Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Has anyone used the dock wand

dock wand demo - YouTube
► 1:17► 1:17
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooJurHWtI5U

Not me. I was always taught to come into the dock no faster than you're willing to ram it. Looks like too fast an approach if you miss the connection.

Not sure I would want all that stress on my railing every time I docked.

It seems like you need a lot of space around you to use that.
My slip area is tight. I have to come in real slow like a parking space. I don't think the wand would work out good for me.

I was sent one for free, will try it out this summer and give an unbiased opinion...

I think I would have to put a cleat on the side and take the pressure off the fence, but I like the guy, he is always looking for a better way to get the job done

^x2. I like the idea but those railings were not designed to handle that much. And as said by someone else, looks like you would need a lot of room.

Been using one of these for two seasons. Attach the rope to my front corner cleat and adjust the length to come tight where I want it when looped on the last cleat on the dock. Works REALLY well and saves lots of headaches on windy days.

Speed isn't really an issue. You can approach as slowly as you like. It just means you have the ability to dock even if you can't glide right up to the dock because of wind.

I did have one instance where I was coming in too quickly (distracted and frustrated about something else. Dock wand worked fine but my momentum ripped the cleat off the dock. Fortunately the energy absorbed by the rope and cleat absorbed my forward momentum and nothing else bad happened. Was an excellent reminder in the need for focus while docking, however.

Anyway, just wanted to say this addition has been a really useful tool on the boat.

Thats cool, but don't miss you only have one shot at it.....

Oh yea, thats almost cheating, to easy. I love it.

Capt Sully wrote:Thats cool, but don't miss you only have one shot at it.....

Go slow enough and I've missed my first shot but gotten the second. If I'm doing it solo I prep it before approach and hold the wand from the helm. That way if I miss I can still put the boat in reverse and try again. That wouldn't work docking on the opposite side though.

For a really easy time have the first mate handle the wand. Makes a sometimes stressful time much less so.

For a really easy time have the first mate handle the wand. Makes a sometimes stressful time much less so.[/quote]
I use that line often, but rarely works.

The second video shows the wand w/o the ball and the message at the end says "Patent Pending".

It appears to be a rope threaded thru a 1/2"-3/4" PVC and tied. Wonder if he's getting lots of orders?

At the Toronto Boat Show they were selling them for $42.00 and you use your own dock line. As simple as they are I believe they will be copied a lot, but none the less a great idea......

Just looked online and it appears you might just have to build your own. Website is down and they aren't searchable on amazon anymore either.