Better to back your sailboat in?
- Thread starter captmaddog
- Start date
Backin'n, Backn'up, Gettin'stuck....
I have always prefered to go "bow-in" for the privacy aspect. I never liked people walking up and down the dock being able to look into my boat and seeing if I'm naked, nakked, or butt-naked (you people from the south will know the difference between the three.)
In my current slip, the wave and winds conspire to beat the hell out of the boat. Going stern in allows the boat to break up some of the havoc the waves are determined to wreck on my boat.
I have always prefered to go "bow-in" for the privacy aspect. I never liked people walking up and down the dock being able to look into my boat and seeing if I'm naked, nakked, or butt-naked (you people from the south will know the difference between the three.)
In my current slip, the wave and winds conspire to beat the hell out of the boat. Going stern in allows the boat to break up some of the havoc the waves are determined to wreck on my boat.
Stern in. No comparison if you have disabled passengers. It is also nicer when working or preping for a long trip.
And I've found it builds skill, knowing that every time, crosswind or no, that you have to hit the hole backwards. It really helps when cruising, visiting unfamiliar places, to know you can handle the boat under any circumstances, in tight quarters, by yourself.
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And if it wnas't for that, I agree with the privacy thing. Transom to the dock is a pain sometimes.
And I've found it builds skill, knowing that every time, crosswind or no, that you have to hit the hole backwards. It really helps when cruising, visiting unfamiliar places, to know you can handle the boat under any circumstances, in tight quarters, by yourself.
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And if it wnas't for that, I agree with the privacy thing. Transom to the dock is a pain sometimes.
After 12 seasons of practice on my H410...
I always back into a slip, whether home slip or traveling, unless the transient marina advises against it, or occasionally when there are extreme winds in the marina. My slip points north where we get the strongest winds so bow out is bow into the wind. Also, easier on & off the boat, electric and dockside water are at the stern, etc.
I always back into a slip, whether home slip or traveling, unless the transient marina advises against it, or occasionally when there are extreme winds in the marina. My slip points north where we get the strongest winds so bow out is bow into the wind. Also, easier on & off the boat, electric and dockside water are at the stern, etc.
I backed in in the past, but I am at a new marina this year and that have this silly "angle parking". It's just weird. It wouldn't be so bad if the finger pier were on the left as coming in. It's just a tight channel and angle. Hard to make a right enough turn to get into the slip. Sometimes I back all the way out to the end of the docks. Could be worse