A Prayer for Safe Docking

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending december 12, 2004:How do you feel about docking:54% Not a problem unless there are strong crosswinds and/or currents20% I'm getting better but still have anxious moments19% Piece of cake08% It's my biggest concern every time I take the boat out1,121 owners responding

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending december 12, 2004:How do you feel about docking:54% Not a problem unless there are strong crosswinds and/or currents20% I'm getting better but still have anxious moments19% Piece of cake08% It's my biggest concern every time I take the boat out1,121 owners responding

 

[Rick]

Dynamics of docking

Along with Dan from alameda, im also in the brotherhood of pilots. Docking is just applied aerodynamics (apparent wind) and fluid dynamics (current). Now that may sound deep but... think of it as parking at walmart. Who hasnt seen the suburban who lines up about three feet from the bumpers of the cars on the "windward" side and tries to make the turn. It just aint happening. I have a 336 and dock in pretty tight quarters. The key as many have mentioned is 1. turning room 2. speed over the rudder 3. Judging the wind. And oh assumed docking with aux motor.. not under sail. I enter the isle i slip on at idle. Then when about two (not rocket science) slips away I go to neutral. I manuever as far to the other side as I can so when I make the turn to dock, I have almost one ship length to line up with the "parking space". This gives me two options.. continue because I have done a wonderful job, or room to abort if I misjudged and over shot. Also gives time to make any wind corrections. You must have knots for the rudder to be effective. Anything less than two and you dont have rudder authority. If the wind is from port (overshooting) turn a little late and line up to play the drift. If undershooting turn a little late. If you can line her up and be parallel to the sides of the slip.. AND your in neutral.. your in the "slot". If you must use a crewmember, station them on the lee side maybe with a boathook or spring line just in case. Heck my crewmember (read wife) is usually sitting in the catbird seat with her martini during docking. I just put my 336 in reverse just aas the steps come abeam the cockpit. Kill the speed and ...thats it. If your downwind going into your slip, same principles.. get lined up as early as possible. Dont try to angle in.. guaranteed black mark on hull.CheersRick

 

[Rick]

Dynamics of docking

Along with Dan from alameda, im also in the brotherhood of pilots. Docking is just applied aerodynamics (apparent wind) and fluid dynamics (current). Now that may sound deep but... think of it as parking at walmart. Who hasnt seen the suburban who lines up about three feet from the bumpers of the cars on the "windward" side and tries to make the turn. It just aint happening. I have a 336 and dock in pretty tight quarters. The key as many have mentioned is 1. turning room 2. speed over the rudder 3. Judging the wind. And oh assumed docking with aux motor.. not under sail. I enter the isle i slip on at idle. Then when about two (not rocket science) slips away I go to neutral. I manuever as far to the other side as I can so when I make the turn to dock, I have almost one ship length to line up with the "parking space". This gives me two options.. continue because I have done a wonderful job, or room to abort if I misjudged and over shot. Also gives time to make any wind corrections. You must have knots for the rudder to be effective. Anything less than two and you dont have rudder authority. If the wind is from port (overshooting) turn a little late and line up to play the drift. If undershooting turn a little late. If you can line her up and be parallel to the sides of the slip.. AND your in neutral.. your in the "slot". If you must use a crewmember, station them on the lee side maybe with a boathook or spring line just in case. Heck my crewmember (read wife) is usually sitting in the catbird seat with her martini during docking. I just put my 336 in reverse just aas the steps come abeam the cockpit. Kill the speed and ...thats it. If your downwind going into your slip, same principles.. get lined up as early as possible. Dont try to angle in.. guaranteed black mark on hull.CheersRick

 

[Dale Wilkins]

Leaving the Dock

My first time actually leaving the dock was one of concern as I had never done so before (much less getting back in!). My slip is third from the end in a U shaped docking area. While I was setting up, the guy next to me backed out in the wrong direction, headed towards the cross dock, had one of his crew hop off, push the bow away from both the dock and another boat in the end slip. He then turned, his crew member hopped on at the stern and they looked at me sheepishly as they motored past. I knew then, that no matter what, I wouldn't do that badly...I haven't concerned myself with it since.Coming back in, I stay far to the left and make a right turn into the slip as I come even (from the stern it is difficult to see my slip as the boat turns in). Once the bow is close to the end of the slip, I kill the engine, and judge which side of the boat is closest to the dock, and then lean out that side and grap the stern rope that is on that side. I then pull hard to keep from hitting at the bow (I have a rope with a fender stretched across the bow area, but the boat has a tendency to climb onto it). It isn't graceful, but it works. I just hope I never have to back in...I can't even imagine trying that!

 

[Dale Wilkins]

Leaving the Dock

My first time actually leaving the dock was one of concern as I had never done so before (much less getting back in!). My slip is third from the end in a U shaped docking area. While I was setting up, the guy next to me backed out in the wrong direction, headed towards the cross dock, had one of his crew hop off, push the bow away from both the dock and another boat in the end slip. He then turned, his crew member hopped on at the stern and they looked at me sheepishly as they motored past. I knew then, that no matter what, I wouldn't do that badly...I haven't concerned myself with it since.Coming back in, I stay far to the left and make a right turn into the slip as I come even (from the stern it is difficult to see my slip as the boat turns in). Once the bow is close to the end of the slip, I kill the engine, and judge which side of the boat is closest to the dock, and then lean out that side and grap the stern rope that is on that side. I then pull hard to keep from hitting at the bow (I have a rope with a fender stretched across the bow area, but the boat has a tendency to climb onto it). It isn't graceful, but it works. I just hope I never have to back in...I can't even imagine trying that!

 

[Raka Man]

Practice makes perfect

May I suggest some practical things. Practice, practice, then practice in a different way.While we obviously need to understand how the boat is going to act when we come into the slip, how many have explored handling your boat away from the dock without the pressure?Try tieing a fender to something to hold it in place, like a brick, small anchor, whatever. Drop it somewhere you can come at it from all angles. Now, practice coming up to it and just kissing it with the bow. Start off coming from the downwind side, stalling the boat into the wind as you touch it. Once you've done this successfully a couple of times, try it coming at it from a beam reach, then downwind. Then try coming up to it by backing up, from all those wind orientations again trying to just touch it with the stern. All this will teach you how your boat will act as it slows down. What really gets you is that as you slow down, you loose control. This is where the anticipation comes in. Gaining experience how you need to anticipate without the pressure of creaming the dock is much easier. Then when you have to slide into the slip, you can do it with that confidence that makes it look easy.Some other simple tips are, have adequate fenders and place them to protect the boat according to the current wind angle/conditions. Also having a prop that backs straight makes life MUCH easier. If not, you just need to anticipate. Oh, don't run the fender over and wrap your prop. You get lots of points off for this one.By the way, this will really pay off when you have to pick up a man overboard. Then you'll appreciate all that work.Happy sailing.

 

[Raka Man]

Practice makes perfect

May I suggest some practical things. Practice, practice, then practice in a different way.While we obviously need to understand how the boat is going to act when we come into the slip, how many have explored handling your boat away from the dock without the pressure?Try tieing a fender to something to hold it in place, like a brick, small anchor, whatever. Drop it somewhere you can come at it from all angles. Now, practice coming up to it and just kissing it with the bow. Start off coming from the downwind side, stalling the boat into the wind as you touch it. Once you've done this successfully a couple of times, try it coming at it from a beam reach, then downwind. Then try coming up to it by backing up, from all those wind orientations again trying to just touch it with the stern. All this will teach you how your boat will act as it slows down. What really gets you is that as you slow down, you loose control. This is where the anticipation comes in. Gaining experience how you need to anticipate without the pressure of creaming the dock is much easier. Then when you have to slide into the slip, you can do it with that confidence that makes it look easy.Some other simple tips are, have adequate fenders and place them to protect the boat according to the current wind angle/conditions. Also having a prop that backs straight makes life MUCH easier. If not, you just need to anticipate. Oh, don't run the fender over and wrap your prop. You get lots of points off for this one.By the way, this will really pay off when you have to pick up a man overboard. Then you'll appreciate all that work.Happy sailing.

 

[Bob]

"Cheater line"

I can't take credit for this because I saw a dock neighbor doing it once and he stole the idea from someone else. I (and he) use what we all call a "cheater line". It's like having another person on board helping with the docking! I have a Hunter 28.5 and not a whole lot of space the get a running start (going in reverse) to get enough water going by the rudder for enough control. So what we do is this:When we approach our slip it's on the port side. I have a 12-foot line with a large snap on one end. Before we make our approach I pass the line under the bottom lifeline, through a block on deck and back to the port winch where it gets a wrap or two. Then I bring the boat along side the outer most port piling. This is the hardest part. You don't want to get so close to hit but close enough to clip the "cheater line" to the line that runs between most outer and inner pilings at most marinas. These lines (there is sometimes more than one) separate the slips.After either my wife or I connect the cheater I pull the line in on the winch, which pulls the boat closer to the piling and keeps us from drifting away. It also sets up a pivot point and is like having someone holding onto the piling. Then I turn the wheel hard to port (towards the captured piling) and put the boat in reverse using as much power as I need to bring the bow around 90 degrees and parallel to the slip. While this is happening the boat is backing into the slip and the cheater line, being clipped to the line that runs between the pilings, keeps the boat in line in the slip opening. It also moves with the boat down this line. I can pull in more line if we start to drift towards starboard. In the meantime my 1st mate (my wife) or I have time to grab the spring line and tie it off to the mid-ship cleat, which was something that I added to my 285. The spring line is marked so I know where to tie it off. Then I continue to back into the slip with the cheater line keeping us in line until the spring line stops us from bashing into the dock. Then it's just a matter of making fast the other bow and stern lines. I’ve even done this procedure by myself.It sounds a lot more complicated than it really is but it's a less stressful way of backing the boat into the slip. One of the few problems can be if one of your dock neighbors has a boat that extends beyond the outer pilings. You have to watch to things like bowsprits when you make the approach perpendicular to the slip.

 

[Bob]

"Cheater line"

I can't take credit for this because I saw a dock neighbor doing it once and he stole the idea from someone else. I (and he) use what we all call a "cheater line". It's like having another person on board helping with the docking! I have a Hunter 28.5 and not a whole lot of space the get a running start (going in reverse) to get enough water going by the rudder for enough control. So what we do is this:When we approach our slip it's on the port side. I have a 12-foot line with a large snap on one end. Before we make our approach I pass the line under the bottom lifeline, through a block on deck and back to the port winch where it gets a wrap or two. Then I bring the boat along side the outer most port piling. This is the hardest part. You don't want to get so close to hit but close enough to clip the "cheater line" to the line that runs between most outer and inner pilings at most marinas. These lines (there is sometimes more than one) separate the slips.After either my wife or I connect the cheater I pull the line in on the winch, which pulls the boat closer to the piling and keeps us from drifting away. It also sets up a pivot point and is like having someone holding onto the piling. Then I turn the wheel hard to port (towards the captured piling) and put the boat in reverse using as much power as I need to bring the bow around 90 degrees and parallel to the slip. While this is happening the boat is backing into the slip and the cheater line, being clipped to the line that runs between the pilings, keeps the boat in line in the slip opening. It also moves with the boat down this line. I can pull in more line if we start to drift towards starboard. In the meantime my 1st mate (my wife) or I have time to grab the spring line and tie it off to the mid-ship cleat, which was something that I added to my 285. The spring line is marked so I know where to tie it off. Then I continue to back into the slip with the cheater line keeping us in line until the spring line stops us from bashing into the dock. Then it's just a matter of making fast the other bow and stern lines. I’ve even done this procedure by myself.It sounds a lot more complicated than it really is but it's a less stressful way of backing the boat into the slip. One of the few problems can be if one of your dock neighbors has a boat that extends beyond the outer pilings. You have to watch to things like bowsprits when you make the approach perpendicular to the slip.

 

[Joe Pyles]

Queit a docking

Practice ability, if slip location permits, to dock totally under sail, not power. It sharpens your skills in the event of power loss. You will also have a quiet approach where you can yell to your dock sailboat watchers, who will be watching you because they will be amazed that you are docking under sail, to come to your slip and help you ease her in. Say the words, "Ease her in," to the crowd and you will experience a safe docking probably invoking questions of where you learned to sail. Good luck. When you downhaul sail for the final coast to berth you are on your own!

 

[Joe Pyles]

Queit a docking

Practice ability, if slip location permits, to dock totally under sail, not power. It sharpens your skills in the event of power loss. You will also have a quiet approach where you can yell to your dock sailboat watchers, who will be watching you because they will be amazed that you are docking under sail, to come to your slip and help you ease her in. Say the words, "Ease her in," to the crowd and you will experience a safe docking probably invoking questions of where you learned to sail. Good luck. When you downhaul sail for the final coast to berth you are on your own!

 

[Paul Harmina]

Secret to docking

I have found through the years that the secret to successful docking is to determine at what speed you wish to hit the dock. My choice is zero knots.

 

[Paul Harmina]

Secret to docking

I have found through the years that the secret to successful docking is to determine at what speed you wish to hit the dock. My choice is zero knots.