My particular question was dealing with the bollards with no cleats.
Hi Stu, the purpose of my maneuver post was more to your question here. Whether dock cleats or horizontal bollards, when conditions present themselves, my maneuvers are the same. The only difference is how I tie off. Normally, whether a horizontal beam or pipe (common in PNW waters) I make a long loop in my dock line, run it under the beam/pipe, and make two half hitches. Always works for me.Those conditions were the gist of my question, not the easy ones.
Thanks.
Terry, thanks for that detailed description. As mentioned, my questions stemmed from exactly the bull rail issue, since my f-i-l lives in Cowichan Bay and I have boated there some for the past 20 years.
Thanks Stu for the good information gleaned from the link that you provided. I appreciate it.Terry, thanks for that detailed description. As mentioned, my questions stemmed from exactly the bull rail issue, since my f-i-l lives in Cowichan Bay and I have boated there some for the past 20 years.
As far as singlehanding, this link is what I always provide in reply to your question. In particular, see the last sentence.
Single Handing 101.2 HOPPING OFF THE BOAT IS UNNECESSARY
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.msg33766.html#msg33766
That's why I asked!
One advantage of the wooden bull rails is that even though I pass the dock line under the rail when I step off the boat with the midship cleat line the line really bites into the wood when cinched up to stop boat motion as opposed to sliding along on a galvanized pipe (uncommon). Once the boat settles in I then do the two half hitches to secure the midship before securing the bow followed by the stern. If quarters are tight I will use a spring line.I suppose bull rails allow docking of boats of assorted sizes together more efficiently than having a fixed number of cleats spaced out along the dock. So, it makes sense to have 'em on docks open for public use. Nevertheless, I don't see how one could use them when docking w/o getting off the boat as it comes along side the dock. I noticed in the cited reference to bull rails that the author recommended passing the boat's dock line under the rail from the outboard side of the dock, rather than over (then under) the rail from the inboard side of the dock as I mentioned above. If you're on the boat, then passing under and back from the outboard side gives you no more than a 1/2 turn against the rail; if one is on the dock holding the line you get less than that even. If "hopping" off the boat and passing the line over then under the rail and back from the inboard side gives you at least a 3/4 turn against the rail. If you're single-handing and you want to stop the boat it seems to me a 3/4+ turn on the rail is better than a 1/2 turn. Of course if the line sides down the rail until hitting the rail supports, the boat might eventually stop. Just hope that no other hapless boats are in your way!!
If you want deserted anchorages where you are ENTIRELY on your own, head for the Broughton Archipelago. Located on the mainland and at the same lat. as the north end of Vancouver Island. We've been there several times and never cease to see something new every time. Whales, bears, moose, and things that go ROAR in the night. Very interesting navigation as you're timing the passage of rapids and avoiding getting lost in thousands of islands.