Better to back your sailboat in?

[sailorhokie]

Backing-in is the way unless conditions require a different approach. Makes it easier to get on/off boat especially if you are on a finger pier.

Learning to use the prop wash as a poor mans bow thruster is key.

Given the location of my current slip I've gone bow in when a strong crosswind was wreaking havoc

Either way, backing in is an essential skill you will need eventually

 

[trainmanjess]

hello all

I have a Kittiwake at the local lake here... I dock her bow in... we have long finger docks, floating, and the prevailing wind comes across the dock on my bow most of the time... so I use the wind to back me out, raise sail and sail off.... when docking, I come in using the main, and just before I turn into the dock, I drop the sail, and let her coast into the dock...

I also have a Morgan 35 in Chesapeake bay... I dock her transom end in to the dock... the dock there has short finger docks on pillons... my electric and water hookups are on the transom... I do not like running huge long lines or hoses across the deck to the aft section for hookups... also the tide raises and lowers all the time.... much easier to get on or off the boat near the transom... all the boats in this marina are transom in to the dock...

but again... as said before, try out the different ways, and find what works for you best

sincerely
Jess

 

[py26129]

In our area, most of the sailboats pull in bow first and most of the powerboats pull in stern first.

 

[Guts1236]

All are very good replies to this thread, one thing that is not mentioned is the UV. Some boat owners prefer to switch the way they dock to get the same UV exposure on each side of the boat. At least that is what some of explanation I've heard here where, I live. I mainly dock my boat bow first. Simply because it points into the wind. I do occasionally back the boat in, usually if I want to do something as polish the stainless steel or the stern of the boat.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

I always dock stern in to enter off the floating dock at the stern. Docking this way you just need to have some momentum and speed before you start backing into the slip, then use forward power as a brake. On our cruise to Florida last winter I did the same on fixed pile docks. It makes less difference in tidal areas on fixed piles and finger piers but we found it easier to enter into the cockpit side than carry groceries and stuff down the deck. All is personal preference.

 

[Golfdad75]

Alot of things to consider, here is one. If I pull in bow first and we get an extremely low tide, the anchor rolller/pull pit could get caught on the dock. Also the chance of theft is less stern first.

 

[IainB]

Having done both it really is personal choice. My C-30 has a walk through transom so ease of getting on the boat is better stern in but I prefer the privacy on having the cockpit blocked by the coach roof of the boat from the dock finger. It is a bit harder to dock backing in but easier to depart.

 

[LuzSD]

Bow first for us always.... great view, protected from the sun beating down on us, privacy from foot traffic.... Can't think of any reason I'd want to be stern in.

 

[Serenity21306]

Bow In

I have gone stern in some in the past when finger piers were short. Considerations, some reiterated from previous posts: prevailing wind, view, power cord length. I switched to bow in because backing out is easier than backing in. I imagined what it would be like to return in stormy weather to dock lines set for stern in. No brainer.

Richard, Serenity, C-320

 

[Gary_H]

It's just a matter of personal preference based on your particular circumstances. I go bow in, because, when leaving, the prop walk naturally carries my stern in the right direction down the fairway, The wind is, 98% of the time from the south, southwest. going bow in points my solar panels in the primo direction. and I prefer the cockpit closet to the fairway instead of the dock, for privacy and scenic reasons.

 

[Paul Mermelstein]

We've always pulled in bow first, for the ease of docking, privacy, and a nicer view than looking at the parking lot. In New Jersey this was pretty commonplace, but since moving down to Maryland we're literally the only boat in the marina bow-in (despite the docks being perfectly suited for it). I don't know if there are geographic trends like this elsewhere, but it makes for some funny exchanges when people ask why we're doing that.

I am not aware of any regional differences. At the Maryland YC and elsewhere, most but not all sailboats dock bow first. Most but not all powerboats dock stern first. That said, I think alot of what folks do depends upon the length of the finger pier. If they are short, then many folks will back in to ease access to and from the boat and land.

 

[bawlmer]

I dock bow in all the time. First it is a lot easier to back out than it is to back in. Also as mentioned previously privacy is a concern. My last marina in FL had heavy tide swings and it is best to keep your rudder out rather than in.

 

[CraigS]

We go bow in as we usually sail shorthanded (wife & I). This lets us have 1 on bow and 1 in cockpit for line control. Also, the full bimini and stern rail / seats can make line retrieval difficult from the stern as a first need.

 

[CharlzO]

Alot of things to consider, here is one. If I pull in bow first and we get an extremely low tide, the anchor rolller/pull pit could get caught on the dock. Also the chance of theft is less stern first.

Agree on the bow roller and anchor getting caught if you're close enough. I set my springs so that I have about a 2-3' gap at the bow, since there's no real concern at the rear.

Not sure about the theft chance being smaller stern first though. If anything, it just makes it a shorter distance a thief has to carry stuff to the dock. Of course, that's assuming no one watching it happen, in which case I don't think it would matter either way anyway.

 

[sesmith]

Besides the privacy issues already mentioned, for me, it comes down to prop walk in reverse. Our boat prop walks toward port, our dock is on our port side when going bow in. Win-win when docking. Backing in would prop walk us toward the boat next to us. Not that we can't do it, but I believe in setting myself up for as few embarrassing situations as possible. No one notices you when you do it right

 

[Buck420]

Thanks for the input. Now I'm even more confused than ever!! Not really. As a novice on this size boat, (went from a 26 to a 42), I like the fact that the Hunter sits so high that you can't really see down into the salon from our floating dock and it is easier to step on the transom and up into the helm from the dock. looks like I'll be trying both ways with different winds and see what works best for me. Thanks for the input and I look forward to more conversations among the best group of folks there is - our sailing community.

I back mine in also.
Another reason (on our boat) is that the power cords connect at the stern and by going stern in, you avoid having to snake the cords down the entire side of the boat.
If your dingy in on davits, stern in allows better access to the dingy to take dingy cover on and off, for example.
And, IMHO, you have better steerage getting underway by going fwd rather than leaving the slip in reverse.
But, as others have said, it amounts to a personal preference depending on boat, slip, prevailing conditions, etc.

 

[Golfdad75]

Agree on the bow roller and anchor getting caught if you're close enough. I set my springs so that I have about a 2-3' gap at the bow, since there's no real concern at the rear.

Not sure about the theft chance being smaller stern first though. If anything, it just makes it a shorter distance a thief has to carry stuff to the dock. Of course, that's assuming no one watching it happen, in which case I don't think it would matter either way anyway.

Well we have more things stolen in our marina from the water side.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

Well we have more things stolen in our marina from the water side.

This is unfortunate, I can't remember anything ever being stolen from our marina.

 

[choover]

Not to comment so much about whether bow or stern-in is the preferred docking technique or orientation, I would recommend to all the You Tube presentation by the Maryland Schooling of Sailing and Seamanship, Docking Technique Seminary. It is in depth and informative. You get valuable info for start to finish. You more experienced sailors may want to get through the basics of the early minutes and the seminar as a refresher but the one hour and twenty-two minutes is well worth your time. Proper use of the helm and prop-wash is taught with a twist that I had not known for my years of sailing (and boating) experience. Google "Docking Techniques Seminary You Tube" . . I'm sure you can find it. Fair Winds!

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Yikes! Over an hour devoted to docking techniques?!?!? If I had that on TV, I can just imagine Sue rolling her eyes. I'll have to save that for an afternoon when she's guaranteed not to be around!