Beneteau 423 - Docking

Ron20324 · Jun 22, 2015

Docking stbd-to? Did you try steering left, so the stern would push in?

Captn TJ · Jun 22, 2015

For our 423: We have a 40' dock 17' wide portside tie. The mid ship cleat spring is run to the back of the dock.

Coming in first line to go on is spring at the same time I grab the stern line. We can wait for the bow lines to go on since I can control the bow with the thruster. We have tried the spring line on, turn the wheel and a little power trick. However at our dock our prevailing winds are on the beam - pushing us off so it's less effective.

Also on our floating dock we mounted a step to make access easier. We also have a Rubber made folding (plastic) 2 step stool for those times we're away.

Hope this helps

Captn TJ · Jun 22, 2015

Additional info - spend some time maneuvering the boat in less tight quarters. I found that the boat has a bigger turning radius with any power applied (more power = wider turn). We have to do a tight 180 coming into our dock and generally (unless it's blowing 13+ on the beam) we come in in neutral and let momentum guide the boat in.

You'll be surprised how far the boat will travel once you put it in neutral.

Stu Jackson · Jun 22, 2015

chicagodave said:
Does the Beneteau 423 have a place on the boat that when a dock line is attached, it is naturally pulled up against the dock and stays in place with a very slight forward throttle?

Some suggestions:

1. Aft cleat
2. Aft winch

Dave, an aft cleat is too far aft. An aft winch might do it. The better solution is a midships cleat.

Try this and the links in the topic:

Single Handing 101.2 HOPPING OFF THE BOAT IS UNNECESSARY
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.msg33766.html#msg33766

Gunni · Jun 23, 2015

Yes. In a short slip you should have a spring line at the entrance to your slip. Grap it first and bring it aboard with the ship moving slowly forward and take it around your starboard primary winch (foresail winch). The boat will draw in against the dock. In your case you should also have fenders out (vertical) to protect your topsides from that floating dock. Leave the boat forward slow and go about rigging the rest of your lines.

BigEasy · Jun 28, 2015

Set up a spring line at the entrance of the slip (Aft Spring line). Upon entering the slip slowly, attach the other end of the spring line to your midship cleat. Continue to slowly power forward until slack is taken out of the spring line. Once all slack is removed, turn the wheel AWAY from the the dock that your spring line is attached, then power up. Regardless of the wind direction and strength. If the wheel is turned all the way and you power sufficiently, the spring line will cause the bow & stern to move in the direction of the dock.

Since I have a fixed piling slip with pilings on each side. I approach the slip to the windward side, attach the aft spring line, take up the slack in the spring and power gently forward with the wheel turned fully away from the windward dock. The boat then moves completely to the windward dock. I then place all remaining lines on the windward side with the power still on (this keeps the boat against the windward dock. When all windward lines are on. I return to neutral and the boat then drifts back to the center of the slip. At that time all of the leeward lines go on.

Take home lesson is use an aft spring line, use the midship cleat, turn the wheel away from the dock, and power forward with sufficient RPMs to pull the boat toward the dock.