A Prayer for Safe Docking

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A

Arthur Grant

Fear Not

Fear not, practice makes perfect. Perhaps because the wheather in my area is generally nice and my dock is sheltered by both a building and a bridge I don't worry much about docking. It may also be that I primarily single hand and thus have gotten used to docking without help. People moving around the boat can make it harder primarily because the affect my sight lines. I prefer not to have inexperianced help. My daughter was hurt and it could have been much more serious when she went to jump from the boat to the dock to fend off after the outboard quit on our deliver pick up run. I had forgetten to warn her about something like this. I had grown up with boats and took for granted what to do. This was her first docking. Her legs fouled on the life line and she hit her head on the concrete dock when she tried to jump. Fortunately she was wearing a life vest. She landed face down and I was just coming down to getting set to dive in when she came face up and wosey. Still had to leave the boat to get her out of the water.
 
A

Arthur Grant

Fear Not

Fear not, practice makes perfect. Perhaps because the wheather in my area is generally nice and my dock is sheltered by both a building and a bridge I don't worry much about docking. It may also be that I primarily single hand and thus have gotten used to docking without help. People moving around the boat can make it harder primarily because the affect my sight lines. I prefer not to have inexperianced help. My daughter was hurt and it could have been much more serious when she went to jump from the boat to the dock to fend off after the outboard quit on our deliver pick up run. I had forgetten to warn her about something like this. I had grown up with boats and took for granted what to do. This was her first docking. Her legs fouled on the life line and she hit her head on the concrete dock when she tried to jump. Fortunately she was wearing a life vest. She landed face down and I was just coming down to getting set to dive in when she came face up and wosey. Still had to leave the boat to get her out of the water.
 
D

Dick Matthai

Getting Good With The Outboard Helps

Our 1977 O'Day 20 is a very good boat on the water but requires some skill to dock her if the wind is blowing the wrong way. I depend on my crew to jump off the boat on to the dock and pull her in while I massage the motor to bring the back end in smartly to the dock. We had our worst problem this past summer when we launched in Escanaba Michigan in a heavy blow (25-35MPH) and had to tie up at a transient dock for the night. My wife is not too athletic but usually does all right with docking. However this time she got into trouble because she didn't get on the outside of the safety lines when I approached the dock. She stepped to the dock over the line and got her trailing leg caught on the line with her lead foot on the dock. She managed to stay dry on the dock but got a nasty bruse on her leg. I don't think she will be with me when the wind gets nasty. Lesson learned: Yell for help if your crew is not athletic enough to jump from the boat to the dock. In a light breeze or when the wind is in the right direction, docking our O'Day 20 is easy and I can make it look so good. Our 4.5HP Merc is very reliable and almost never kills when approaching the dock when I have to do the idle, reverse, forward, reverse all at ultra slow speed. I'd like a heavier boat with the convenience of an inboard engine but then I would loose the convenience the trailerable boat. Dock visitors are always more than willing to help catch a line and pull you in. We have used their help frequently and will more often now that my wife got that nasty bruse.
 
D

Dick Matthai

Getting Good With The Outboard Helps

Our 1977 O'Day 20 is a very good boat on the water but requires some skill to dock her if the wind is blowing the wrong way. I depend on my crew to jump off the boat on to the dock and pull her in while I massage the motor to bring the back end in smartly to the dock. We had our worst problem this past summer when we launched in Escanaba Michigan in a heavy blow (25-35MPH) and had to tie up at a transient dock for the night. My wife is not too athletic but usually does all right with docking. However this time she got into trouble because she didn't get on the outside of the safety lines when I approached the dock. She stepped to the dock over the line and got her trailing leg caught on the line with her lead foot on the dock. She managed to stay dry on the dock but got a nasty bruse on her leg. I don't think she will be with me when the wind gets nasty. Lesson learned: Yell for help if your crew is not athletic enough to jump from the boat to the dock. In a light breeze or when the wind is in the right direction, docking our O'Day 20 is easy and I can make it look so good. Our 4.5HP Merc is very reliable and almost never kills when approaching the dock when I have to do the idle, reverse, forward, reverse all at ultra slow speed. I'd like a heavier boat with the convenience of an inboard engine but then I would loose the convenience the trailerable boat. Dock visitors are always more than willing to help catch a line and pull you in. We have used their help frequently and will more often now that my wife got that nasty bruse.
 
W

Wayne Moore

the dock i learned on

I keep my boat at the same place that I learned most of the time so its old hat but every once in a while I go somewere new and have to go back to the basics.just take it real slow and keep an oar or pike pole handy for just in case.Also my kids (all daughters) are very good at giving me direction and it becomes a game at who can do the best job at helping.
 
W

Wayne Moore

the dock i learned on

I keep my boat at the same place that I learned most of the time so its old hat but every once in a while I go somewere new and have to go back to the basics.just take it real slow and keep an oar or pike pole handy for just in case.Also my kids (all daughters) are very good at giving me direction and it becomes a game at who can do the best job at helping.
 
C

Capt. Sid

.
May 31, 2004
31
Watkins MKII 27 New Bern NC
Practice Practice Practice!

When we first purchased our Watkins 27 niether my wife or I had ever piloted a sailboat. Sure we had some experience in small motor boats but the hull shape and weight of our sailboat was a whole new adventure. After the first almost disastrous undocking and docking. I developed such a fear of the whole thing that I would find excuses to stay in the marina! When we did go out I would get the shakes and almost have a panic attack. I bought Charles Low's book "Boat Docking" and studied up. Imagine my suprise when I learned that prop walk was not just a problem on my boat! I learned that you could actually use it to your advantage. I decided that the only way to overcome my fear was to do it over and over again. My wife and I took the boat over to the fuel docks where there is plenty of room and spent one whole afternoon docking and undocking from both sides of the boat. I soon lost my fear and although I am certainly not an expert I can do a pretty good job now in all sorts of situations becuase I understand the physics involved and how my particular boat handles. I'm sorry for the long post but this subject was really a big deal for me and almost took the joy of sailing away until I grabbed the problem by the horns and defeated what I have noticed is a problem for a lot of boat owners. In retrospect some of the situations we get ourselves into are pretty funny sometimes but they also can be very dangerous. I highly recommend Charles Low's book to any sailor just learning how to dock a boat.
 
C

Capt. Sid

.
May 31, 2004
31
Watkins MKII 27 New Bern NC
Practice Practice Practice!

When we first purchased our Watkins 27 niether my wife or I had ever piloted a sailboat. Sure we had some experience in small motor boats but the hull shape and weight of our sailboat was a whole new adventure. After the first almost disastrous undocking and docking. I developed such a fear of the whole thing that I would find excuses to stay in the marina! When we did go out I would get the shakes and almost have a panic attack. I bought Charles Low's book "Boat Docking" and studied up. Imagine my suprise when I learned that prop walk was not just a problem on my boat! I learned that you could actually use it to your advantage. I decided that the only way to overcome my fear was to do it over and over again. My wife and I took the boat over to the fuel docks where there is plenty of room and spent one whole afternoon docking and undocking from both sides of the boat. I soon lost my fear and although I am certainly not an expert I can do a pretty good job now in all sorts of situations becuase I understand the physics involved and how my particular boat handles. I'm sorry for the long post but this subject was really a big deal for me and almost took the joy of sailing away until I grabbed the problem by the horns and defeated what I have noticed is a problem for a lot of boat owners. In retrospect some of the situations we get ourselves into are pretty funny sometimes but they also can be very dangerous. I highly recommend Charles Low's book to any sailor just learning how to dock a boat.
 
T

Tony Gore

Anyone got a mor difficult dock?

I work on the principle that it is difficult to find a dock that requires more skill than my home dock. Why? It is a pontoon on a narrow river; the tidal range can be up to 12 metres (40 feet). At neaps, it is possible to get off 1.5 hours before HW, but local conditions can make it difficult to get back 30 mins after HW - the tide is definitely non-sinusoidal. My current position is second boat on just round the corner, and the space I have is tight - when moored up, the boat in front's outboard is on the outside corner sticking out, and my raised outboard is less than two feet from the bow of the boat behind. Add the wind to that, usually straight up the river (and there is nothing between us and New York for 3000 miles). This is where the windage of the Macgregor 26M is a problem. Going out, I use quarter board (precise manouevering is impossible without a pivot point in the water) and reverse it on the outboard. That is simple. Coming in is the problem. Quarter board again, but if the water is low, I raise the starboard (bankside) rudder to avoid the mud. Someone talked about using the momentum of the boat; unfortunately, the windage of the 26M is greater, so that as soon as power is taken off, she drifts almost anywhere except where you point her. I usually try and swing wide into the turn alongside the pontoon and get in close and parallel to the boat in front and then reverse her in, get a stern mooring on tight and then get the bow in, usually with just a few inches of clearance. If anyone has better techniques for a light boat with wind, tide and currents, I would love to know them.
 
T

Tony Gore

Anyone got a mor difficult dock?

I work on the principle that it is difficult to find a dock that requires more skill than my home dock. Why? It is a pontoon on a narrow river; the tidal range can be up to 12 metres (40 feet). At neaps, it is possible to get off 1.5 hours before HW, but local conditions can make it difficult to get back 30 mins after HW - the tide is definitely non-sinusoidal. My current position is second boat on just round the corner, and the space I have is tight - when moored up, the boat in front's outboard is on the outside corner sticking out, and my raised outboard is less than two feet from the bow of the boat behind. Add the wind to that, usually straight up the river (and there is nothing between us and New York for 3000 miles). This is where the windage of the Macgregor 26M is a problem. Going out, I use quarter board (precise manouevering is impossible without a pivot point in the water) and reverse it on the outboard. That is simple. Coming in is the problem. Quarter board again, but if the water is low, I raise the starboard (bankside) rudder to avoid the mud. Someone talked about using the momentum of the boat; unfortunately, the windage of the 26M is greater, so that as soon as power is taken off, she drifts almost anywhere except where you point her. I usually try and swing wide into the turn alongside the pontoon and get in close and parallel to the boat in front and then reverse her in, get a stern mooring on tight and then get the bow in, usually with just a few inches of clearance. If anyone has better techniques for a light boat with wind, tide and currents, I would love to know them.
 
A

Allen Hale

Cheating Death

As a former drag racing car driver, I have trained myself to focus on the current conditions and surroundings. However, after each docking I always sigh with this response." One more time we have cheated death!" Allen Hale "Shaken Not Stirred" Oday 27
 
A

Allen Hale

Cheating Death

As a former drag racing car driver, I have trained myself to focus on the current conditions and surroundings. However, after each docking I always sigh with this response." One more time we have cheated death!" Allen Hale "Shaken Not Stirred" Oday 27
 
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Russ

If all else fails....

I think about this story everytime I come in to a dock: An experienced captain was letting a new crew member bring the boat in for the first time. After the point of no return on the approach, the transmission link failed, leaving the boat with substantial way on and no ability to slow down. The new crew paniced and ask the grizzled old master what to.... His response? Aim for something cheap.
 
R

Russ

If all else fails....

I think about this story everytime I come in to a dock: An experienced captain was letting a new crew member bring the boat in for the first time. After the point of no return on the approach, the transmission link failed, leaving the boat with substantial way on and no ability to slow down. The new crew paniced and ask the grizzled old master what to.... His response? Aim for something cheap.
 
R

Richard

Docking with - No motor allowed

The lake in our city is the domestic water supply and as such - no motors are allowed on the lake. Mooring and docking is an adventure to say the least! Add to that the fact that the marina is in a little bay where the wind swirls around in every direction. This requires that you DOCKING PLAN be very flexible and that you are ready to adjust or abort at any time. Makes for a fun time.
 
R

Richard

Docking with - No motor allowed

The lake in our city is the domestic water supply and as such - no motors are allowed on the lake. Mooring and docking is an adventure to say the least! Add to that the fact that the marina is in a little bay where the wind swirls around in every direction. This requires that you DOCKING PLAN be very flexible and that you are ready to adjust or abort at any time. Makes for a fun time.
 
D

Dana M26D

That's why there's beer on board.

It gives you something to share with the people who just saved your gel coat after another 'learning experience'. Screwing up an approach, with onlookers, is a great way to meet people. Then pass around the beer and listen to them tell of the guy who did it even worse. My best tale involves handing out beer and towels after forgetting which gear I was in. I aborted the approach and backed out, only to look forward and see a pair of hands still hanging on to my bow pulpit.(Yes, I did it all sober and drank afterwards.) The worst thing about my most successful dockings are that there's never anyone around to share them with. But give me a crowd and a 20 knot crosswind and I'll be handing out the beer every time. Some days I think the guys announce my pending approach by saying, "Wait, watch this!"
 
D

Dana M26D

That's why there's beer on board.

It gives you something to share with the people who just saved your gel coat after another 'learning experience'. Screwing up an approach, with onlookers, is a great way to meet people. Then pass around the beer and listen to them tell of the guy who did it even worse. My best tale involves handing out beer and towels after forgetting which gear I was in. I aborted the approach and backed out, only to look forward and see a pair of hands still hanging on to my bow pulpit.(Yes, I did it all sober and drank afterwards.) The worst thing about my most successful dockings are that there's never anyone around to share them with. But give me a crowd and a 20 knot crosswind and I'll be handing out the beer every time. Some days I think the guys announce my pending approach by saying, "Wait, watch this!"
 
M

Mark

Slowly and Majestically

It has been suggested that approaching a dock in a sailboat is similar to approaching a woman in a bar. Very seldom is a slow approach a poor approach. One of my sailing mentors suggested the mind set I use every time I dock my C36. A sailboat should approach the dock "slowly and majestically". I will admit my approaches are often fire drills, but at least have a goal:)
 
M

Mark

Slowly and Majestically

It has been suggested that approaching a dock in a sailboat is similar to approaching a woman in a bar. Very seldom is a slow approach a poor approach. One of my sailing mentors suggested the mind set I use every time I dock my C36. A sailboat should approach the dock "slowly and majestically". I will admit my approaches are often fire drills, but at least have a goal:)
 
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