Yea, though I glide through the valley of the shadow of disaster, I will fear no problem: for thou art with me; my fenders and my docklines, they comfort me. Thou preparest a plan before me in the presence of mine smirking neighbors: a plan that will guide me miraculously into my dock as a finger squeezes into a glove. My cup of joy runneth over. Surely envy and wonderment shall follow my neighbors all the days of their lives; and I will dwell in the house of the Fabulous Boathandlers for ever. John Vigor Do you say a prayer every time you bring your boat into a dock? Is docking something that terrifies you, or do you have it all down pat? How do you react when a crowd is around watching you come in? Do you prefer to have help on the dock, or is an inexperienced line handler more likely to cause a problem than to be of help? Do you have some entertaining stories or helpful hints to share? Let's hear from you about your docking experiences, and be sure to vote in the Quick Quiz on the home page. (Quiz by Gary Wyngarden)
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Yea, though I glide through the valley of the shadow of disaster, I will fear no problem: for thou art with me; my fenders and my docklines, they comfort me. Thou preparest a plan before me in the presence of mine smirking neighbors: a plan that will guide me miraculously into my dock as a finger squeezes into a glove. My cup of joy runneth over. Surely envy and wonderment shall follow my neighbors all the days of their lives; and I will dwell in the house of the Fabulous Boathandlers for ever. John Vigor Do you say a prayer every time you bring your boat into a dock? Is docking something that terrifies you, or do you have it all down pat? How do you react when a crowd is around watching you come in? Do you prefer to have help on the dock, or is an inexperienced line handler more likely to cause a problem than to be of help? Do you have some entertaining stories or helpful hints to share? Let's hear from you about your docking experiences, and be sure to vote in the Quick Quiz on the home page. (Quiz by Gary Wyngarden)
No problems
If the skipper keeps a cool head and plans his approach to the dock, he should have no problem. What I ALWAYS tell people when they dock their boat is as follows: 1. Don't hurry. Take your time approaching the dock. 2. Heading into a slip? Take a 90 degree turn into the slip. Never leave yourself a narrow angle of approach. 3. Remember - a sailboat does not go where you point it. A sailboat always steers from the stern - NOT the bow. 4. Remember about and use your prop walk to your advantage. 5. When the lines are in the hands of the line handlers, let them pull you in. Don't fight them with your engine. 6. STAY AT THE WHEEL/CONTROLS! Remember these points for a safe and trouble-free docking.
If the skipper keeps a cool head and plans his approach to the dock, he should have no problem. What I ALWAYS tell people when they dock their boat is as follows: 1. Don't hurry. Take your time approaching the dock. 2. Heading into a slip? Take a 90 degree turn into the slip. Never leave yourself a narrow angle of approach. 3. Remember - a sailboat does not go where you point it. A sailboat always steers from the stern - NOT the bow. 4. Remember about and use your prop walk to your advantage. 5. When the lines are in the hands of the line handlers, let them pull you in. Don't fight them with your engine. 6. STAY AT THE WHEEL/CONTROLS! Remember these points for a safe and trouble-free docking.
No problems
If the skipper keeps a cool head and plans his approach to the dock, he should have no problem. What I ALWAYS tell people when they dock their boat is as follows: 1. Don't hurry. Take your time approaching the dock. 2. Heading into a slip? Take a 90 degree turn into the slip. Never leave yourself a narrow angle of approach. 3. Remember - a sailboat does not go where you point it. A sailboat always steers from the stern - NOT the bow. 4. Remember about and use your prop walk to your advantage. 5. When the lines are in the hands of the line handlers, let them pull you in. Don't fight them with your engine. 6. Have fenders strategically placed on BOTH sides of the boat. 7. STAY AT THE WHEEL/CONTROLS! Remember these points for a safe and trouble-free docking.
If the skipper keeps a cool head and plans his approach to the dock, he should have no problem. What I ALWAYS tell people when they dock their boat is as follows: 1. Don't hurry. Take your time approaching the dock. 2. Heading into a slip? Take a 90 degree turn into the slip. Never leave yourself a narrow angle of approach. 3. Remember - a sailboat does not go where you point it. A sailboat always steers from the stern - NOT the bow. 4. Remember about and use your prop walk to your advantage. 5. When the lines are in the hands of the line handlers, let them pull you in. Don't fight them with your engine. 6. Have fenders strategically placed on BOTH sides of the boat. 7. STAY AT THE WHEEL/CONTROLS! Remember these points for a safe and trouble-free docking.
No problems here either...
I echo Paul's response but would like to add one other very important point... It's neither a sin nor in poor judgement to "GO AROUND" again. In a perfect world we would simply pull into a slip and kick back with a cold one. but too many people put themselves in a bad situation by not making a second approach. They end up in trouble, make the wrong decisions in the ensuing confusion, and subsequently do the damage. Just like landing an airplane...do you slam into the deck or do a missed approach? Cheers, Bob
I echo Paul's response but would like to add one other very important point... It's neither a sin nor in poor judgement to "GO AROUND" again. In a perfect world we would simply pull into a slip and kick back with a cold one. but too many people put themselves in a bad situation by not making a second approach. They end up in trouble, make the wrong decisions in the ensuing confusion, and subsequently do the damage. Just like landing an airplane...do you slam into the deck or do a missed approach? Cheers, Bob
No problems here either...
I echo Paul's response but would like to add one other very important point... It's neither a sin nor in poor judgement to "GO AROUND" again. In a perfect world we would simply pull into a slip and kick back with a cold one. but too many people put themselves in a bad situation by not making a second approach. They end up in trouble, make the wrong decisions in the ensuing confusion, and subsequently do the damage. Just like landing an airplane...do you slam into the deck or do a missed approach? Cheers, Bob
I echo Paul's response but would like to add one other very important point... It's neither a sin nor in poor judgement to "GO AROUND" again. In a perfect world we would simply pull into a slip and kick back with a cold one. but too many people put themselves in a bad situation by not making a second approach. They end up in trouble, make the wrong decisions in the ensuing confusion, and subsequently do the damage. Just like landing an airplane...do you slam into the deck or do a missed approach? Cheers, Bob
Getting worse with time
I was way better at docking when I first started out than I am now. Somehow, the more I think about it , Read about, learn about it, the worst I am getting. I've got to learn to trust those instincts.
I was way better at docking when I first started out than I am now. Somehow, the more I think about it , Read about, learn about it, the worst I am getting. I've got to learn to trust those instincts.
Getting worse with time
I was way better at docking when I first started out than I am now. Somehow, the more I think about it , Read about, learn about it, the worst I am getting. I've got to learn to trust those instincts.
I was way better at docking when I first started out than I am now. Somehow, the more I think about it , Read about, learn about it, the worst I am getting. I've got to learn to trust those instincts.
Used to be fear... now just a litle anxiety.
When I first got my boat it was shear terror for me... Once I discovered and installed EZ-steer, most of that went away. Now I just maintain a healthy anxiety
Keeps me on my toes.
When I first got my boat it was shear terror for me... Once I discovered and installed EZ-steer, most of that went away. Now I just maintain a healthy anxiety
Keeps me on my toes.Used to be fear... now just a litle anxiety.
When I first got my boat it was shear terror for me... Once I discovered and installed EZ-steer, most of that went away. Now I just maintain a healthy anxiety Keeps me on my toes.
When I first got my boat it was shear terror for me... Once I discovered and installed EZ-steer, most of that went away. Now I just maintain a healthy anxiety
Keeps me on my toes.Docking....
When I bought my 29 foot boat last year, I knew that I'd have to put in some hours practicing maneuvers under power. Within a short time, this wonderful boat became a pleasure to sail, and operate under power. Since I typically sail alone, and on week days, getting in and out of the slip is something I've got to do myself and so I've developed a few workarounds to ease that task. A fairly narrow slip, and similarly narrow lane between docks, makes this task one requiring focus and precision. I was elated with my success at all this until one day -- a weekend, of course, with lots of onlookers -- I tried to get back into my slip after a long and tiring sail on a very cross-windy day. The combination of fatigue and high cross winds resulted in a very humbling situation when I failed to get the bow into the slip on the first try. I was going too slow to overcome the cross winds. I knew I needed to come in "hotter" but wasn't sure I'd be able to stop the boat. I threw the engine into reverse, gave it full throttle, and avoided hitting the aft piling. To make a long story shorter....I finally got the boat into the slip with only one small scratch on the boot stripe. I've never had that problem again and I think it's due to forcing myself to (1) check the wind and tide carefully when docking; (2) thinking about every docking contingency prior to entering the slip area; (3) staying focussed; (4) maintaining enough speed to have control; (5) setting out pre-measured and looped docklines which can be grabbed and dropped over a winch as I enter the slip; and (6) keeping on the good side of Mother Nature (who is always in charge).
When I bought my 29 foot boat last year, I knew that I'd have to put in some hours practicing maneuvers under power. Within a short time, this wonderful boat became a pleasure to sail, and operate under power. Since I typically sail alone, and on week days, getting in and out of the slip is something I've got to do myself and so I've developed a few workarounds to ease that task. A fairly narrow slip, and similarly narrow lane between docks, makes this task one requiring focus and precision. I was elated with my success at all this until one day -- a weekend, of course, with lots of onlookers -- I tried to get back into my slip after a long and tiring sail on a very cross-windy day. The combination of fatigue and high cross winds resulted in a very humbling situation when I failed to get the bow into the slip on the first try. I was going too slow to overcome the cross winds. I knew I needed to come in "hotter" but wasn't sure I'd be able to stop the boat. I threw the engine into reverse, gave it full throttle, and avoided hitting the aft piling. To make a long story shorter....I finally got the boat into the slip with only one small scratch on the boot stripe. I've never had that problem again and I think it's due to forcing myself to (1) check the wind and tide carefully when docking; (2) thinking about every docking contingency prior to entering the slip area; (3) staying focussed; (4) maintaining enough speed to have control; (5) setting out pre-measured and looped docklines which can be grabbed and dropped over a winch as I enter the slip; and (6) keeping on the good side of Mother Nature (who is always in charge).
Docking....
When I bought my 29 foot boat last year, I knew that I'd have to put in some hours practicing maneuvers under power. Within a short time, this wonderful boat became a pleasure to sail, and operate under power. Since I typically sail alone, and on week days, getting in and out of the slip is something I've got to do myself and so I've developed a few workarounds to ease that task. A fairly narrow slip, and similarly narrow lane between docks, makes this task one requiring focus and precision. I was elated with my success at all this until one day -- a weekend, of course, with lots of onlookers -- I tried to get back into my slip after a long and tiring sail on a very cross-windy day. The combination of fatigue and high cross winds resulted in a very humbling situation when I failed to get the bow into the slip on the first try. I was going too slow to overcome the cross winds. I knew I needed to come in "hotter" but wasn't sure I'd be able to stop the boat. I threw the engine into reverse, gave it full throttle, and avoided hitting the aft piling. To make a long story shorter....I finally got the boat into the slip with only one small scratch on the boot stripe. I've never had that problem again and I think it's due to forcing myself to (1) check the wind and tide carefully when docking; (2) thinking about every docking contingency prior to entering the slip area; (3) staying focussed; (4) maintaining enough speed to have control; (5) setting out pre-measured and looped docklines which can be grabbed and dropped over a winch as I enter the slip; and (6) keeping on the good side of Mother Nature (who is always in charge).
When I bought my 29 foot boat last year, I knew that I'd have to put in some hours practicing maneuvers under power. Within a short time, this wonderful boat became a pleasure to sail, and operate under power. Since I typically sail alone, and on week days, getting in and out of the slip is something I've got to do myself and so I've developed a few workarounds to ease that task. A fairly narrow slip, and similarly narrow lane between docks, makes this task one requiring focus and precision. I was elated with my success at all this until one day -- a weekend, of course, with lots of onlookers -- I tried to get back into my slip after a long and tiring sail on a very cross-windy day. The combination of fatigue and high cross winds resulted in a very humbling situation when I failed to get the bow into the slip on the first try. I was going too slow to overcome the cross winds. I knew I needed to come in "hotter" but wasn't sure I'd be able to stop the boat. I threw the engine into reverse, gave it full throttle, and avoided hitting the aft piling. To make a long story shorter....I finally got the boat into the slip with only one small scratch on the boot stripe. I've never had that problem again and I think it's due to forcing myself to (1) check the wind and tide carefully when docking; (2) thinking about every docking contingency prior to entering the slip area; (3) staying focussed; (4) maintaining enough speed to have control; (5) setting out pre-measured and looped docklines which can be grabbed and dropped over a winch as I enter the slip; and (6) keeping on the good side of Mother Nature (who is always in charge).
My two cents
It was the biggest challenge but not only returning, also leaving. The last couple of seasons I have been a lot more at ease. Our marina gets comments from visitors as having very tight docking areas. Our turning area ourside our slip is not a boat and a half (Hunter 27)length. Although our slip is deep enough in the basin to avoid the major effects of the river, a light breeze with a gust can destroy your line of attack. With our boat the wind is the pilot in harbor and you cannot argue with him. I support all of Paul's points but will add, use the way that works and don't worry about looking good. An old-timer at a boat show told me that if you have to throw a line and get pulled out, pulled in, or turned by hand from a dock or other boat, so what? I have done that on many occasions. Andy
It was the biggest challenge but not only returning, also leaving. The last couple of seasons I have been a lot more at ease. Our marina gets comments from visitors as having very tight docking areas. Our turning area ourside our slip is not a boat and a half (Hunter 27)length. Although our slip is deep enough in the basin to avoid the major effects of the river, a light breeze with a gust can destroy your line of attack. With our boat the wind is the pilot in harbor and you cannot argue with him. I support all of Paul's points but will add, use the way that works and don't worry about looking good. An old-timer at a boat show told me that if you have to throw a line and get pulled out, pulled in, or turned by hand from a dock or other boat, so what? I have done that on many occasions. Andy
My two cents
It was the biggest challenge but not only returning, also leaving. The last couple of seasons I have been a lot more at ease. Our marina gets comments from visitors as having very tight docking areas. Our turning area ourside our slip is not a boat and a half (Hunter 27)length. Although our slip is deep enough in the basin to avoid the major effects of the river, a light breeze with a gust can destroy your line of attack. With our boat the wind is the pilot in harbor and you cannot argue with him. I support all of Paul's points but will add, use the way that works and don't worry about looking good. An old-timer at a boat show told me that if you have to throw a line and get pulled out, pulled in, or turned by hand from a dock or other boat, so what? I have done that on many occasions. Andy
It was the biggest challenge but not only returning, also leaving. The last couple of seasons I have been a lot more at ease. Our marina gets comments from visitors as having very tight docking areas. Our turning area ourside our slip is not a boat and a half (Hunter 27)length. Although our slip is deep enough in the basin to avoid the major effects of the river, a light breeze with a gust can destroy your line of attack. With our boat the wind is the pilot in harbor and you cannot argue with him. I support all of Paul's points but will add, use the way that works and don't worry about looking good. An old-timer at a boat show told me that if you have to throw a line and get pulled out, pulled in, or turned by hand from a dock or other boat, so what? I have done that on many occasions. Andy
controlled collision...
I can't remember who said it but I'm in tune with the definition of docking as a "controlled collision". As with many things in boating there are types of equipment that aren't available that ought to be. Why aren't smaller boats built with serious rub rails along the hull the way larger, older cruising boats were? Why hasn't someone invented a boom-type fender system that runs along the whole side and is easy to deploy? Can't anyone put a little thought into the design of their docks and slips? At least bow thrusters are beginning to find their way into the bigger boats...
I can't remember who said it but I'm in tune with the definition of docking as a "controlled collision". As with many things in boating there are types of equipment that aren't available that ought to be. Why aren't smaller boats built with serious rub rails along the hull the way larger, older cruising boats were? Why hasn't someone invented a boom-type fender system that runs along the whole side and is easy to deploy? Can't anyone put a little thought into the design of their docks and slips? At least bow thrusters are beginning to find their way into the bigger boats...
controlled collision...
I can't remember who said it but I'm in tune with the definition of docking as a "controlled collision". As with many things in boating there are types of equipment that aren't available that ought to be. Why aren't smaller boats built with serious rub rails along the hull the way larger, older cruising boats were? Why hasn't someone invented a boom-type fender system that runs along the whole side and is easy to deploy? Can't anyone put a little thought into the design of their docks and slips? At least bow thrusters are beginning to find their way into the bigger boats...
I can't remember who said it but I'm in tune with the definition of docking as a "controlled collision". As with many things in boating there are types of equipment that aren't available that ought to be. Why aren't smaller boats built with serious rub rails along the hull the way larger, older cruising boats were? Why hasn't someone invented a boom-type fender system that runs along the whole side and is easy to deploy? Can't anyone put a little thought into the design of their docks and slips? At least bow thrusters are beginning to find their way into the bigger boats...
Docking
Our slip is about 2' wider than the boat. The fenders barely fit and usually roll up and above the dock on anything but a perfect approach (give or take a few inches either way). I get a short mark on the hull about half the time and it generally wipes off easily. We back in by the way. At our current location, wind is usually not a major distraction. I don't worry about the docking at all. And I believe in the missed approach and like all good pilots, the sooner you do the missed approach, the safer it is. The secret to that whole idea is realizing early that things are not setting up right. Wait until its too late, and the missed approach could make matters more difficult. The advice so far regarding stearage, speed, prop walk are all appropriate and can only be learned with practice. Once you have a full understanding of how it interfaces, then you can make judgements about varying conditions of wind, current, obstacles, etc. I'm with the poster who thinks the technology should be better. I also get a huge laugh out of those sailing magazine article about docking and using spring lines to control everything. They always show the diagram of the boat approaching the dock, and then the next diagram shows a line running from somewhere on the boat to around a cleat on the dock and back to the boat. Very cool geometry. Please oh please, explain to me how the line got around the cleat. I'd like to see the moron who wrote that article at my helm, in Sausalito, docking in the upwind side of a double slip with the wind at 90 degress and 25 knots and my wife trying to lasso that cleat. Because frankly, when the wind is still or even relatively moderate, I don't need the damn geometry. Why not a useful article on docking? Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Our slip is about 2' wider than the boat. The fenders barely fit and usually roll up and above the dock on anything but a perfect approach (give or take a few inches either way). I get a short mark on the hull about half the time and it generally wipes off easily. We back in by the way. At our current location, wind is usually not a major distraction. I don't worry about the docking at all. And I believe in the missed approach and like all good pilots, the sooner you do the missed approach, the safer it is. The secret to that whole idea is realizing early that things are not setting up right. Wait until its too late, and the missed approach could make matters more difficult. The advice so far regarding stearage, speed, prop walk are all appropriate and can only be learned with practice. Once you have a full understanding of how it interfaces, then you can make judgements about varying conditions of wind, current, obstacles, etc. I'm with the poster who thinks the technology should be better. I also get a huge laugh out of those sailing magazine article about docking and using spring lines to control everything. They always show the diagram of the boat approaching the dock, and then the next diagram shows a line running from somewhere on the boat to around a cleat on the dock and back to the boat. Very cool geometry. Please oh please, explain to me how the line got around the cleat. I'd like to see the moron who wrote that article at my helm, in Sausalito, docking in the upwind side of a double slip with the wind at 90 degress and 25 knots and my wife trying to lasso that cleat. Because frankly, when the wind is still or even relatively moderate, I don't need the damn geometry. Why not a useful article on docking? Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Docking
Our slip is about 2' wider than the boat. The fenders barely fit and usually roll up and above the dock on anything but a perfect approach (give or take a few inches either way). I get a short mark on the hull about half the time and it generally wipes off easily. We back in by the way. At our current location, wind is usually not a major distraction. I don't worry about the docking at all. And I believe in the missed approach and like all good pilots, the sooner you do the missed approach, the safer it is. The secret to that whole idea is realizing early that things are not setting up right. Wait until its too late, and the missed approach could make matters more difficult. The advice so far regarding stearage, speed, prop walk are all appropriate and can only be learned with practice. Once you have a full understanding of how it interfaces, then you can make judgements about varying conditions of wind, current, obstacles, etc. I'm with the poster who thinks the technology should be better. I also get a huge laugh out of those sailing magazine article about docking and using spring lines to control everything. They always show the diagram of the boat approaching the dock, and then the next diagram shows a line running from somewhere on the boat to around a cleat on the dock and back to the boat. Very cool geometry. Please oh please, explain to me how the line got around the cleat. I'd like to see the moron who wrote that article at my helm, in Sausalito, docking in the upwind side of a double slip with the wind at 90 degress and 25 knots and my wife trying to lasso that cleat. Because frankly, when the wind is still or even relatively moderate, I don't need the damn geometry. Why not a useful article on docking? Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Our slip is about 2' wider than the boat. The fenders barely fit and usually roll up and above the dock on anything but a perfect approach (give or take a few inches either way). I get a short mark on the hull about half the time and it generally wipes off easily. We back in by the way. At our current location, wind is usually not a major distraction. I don't worry about the docking at all. And I believe in the missed approach and like all good pilots, the sooner you do the missed approach, the safer it is. The secret to that whole idea is realizing early that things are not setting up right. Wait until its too late, and the missed approach could make matters more difficult. The advice so far regarding stearage, speed, prop walk are all appropriate and can only be learned with practice. Once you have a full understanding of how it interfaces, then you can make judgements about varying conditions of wind, current, obstacles, etc. I'm with the poster who thinks the technology should be better. I also get a huge laugh out of those sailing magazine article about docking and using spring lines to control everything. They always show the diagram of the boat approaching the dock, and then the next diagram shows a line running from somewhere on the boat to around a cleat on the dock and back to the boat. Very cool geometry. Please oh please, explain to me how the line got around the cleat. I'd like to see the moron who wrote that article at my helm, in Sausalito, docking in the upwind side of a double slip with the wind at 90 degress and 25 knots and my wife trying to lasso that cleat. Because frankly, when the wind is still or even relatively moderate, I don't need the damn geometry. Why not a useful article on docking? Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
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