Bow or stern in?

[Dunham]

Hi everyone,
Just curious as to how most people dock their boats. Do you go in stern first or bow first? We have a Hunter 33e and we dock stern first due to the swim platform. We was challenging at first, but we've now mastered it!

 

[Stu Jackson]

It really doesn't matter, take a look around docks and you'll find lots of either-ors.

Folks with open transoms like to stern in because it's easier getting on or off. That said, most of the folks I know with open transoms go bow in because they get privacy from folks walking the docks. It's as simple as that.

Even if I had an open transom, I'd go bow in anyway, 'cuz the view is MUCH nicer facing one way than the other at my particular marina.

 

[Siamese]

Pointy end first for me. Catalina 309.

 

[MrUnix]

Bow first.. it's really hard to get it on the trailer stern first

Cheers,
Brad

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Usually we like to back into the slip. We have 2 small dogs so it is much easier to get them off and on the boat that way, particularly if dealing with tides and the docks don't float and or the dock has a short finger.

We are usually transients in a marina and noticed that docking with the stern to the dock results a lot of friendly chat with other sailors especially with two dogs in the cockpit. It has resulted in meeting many nice people I'm sure we would never have met had we come in bow first.

Bob

 

[Benny17441]

I guess it does not matter, it is not like a parking lot lane where the parking spaces are at an angle to facilitate straight in parking. Still have not figured why folks take the trouble to back into thoses spaces.

 

[jdhohmann]

We always went Stern first, Made it way easier to access boat!!!

 

[amry69]

Bow first because that seems to be the norm at my marina. My open stern, however, would lend itself to stern first. It'll take some practice, tight slip and my boat doesn't steer as well backwards.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I guess it does not matter, it is not like a parking lot lane where the parking spaces are at an angle to facilitate straight in parking. Still have not figured why folks take the trouble to back into thoses spaces.

Benny, so they can leave and be going against traffic!

 

[Doug/Karen]

Bow first for us for two reasons: 1) the aforementioned privacy issue and, 2) our slip faces east and the prevailing winds in our area are southerly. Life presents enough challenges without asking for more.

 

[kloudie1]

Stern first for better access .. It is more of a problem to load food/clothes/people when bow first in our marina.

 

[kloudie1]

Stern First

Our finger piers are so short that there is almost no access if bow first.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Our finger piers are so short that there is almost no access if bow first.

Low tide Kloudie?
Looks like you need a submarine

 

[onecoolair]

standing rain water or from a high tide

Our finger piers are so short that there is almost no access if bow first.

Sorry to bring this up,but could not help notice.
Is that just standing rain water or from a high tide? Better get some fill in there before some Obama Brown shirt Declares it as a wet lands, I mean Mosquito Farm. Then bans your marina from keeping the grass mowed.

 

[Steve Kamp]

Sorry to bring this up,but could not help notice.
Is that just standing rain water or from a high tide? Better get some fill in there before some Obama Brown shirt Declares it as a wet lands, I mean Mosquito Farm. Then bans your marina from keeping the grass mowed.

Careful, Phil will move you to the War Room.

 

[Dan Hill]

Bow first for privacy and ease of docking. I can't count the times I've helped others attempting to back into our tight slips. Other than easy access I don't understand the attraction, but maybe it's pier pressure lol. (pardon the pun)...../)....../)

 

[Mike H.]

Stern first. That puts our nose into the wind.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Stern first. That puts our nose into the wind.

depends on prevailing wind direction??? Also, don't you require a wider arch to turn once out of the slip?

 

[Sail123]

Bow first.. it's really hard to get it on the trailer stern first

Cheers,
Brad

Maybe the best post I have ever seen! Lololol

 

[Sail123]

Usually we like to back into the slip. We have 2 small dogs so it is much easier to get them off and on the boat that way, particularly if dealing with tides and the docks don't float and or the dock has a short finger.

We are usually transients in a marina and noticed that docking with the stern to the dock results a lot of friendly chat with other sailors especially with two dogs in the cockpit. It has resulted in meeting many nice people I'm sure we would never have met had we come in bow first.

Bob

Love your babies!