I only hope that some day I could write as confidently about docking procedures as those who have commented in this thread. To this day I am not 100% confident backing our boat into its very narrow slip (the only way it can be is stern first), we have to wait until the beam is beyond the forward pilings to deploy the fenders and with no finger docks you have to be all the way in before you can reach the stern cleats.
I have the bow lines from the forward pilings set for length so as I back in my deck hand has to retrieve and deploy the fenders and then secure the bow lines to their perspective cleats once that is done its all good as the lines tighten the boat will stay obedient. The fairway is also narrow (about 50' wide) so getting the boat aligned with the slip is somewhat tricky but absolutely necessary, I do have a bow thruster, but I am hoping that some day I will be proficient enough not to have to rely on its operation, as it stands now, I slowly slide in close to my slip on the port beam, when the Sapphire gets to about 1/3 - 1/2 (wind direction dependent) its length I cut hard to starboard, neutral, then hard to port with reverse thrust, if the wind doesn't play with me too much the bow will pivot into position while the stern aligns with the center of the slip, with an Easterly or South wind which tends to push on the starboard bow preventing it from turning and the Sapphire tends to slide sideways I use the thruster to assist the bow to turn into position.
I find it much easier to pull into a slip than going stern first as when going forward you don't lose steerage making it (in my opinion) my easier to dock, add finger docks and the choice of which side the wind is on (pushing you off or pushing you on, I prefer off) all add up to much easier docking.
One thing that has caught me on a couple of occasions it an inexperienced deck hand or dock hand cinching up a spring line to quickly on an approach (even though my directions were to just hook a cleat or piling and feed the line out until I give direction to secure), which almost instantly cause erratic response usually kicking the stern out, making recovery a bit frantic at times.
But I can honestly say that I have never hit or caused damage to our Sapphire or any other boats since taking ownership of her, something I am proud of, as time goes on I am sure I will become more confident, but there are some situations that put my nerves right on edge.