Best way to single hand dock to starboard with wind blowing you off:
- Thread starter Ted10028
- Start date
water was like glass with no wind, not single handed, hard to throw rope like Roy Rogers, in strong wind bow is blown off.
solo or not you want to make it as easy as possible and pulling the lines on board seems to do that with lots of room for human error and unfavorable wind.
We have a slip with pilings at the back, a finger pier along the front port side, and a bulkhead at the front. We have lines run from the pilings to the front of the slip, separating the slips. When we leave the dock we take care to throw the aft lines and spring line over those slip-separating lines so they're draped. That makes them easy to pick up with a boat hook (or by hand on the leeward side) when we come back in.
[QUOTE="Ted10028, post: 1813959, member: 163097”] ...are you jumping off the boat single handed with engine on? [/QUOTE]
I would certainly prefer to jump off with the engine running than off. We could debate whether the engine should be in gear - forward or reverse. But for a 25’ + boat I would shut the engine off after all the lines are secured and the engine has run a few minutes to cool off. But going on the dock with the engine running and even in gear would not be a problem for me as long as the lines were were attached as per docking plan.
I would certainly prefer to jump off with the engine running than off. We could debate whether the engine should be in gear - forward or reverse. But for a 25’ + boat I would shut the engine off after all the lines are secured and the engine has run a few minutes to cool off. But going on the dock with the engine running and even in gear would not be a problem for me as long as the lines were were attached as per docking plan.
The point is you have to learn to parallel the boat in no wind before you can do it with wind against you.
Geometry is working against you unless you use a mid ship spring line. Using a bow or stern spring line will allow the bow or stern to swing 30+ feet off the dock. A mid ship spring prevents this. What John does works with the wind blowing the boat off the dock. For demonstration purposes he shot the video in calm winds. BTW, when this was shot his wife was in her mid to late 60s.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
Way to go @jdrutten.
A perfect tool. I read about that technique.
I’ve used it for the past 9 years single handed. No one ever needs to jump from a boat, ever. Jumping to a dock is just a way to insure injury to crew members.
But if reading is not your thing.
They made a movie.
A perfect tool. I read about that technique.
I’ve used it for the past 9 years single handed. No one ever needs to jump from a boat, ever. Jumping to a dock is just a way to insure injury to crew members.
But if reading is not your thing.
They made a movie.
I would not have a problem stepping (not jumping) off the boat with the engine in gear once a dock line is attached, if the engine is being used to push against that line and hold the boat stable against the dock.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
That is exactly what happens when using the stern bridle technique. Boat snugs up against the dock. In idle the captain steps ashore, secures a bow and stern line. Steps back aboard and shuts down the engine. Easy preasy.
Single Handing 101.2 HOPPING OFF THE BOAT IS UNNECESSARY
Single handing & Bull Rails - Page 2
Single handing & Bull Rails - Page 2
totally lost trying to figure out slip ,back finger, pier, front port side ,and bulkhead. Sorry
all it says is attach the spring line to the mid ship cleat but it doesn't say how you get the midship spring line in your hand so you can attach it to the cleat.
It sounds like you are describing an approach to a dock, not a slip, and the wind is pushing you off, and you are single handing. I have done this several times over the past 17 years with my C310, a very similar boat to yours. I start by lying my dock lines out along the side (starboard in this case), with the bow line lead under the lifeline and back over, then lying along the starboard side deck, and draped over the lifeline just forward of the boarding gate. The aft spring would be lead under the lifeline, back over the lifeline, then draped over the lifeline just aft of the bowline. The starboard stern line would be coiled on the stern quarter seat with the line lead under the lifeline, then draped over the lifeline aft of the boarding gate. This should all be done, of course, well in advance of approaching the dock.
When I approach the dock, I like to keep my speed up and approach at a steep angle (maybe 80 degrees or so). When close to the dock, I put the helm hard over to port, shift to reverse, and goose the throttle to stop all forward momentum, shifting to neutral. Then, I grab the aft spring and throw it to the dock and pick up the stern line as I jump to the dock. This maneuver will give you about ten seconds to secure the stern line and then the aft spring before the wind pushes the boat off the dock, so don't dilly dally. You can then grab the bow line and flip it over the lifeline while securing it to a dock cleat.
Granted, this maneuver won't work with most sailboats, but I found that the C310 turns on a dime and stops quickly with a generous amount of power in reverse. Of course, if you were approaching the dock on the port side, the prop wash could be used to great advantage to push you into the dock.
I can't see any good from jumping off the boat without at least one line attaching the boat to the dock if you are solo sailing and i do not allow anyone to "jump" from the boat to the dock when I am sailing with someone. Maybe that is because I'm 73 with bad knees. Of course, the height of your deck from the dock and your age may determine the risk you are willing to take, but for me it is a non-starter. If you get hurt on the jump who is going to control the lines and the boat while you are writhing in pain on the deck? I can imagine watching the boat blow off the dock and downwind as I scream for help.
There are devices like the "Landing Loop" or a different device called a "Docking Stick". I use a Docking Stick but have also used a Landing Loop before I got the Docking Stick. I attached the landing stick to the end of my fully extended boat hook with the length of line secured to the midship cleat set to stop the boat where I want it to stop. It is used as the spring line.
There are devices like the "Landing Loop" or a different device called a "Docking Stick". I use a Docking Stick but have also used a Landing Loop before I got the Docking Stick. I attached the landing stick to the end of my fully extended boat hook with the length of line secured to the midship cleat set to stop the boat where I want it to stop. It is used as the spring line.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
From Stu’s 2010 post:
The maneuver is simple: attach the springline to the midships cleat, run it fair outside the lifelines, as you approach the dock loop the springline over the aft dock cleat and bring it back to the winch. Snug it up and keep the boat in low throttle forward and the boat will sidle right up to the dock, no jumping is EVER required.
Set up the spring line before you get to the marina. Tied to a mid-ship cleat. (No mid ship cleat? Install one. It is like no fenders, buy them. It is an essential tool for boat safety.) Rig the spring line and lead it outside the lifeline, back to the cockpit, and over the lifeline. (See free video in post#20).It is a simple safe skill to get your boat to the dock. Has worked for Commercial Fishermen and sailors of all boat sizes.
@Ted10028 this is probably the most common slip configuration you will find throughout the northeast and mid-Atlantic. Basically, there is one finger pier serving 2 slips. If your boat has the finger pier off the stbd bow then both your neighbors will have their finger pier off the port bow. Your neighbor to stbd (assuming you are bow in) is sharing your pier. Every boat has a single piling off both aft corners - they are shared with the neighboring boats. If your slip is not like this, then why don't you describe the configuration? It does make a difference in how you approach it.
The most common technique is to pick up a pre-assembled line attached to the stbd piling (in your case) while approaching at the slowest speed possible while maintaining steerage. I would be approaching in neutral and I might even shift into reverse (depending on speed of approach) just before reaching for the line. Some will reach for it by hand, and others with a boat hook depending upon comfort level. Attaching the line to a mid-ship cleat is the easiest and most effective way to wrangle the boat to YOUR slip on the stbd side and maintain control. Sailors usually have the line pre-assembled for the correct length to stop the ships movement before the bow hits the bulkhead. Some sailors make a loop in the line and they will actually just slip the loop over the coach-top winch (stbd side). @Tally Ho made a fantastic video of just this exact technique and he is dealing with some wind where he is at! You can easily find his video.
Also, many sailors make a bridle with lines and fenders to separate the open space between 2 boats where there is no finger pier as @Davidasailor26 describes. The bridle is just like the reins and a bit for horses. If done right, you can snug your boat up in the bridle right next to your slip very easily while you tie up lines.
I don't know anybody in slips who don't have all their dock lines pre-measured and secured to the dock so that they can just pick up the lines and attach the lines to cleats without getting off the boat. Of course, you have to have extra lines on board when visiting new locations .... duh ... that's just boating 101.
Yes, we all step off the boat with the engine running in neutral only when secured. The point is, if you are jumping off the boat before it is secured and especially when it has way-on, you are asking for trouble.
I have a 310, and also my slip is starboard side like what @Tom J described. I also plan way in advance when coming in with rigging a long line to starboard bow cleat, line on outside of lifelines to the gate in cockpit. I also have a 2nd line on the starboard jib winch with line ready to hold. There is no jumping or rushing, if it is bad I hit reverse and back out to try again.
Coming in at an angle to the Starboard slip can be a challenge when there is a boat I the port slip, if so I always rig extra bumpers on the port side just in case to help keep off the boat. In those case I've found I have to overshot the slip slightly, hard over to port, then fast back to starboard to hold straight. With the bow in the slip and close to the dock. The wind starts blowing me to port and with luck I'm snug at mid hull. Engine to neutral, and holding both lines I step off and quickly secure the stern line and hold the bow line as I walk with her to a stop.
I do this process everytime except if no wind I don't over shoot the slip.
Coming in at an angle to the Starboard slip can be a challenge when there is a boat I the port slip, if so I always rig extra bumpers on the port side just in case to help keep off the boat. In those case I've found I have to overshot the slip slightly, hard over to port, then fast back to starboard to hold straight. With the bow in the slip and close to the dock. The wind starts blowing me to port and with luck I'm snug at mid hull. Engine to neutral, and holding both lines I step off and quickly secure the stern line and hold the bow line as I walk with her to a stop.
I do this process everytime except if no wind I don't over shoot the slip.