According to USCG 2018 Recreational Boating Stats, the former could lead the latter.
Bow or Stern when docked at a marina?
- Thread starter pumpkinpie
- Start date
It's also like a rear wheel drive car.
Also, that's what bow thrusters are for.
(Although even using a bow thruster tends to push the stern in the opposite direction.)
They dont' they motor in. But the question for you is, if you sail into your slip bow first, how to you sail out of your slip?
Don't know why either, but in sooner places in Canada the fingers are only about ten feet long. Just being cheap, eh? Can't tell you why the marinas here on Lake Michigan spend the extra money, but it is nice that they do.
My boats on a mooring, but we do into the adjacent marina to load stuff. You can drive your car right up to the slip so it's very easy. There we back in so we can load over the transom right from the car. Also makes it easier to leave, you just drive away. Elsewhere, we usually bow in for better privacy, but sometimes back in of leaving will be a problem. My boat, a Columbia 36, has it's propeller aft of the rudder making slow speed maneuverabilty a problem. I really have to plan ahead. In tight quarters backing in may be the only way I'm going to get out again.
well, bow in in my slip puts the bow into the prevailing wind. But I don't try to sail out- I have a concrete bulkhed 40 feet behind the boat. I reverse and use a spring line too kick the stern around.
This picture taken from atop that bulkhead, which is the edge of a parking lot- just over two boat lengths
Bow in. No prevailing winds, they come from everywhere. No current or waves to worry about, marina is in a cove off river. Two big motor things block any wind from the north or south. The fairway is narrow so backing out allows quick turn out of the slip, motor forward and away we go. At another marina I was on a long pier that I would land bow first and turn the boat around at the dock for an easy getaway. Only boat at the 300 foot long dock so I could do anything I wanted. Sandy destroyed that marina and I move to adjacent where I'm on a normal finger pier. Set up a mid cleat with spring line to stop boat but have not needed it as the slip is so well protected by the big motor things that I ease the boat in and step off. Fenders are on the pier and hug the hull. In a blow, someone always steps up to give a hand securing the bow so it doesn't swing into my big neighbor before I get the boat in. Yesterday Was a first. A very low tide at my arrival to the marina and I could only get within 30 feet of the pier when the wing keel buried itself in the mud. Had to go back out and circle for 1/2 hour til the tide came in enough to get in. The wing keel did not bury itself as often spoken about as the worst thing about a wing. I just wiggled in reverse and the keel pulled out easily. At idle the boat just circled at the entrance without drifting in spite of 10 mph wind trying to blow me out. Had a 1/2 hour to contemplate that. Couldn't anchor as there are cables in the area and the anchor is still wrapped in plastic in some hold. Must pull it out for emergency use. Only had one emergency in the last 12 years when the clivis pin broke and the mast cam down while sailing. Fell right between me and the admiral. Dropped the anchor, a different boat, tidied the sails, turned on the iron spinnaker, pulled the anchor as we returned to dock, raised the mast with a new pin, and went back out sailing. Funny how the admiral never goes out with me anymore. At least the dog doesn't hold it against me.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
Bow in starboard tie. That’s is just the easiest to arrive and solo up to the dock. Puts the cockpit near the fairway. More private. Push the power and the boom to port more room in cockpit for visitors.
I have this whole problem solved (at least at home):
I am starboard side tied to the seawall. Using the prop walk, I can just back out into the fairway. As soon as the boat gets moving, I have rudder control, get parallel in the fairway, and move forward...
Docking is a little more interesting. Its more like parallel parking a car front first. I just angle in, Catch a spring line and then take my time tying off bow and stern. This can get very entertaining for the neighbors at times in certain wind conditions...
Hahaha - I totally got that. I replied with the same intent... However I will point out what you suggest works for small boats, but when you get to boats that weigh 10,000 pounds or more, that's not so easy...
dj
