Dockwand” in a new configuration. I eliminated the ball I was using as a cleat stop, and just tied a large loop through the tube instead. The result was incredibly simple, and really made our life easy while docking the pontoons. We can dock on anything you can get a loop around, and never lift our lazy asses out of the seat.

I had originally given up trying to sell the “Dockwands”, as shipping made it cost-prohibitive. I recently starting selling stuff on Amazon, and decided to give it a try for dockwand. I can now get it out at a price that makes me a few dollars, while keeping buyers cost to the point where it’s not worth the time and effort for them to make it themselves. I checked with Ed (badmoonrising) if it was cool to post about this on the forum, and he said it looked like a good idea, go ahead.

Check out the video here: http://youtu.be/piCBo4bk3jM

Website: www.dockwand.com

Also, for anyone with a bigger boat, check out www.dockingstick.com which is the evolution of dockwand. We won “Best New Product” at the Miami boat show in February.

I’ll be checking back frequently to answer any question you may have. Cheers, Luc.

I like it, decent price also.

Or you can make the same thing out of a piece of PVC, but you might sell a few of them and you gave us guys who like to make our own a great ideal

HandymanHerb wrote:Or you can make the same thing out of a piece of PVC, but you might sell a few of them and you gave us guys who like to make our own a great ideal

There is a bit more to it than a simple pvc pipe, as you need to restrict the motion of the tube on the line so it will not slide. That gives you a point of control at the end of the tube, and keeps the loop from closing. You're actually leading the line around whatever you're trying to catch....not "lassoing" the cleat, piling or post. As far as making your own, you certainly can do it. However, by the time you locate the parts (which won't scratch your boat), drive around to pick up the bits, assemble, and drill and tap for the thumbscrew, you will have wasted more time and effort than it would have cost to buy. Plus, it may not look as nice....

Obviously, I am trying to make a few bucks, but why not? I think it's a great idea...but I know it won't make me rich...

Coming in the fall, a DIY kit for a floating drive-on pontoon lift. I have a design I'm going to build for my taxis, as I'm sick of the "beard" they get in the summer.

I'd like to see the video of this gismo being used in a typical marina setting. Where most slips have just a few feet between boats and you have to shoehorn yourself in without hitting either the boat in front or behind you. It does appear to work well in the great wide open, but I've seldom been there myself...

Bamby wrote:I'd like to see the video of this gismo being used in a typical marina setting. Where most slips have just a few feet between boats and you have to shoehorn yourself in without hitting either the boat in front or behind you. It does appear to work well in the great wide open, but I've seldom been there myself...

I agree. I would like to see it also. Also we have some short docks on our lake and don't always have that much room to drift very far.
Can the length be adjusted for shorter drift?

LC sent me one to try out. When I get back from Ocean City, I plan to get my Starcraft in the water. Will try it out and give my opinion of it. It IS well made, I will try it out with this boat and the next 'toon.

Just thinking about all the things Ed might lasso

I'll be sure to take video and pics, lol.

Nice improvement on the classic 'spring line'. I will certainly consider.
I have been springing onto and off of docks for years now. It is simply amazing what can be done and makes a pilot look like a real pro as he 'parallel parks' with a strong off-dock side wind.
With just a regular dock line amidships and a well trained dockhand, it makes life about a thousand percent easier, especially with a large boat.
Pontoons are notorious for catching wind, and springing all but eliminates
And yes, Bamby, you can shoehorn into the tightest of spaces this way. It is touchy tho, the line MUST be the right length and attached to the right spot, thus the 'well trained dockhand'. My lady friend often hops on the dock from my bow and I will back out slightly while she takes a simple bite around a ring in the middle of the parking spot. She doesn't tie it off and simply 'adjusts' it as I very slowly spring in.

With Luc's tool, I will be able to do this alone! I had previously done it alone on occasion, but it was a little trickier using just a pike pole to lasso my target.
Nice job, mate!

badmoonrising wrote:I'll be sure to take video and pics, lol.

Like!

badmoonrising wrote:LC sent me one to try out. When I get back from Ocean City, I plan to get my Starcraft in the water. Will try it out and give my opinion of it. It IS well made, I will try it out with this boat and the next 'toon.

AAh Ocean City. I'm home sick...

Coming in the fall, a DIY kit for a floating drive-on pontoon lift. I have a design I'm going to build for my taxis, as I'm sick of the "beard" they get in the summer.

Is that what the two wheels are for, the ones mounted on the front part of the deck..?

MissUnderstood wrote:

Coming in the fall, a DIY kit for a floating drive-on pontoon lift. I have a design I'm going to build for my taxis, as I'm sick of the "beard" they get in the summer.

Is that what the two wheels are for, the ones mounted on the front part of the deck..?

No....they are for vertical storage...lol....just kidding. We use those so we can push up against a wall or dock, and use the motor to hold us in position, then load/unload from the gate at the bow. We have about 20-25 different load/unload locations in Toronto harbor, and they all require a slightly different method. Funniest thing we get to see every springtime is the rookies in the marine unit (Toronto Police) learning how to dock their twin 300 HP zodiacs......

I like it but as previous posters stated, all the docks on our lake are side slips. You have to pull in to the T dock with the main dock running across in front of you. No room to loop and drift forward . Dont think it would be usefull in our application.