There are many times when you basically want to keep your boat where it is – waiting for a bridge to open, for example, or looking for an open spot on the fuel dock. But knowing how to keep it in place (assuming you don’t have Skyhook or a similar electronic station-keeping system) is much more important, and is part of a basic boat-handling skillset that will serve you well when you’re docking, waiting for traffic to clear in a narrow passage, or even sitting out a sudden squall.
Here’s a great video from Motor Boat & Yachting that will give you some ideas about how to do this easily, by lining up transit spots fore and aft and side to side and adjusting for wind and current. It helps to remember that the bow of your boat will fall off downwind much faster than the heavier stern will, which is why it can be easier to back into a slip if the wind is behind you. Take a look at the video here:
