I will try buoy practice, still cleaning up boat after launch. We were antsy to get in water to check thru hulls that were redone recently. It is nice to be back at the dock again!!!
Bow Falls off!
- Thread starter macwho
- Start date
I have same boat and noticed the same thing. It seems to have a lot of windage and needs plenty of water passing the rudder to track straight in winds.
I also have the same issue with prevailing winds on the starboard side trying to push me into my neighbor on port side.
The old adage to never enter your slip faster than your willing to hit the dock doesn’t work with this boat if your in a slip that is not protected from the wind.
I use the a stern bridle as mentioned by @jssailem and a variation of what @RoyS does. I use a Docking Stick which snaps onto my boat hook to put the loop of the stern bridle over the aft piling.
You do need to come in with enough speed to keep enough steerage to overcome the wind trying to blow you into the boat alongside you.
How much speed depends on how much wind. There is no set speed, you need to have enough to overcome the wind.
Then when you are far enough into the slip to put on the stern bridle, put it in reverse with enough throttle to almost come to a stop, put on the bridle, then move slowly forward so the bridle swings you into starboard side.
As the boat settles against the dock I put the wheel hard over to port. This causes the prop wash to push the stern to starboard away from the port boat.
i use permanent dock lines and dock solo. I have one line on all four corners before anybody gets off the boat. It may be different if you have regular crew but I do not.
My bridle line runs forward to a block attached to the bottom of forward shroud attachment, then runs back to the winch.
It took me while to learn learn a good technique to enter my slip in strong winds.
Good luck.
PS: Somehow I missed @Hayden Watson s post. I do practically the same thing he does, except my attachment points are different.
I also have the same issue with prevailing winds on the starboard side trying to push me into my neighbor on port side.
The old adage to never enter your slip faster than your willing to hit the dock doesn’t work with this boat if your in a slip that is not protected from the wind.
I use the a stern bridle as mentioned by @jssailem and a variation of what @RoyS does. I use a Docking Stick which snaps onto my boat hook to put the loop of the stern bridle over the aft piling.
You do need to come in with enough speed to keep enough steerage to overcome the wind trying to blow you into the boat alongside you.
How much speed depends on how much wind. There is no set speed, you need to have enough to overcome the wind.
Then when you are far enough into the slip to put on the stern bridle, put it in reverse with enough throttle to almost come to a stop, put on the bridle, then move slowly forward so the bridle swings you into starboard side.
As the boat settles against the dock I put the wheel hard over to port. This causes the prop wash to push the stern to starboard away from the port boat.
i use permanent dock lines and dock solo. I have one line on all four corners before anybody gets off the boat. It may be different if you have regular crew but I do not.
My bridle line runs forward to a block attached to the bottom of forward shroud attachment, then runs back to the winch.
It took me while to learn learn a good technique to enter my slip in strong winds.
Good luck.
PS: Somehow I missed @Hayden Watson s post. I do practically the same thing he does, except my attachment points are different.
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I also never come into the slip straight (parallel to the finger). I approach at an angle of about 15º into the finger and when the boat is just short of the dock, I turn the stern into the finger and reverse to stop.
Perfectly normal, in a light displacement boat, for the bow to be blown leeward at slow speeds (especially when docking or leaving slip). As others have mentioned, you can rig a bridle or use an aft spring line attached to midship cleat to help. Also realize that docking with wind from port side of boat will exacerbate problem because reversing prop will cause prop walk that shifts stern to port and bow to stbd + wind blowing bow to stbd also. It’s always a problem, especially when operating single handed, you have got to stop the boat and when you slow down, the wind will blow the bow to leeward.
Try approaching dock with bow at an increased angle to dock and using an aft spring line. Attach the spring to midship cleat when boat is moving slowly and is about half way into slip. Return to helm. When spring line tightens, turn wheel hard away from dock and power up; the boat will “walk” to dock. Adjust power to keep boat against dock to allow ample time to secure lines & to avoid hitting your neighbors boat. Realize that the stronger the wind, the more power will be required for the boat to walk to dock.
I am fortunate to have finger piers and pilings on both sides of my dock, so I have spring lines as well as other lines pre positioned on both piers. I always approach the windward pier first and walk the boat onto that pier using the aft spring line. I maintain just enough forward thrust to keep the boat against the dock while attaching all windward dock lines. Then return to neutral and the boat drifts to the center of the slip, enabling me to pickup the leeward lines with a boat hook. I would suggest practicing with the help of a mate to get the hang of it. This is an essential skill to master, especially if you single hand.
Try approaching dock with bow at an increased angle to dock and using an aft spring line. Attach the spring to midship cleat when boat is moving slowly and is about half way into slip. Return to helm. When spring line tightens, turn wheel hard away from dock and power up; the boat will “walk” to dock. Adjust power to keep boat against dock to allow ample time to secure lines & to avoid hitting your neighbors boat. Realize that the stronger the wind, the more power will be required for the boat to walk to dock.
I am fortunate to have finger piers and pilings on both sides of my dock, so I have spring lines as well as other lines pre positioned on both piers. I always approach the windward pier first and walk the boat onto that pier using the aft spring line. I maintain just enough forward thrust to keep the boat against the dock while attaching all windward dock lines. Then return to neutral and the boat drifts to the center of the slip, enabling me to pickup the leeward lines with a boat hook. I would suggest practicing with the help of a mate to get the hang of it. This is an essential skill to master, especially if you single hand.
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I will change to the Giles style as it looks so much safer and easier than trying to hook a cleat with a 10" eye splice!
Mine pulls port and pushes starboard at slow speed. That being known, i put the bow to the port side when I enter knowing it will pull over when I reverse. Wind adds another dimension to this that practice will polish for you.