Dead stick landing

[Steve21992]

The Rescue Community

For the last ten years my wife and I have been wintering in the Caribbean (Grenada and St. Vincent and Grenadines) on our Beneteau 45.

Unlike many seasonal cruisers, we spend almost all our waking hours in the cockpit enjoying the scenery and watching what goes on around us.

We have averaged about four “Rescues” per season during our several weeks aboard.

These cover a wide range including:

Dinghies that get loose and float away (not well tied). Surprisingly frequent!

Dinghy motors that fail between yacht and shore. Also not rare.

A dog that swam out from shore and tried to find home but got lost. (Announced on VHF in Hog Island)

A RIB oar that was found floating off the beach (Announced on VHF in Tyrrel Bay)

Boat boy that “forgot” his two-stroke oil after refilling his fuel tank (Mayreau)

Boat boy whose motor quit and needed towing into Dock (Mayreau)

Fishing boat off south coast of Puerto Rico whose motor quit some way out to sea and needed towing home into bay.

Fisherman off South coast of Union Island who ran out of fuel. Too rough and too fast tidal flow for us to go out and rescue, so we went to local town dock (Ashton) and told other locals with more powerful engines. They got more fuel and rescued.

Fellow cruiser whose steering went wonky. (Wheel turned to port caused boat to steer to starboard). We identified problem and fixed it for them. (Union)

One Sunday afternoon in Bequia this winter was a great day for small (12-14 ft) boats to be out with crews enjoying the day off until the winds became stronger that expected. One boat with two young locals aboard flipped and their mast and stays became entangled with a nearby catamaran. We were able to disentangle them, but they then needed towing back to shore. No sooner were we back at our boat when we noticed another small boat with its single occupant swimming towing his boat to a nearby mooring ball. His rudder pinion had broken. He needed towing all the way across to Lower Bay (from our position just off Daffodil on the north side).

There are no life endangering stories here (with the possible exception of the fisherman off Union Island), but it is wonderful to be part of such a great community where helping ones fellow boaters in trouble is a natural part of daily life.

Our own need to seek help from fellow boaters has been fairly limited, mostly involving borrowing tools and parts to help fix things while at anchor. We have even had to sail up to anchoring positions on a couple of occasions when our prop shaft came disconnected from the transmission.

It is always wise to be ready for the unexpected!

 

[jhnewsome17]

Absolutely good advice in your in your recommendations. Two of the best pieces of advice I've ever received about gasoline engines are: 1) Use only non-ethanol gas, and 2) Always disconnect the fuel line and allow the engine to run ut of fuel at the end of each usage.

I'll add one more piece of advise and that is to always engage the engine in forward and reverse and couple times and give it some gas before releasing from the dock. I'd much rather find out I have a problem tied to the dock than drifting into another boat while frantically trying to crank the motor.

 

[Steve21992]

Dinghy Rules

I'll add one further piece of advice for those using a dinghy.

A couple of rules I always enforce.

1. Only one person standing and moving in a dinghy at a time.

2. Dinghy motor is running before casting off from dock or yacht.

3. Dinghy motor is kept running when approaching yacht or dock until contact is secure.

The ONLY exceptions to rules 2 and 3 are when approaching or launching from a sandy shore line.

 

[Ward H]

Being new to sailing, never thought about having a tow line. It does sound like a good idea. What length and size tow line should one carry on a 25' boat?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Ward, pretty much as big a line as can fit on your bow cleats.

Length should be at least 2 or 3 times the length of your boat, since you may need to tie the line around the mast at one time.

Hope you never have to use it.

OTOH, some folks insist, perhaps correctly so, that tows should be made from the hip. In that case, you'll need two lines and good fenders.

 

[Ross]

"Dead Stick Landing". What a wonderful name for a bar and restraurant on the water front.

 

[agprice22]

You are right! Great name for a bar!


My wife reminded me of our own dead stick landing.

We were motoring due South toward the marina entrance between a high rock jetty and a fuel dock when the motor stopped. We were being blown West by a 10-12 kt breeze. I frantically tried to restart the motor, which would kick over and stall as soon as I reduced throttle to shift into forward.

My wife caught hold of a piling and held us there when I went ahead and started the motor in foward. It caught, came to life, and sent us motoring into the marina, a little fast, but I figured that was better than nothing! We got enough momentum to carry us to our slip, where we performed our own dead stick landing! It went off without a hitch!

Whew! It taught me to run the motor dry of fuel EVERY time.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[Chariots]

Alway expect Murphy's Law

Helped a couple the other day. They were motoring into the marina in their 26 foot trailer sailer when their outboard quit. They were motoring from one marina to another, so their mast was down. They were in quite a panic. The decks were covered with rigging. the husband tripped and nearly fell overboard while coming forward to throw me a line. The heavy wind was blowing them toward rocks on the far side of the marina, and the husband couldn't get a 25 ft line to me... 30 ft away.

He realized his predicament, and he returned to work on starting the engine. Seemed like an idle jet clog with maybe dirty gas, too. The motor would start, rev, and die as soon as he reduced throttle to shift into forward.

The wife was panicky, so I told her to check for an anchor, make sure it was tied to a line, and lower it into the water under the bow pulpit, then tie it off.

She did; the anchor caught, and she immediately looked relieved. The husband got the motor started, and they asked me where their slip number was. I showed them where it was, and they got half way there when the motor quit again. They drifted in, and I eased them into the slip.

Lots to be learned here!

Are your decks tidy?
Where is your tow line?
How long is it?
Where is your anchor?
Is it ready to use?
When did you buy clean fuel?
Do you run the fuel out of the carb and lines every time?
Does your mate know how to sail or motor? If you go overboard, you will wish he/she did!
Do you know how to clear a clogged idle jet?
1. Remove the air "cleaner" and spray some starter spray or carb cleaner in the carb.
2. Start the engine ( it will rev above idle to start. The motor starts at about 35-40% throttle)
3. Rev the engine.
4. Put your hand over the carb to choke it while it is running at high rev.
5. Repeat #3 and #4 several times.

This will cause the engine to draw fuel forcibly through the idle jet. It may clear the clog.

6. If you are berthing in a new place, did you take time to find your new slip? This couple had dropped a car at the marina, but they didn't know where their slip was.

How well you prepare for an emergency will determine how comfortably you handle it. The couple in this story wasn't ready. They need to make friends with their boat again. Their boat was blushing a little after this episode. It was wishing for better prepared handlers. All these were little things, but they added up.

Me, I would have pulled myself to the dock with the anchor: throw it, pull myself forward, pick it up, repeat.

Andrew

I have always had problems with Ethenol which effects my 9.9 outboard. Now I always add Seafoam to the gas tank before the first departure. I will run the engine at idle for at least five minutes before taking in the lines. People are surprised when I shut down the engine I always disconnect the fuel line and let the engine run dry.

Robert
Chariots
Cal-25

 

[Blue Pearl Captain]

I never cease to be amazed at people who buy or board sailboats with zero knowledge of just the basics. There's little insight for the safety of others, themselves, or property. In fact, in this story the couple could easily have erred fatally. In our club, new members actually post comments of their screw ups, I guess to serve as a learning example. I wouldn't!

 

[MLampner]

Blue Pearl I am far from an expert sailor I freely share what I know and what I have learned from my own stupidity. Oddly, and this is nota criticism but the most accomplished sailor I know, in demand as crew for the Annapolis to Bermuda race, sailed the coasts of New Zealand and much of the waters on the barrier reef off Australia has ground my boat three times snagged the prop etc. I learn from my mistakes and his as well. He has more daring than I do as he has confidence in his skill. I do too but also know I don't go out when I don't think I can get back in.

Any sailor who has never done something dumb, dangerous or just plain stupid has either never left the dock or is just lying to him or her self. Sharing ones stupidity is a great way not to repeat the same mistake and to learn from others and hopefully teach others not to follow your lead.

I am a competent boat handler but with an infinite way for the wind ad water to interact I know I don't know it all and I won't go out with someone who claims to.

 

[Grizmaster7]

Blue Pearl We all had to learn, sailing lessons only last so long and your on your own. I learn from others posting and I hope they can learn from mine too. We all make mistakes hopefully no one gets hurt and we have valuable information. It's very hard to prepare for everything when you are a new sailor. But if you never get out and try you will never become a good sailor. I myself am thankful for those who post their mistakes, that one less that I have to make, because they did share their experiences.

 

[Nik]

Have a heaving line ready. 'Monkey Fists' are easy to make with practice, or just use a base ball and duct tape . I have one with about 100' of mason twine. Easy enough to tie to my anchor rode.

 

[ancientmariner]

1/ In any emergency, if anchoring was a possibility, I would then stay put until everything was tidied up and a plan was in place.
2/ I would normally offer a boat MY towline, as I feel it gives better control of the situation. Then the victim has only to secure the line, not find it. It seems that almost every time someone throws me a line for any reason it is too short, tangled, badly thrown, or all of the above.

Working on my boat in the slip one day, I noticed the ubiquitous First Purchase 25' Powerboat approaching, with Her at the helm and Him looking around for their slip. The wind was pushing the single-engine boat around, and there was a certain amount of bouncing off other boats. I could see that my boat might be next and scuttled along the dock with boathook extended and helped them into the first vacant slip.

Again, no forethought whatsoever. The boat had been purchased that afternoon and driven away from the sales dock. Weather had not been taken into consideration, and the couple were shivering in the wind and light rain, wearing shorts and Tshirts. There were no fenders or lines ready, there had been no practice maneuvering, and the notion that powerboaters should consider the effects of wind amazed them.

With time to dress appropriately,walk over to inspect their slip, and plan how to get there with fenders and lines in place, they calmed down enough to finish the journey. I took my boathook around to help them in, out of concern for their neighbours' boats.

 

[Nosidamt]

I did not see anyone with the suggestion to use a parachute (sea) anchor. With a small weight attached to it, you can throw it quite a ways in front of your bow and pull yourself easily with a small rope. Light weight, easy to use and small to store.

 

[Begynol]

A similar situation happened to me this past weekend. I sailed solo on my 25.5 Hunter, new engine, new gas tank, fresh gas with additive in the fuel. Had a great sail with no problems. I have been sailing 2 years.

As I cam upon my mooring ball, the stick was out of reach - My mistake as I should have had the boat hook available or arms about 2 feet longer. I motored around in a circle - approached the ball from downwind and against the current when the engine which had been running fine for last 15-20 minutes died.

I immediately started to drift backwards with the wind and the current - heading strait for the mooring field. I tried to restart the engine - quickly checked the fuel connections but all seemed OK but no start - did see some smoke. I had no time to troubleshoot further as the boat was picking up speed.

I tried to raise my main and sail out of the mooring field and figure out what the engine issue was but of course the main was stuck in the track and I couldn't raise the sail. I then ran forward - pulled anchor out and tried to set it .. by this time I drifted against another mooring ball and my rudder caught their lines. I set out my fenders between the two boats.

I called a friend on my cell, and pondered selling my sailboat as he came down to help me. We tied my boat to a dinghy - I easily pulled off the other mooring ball and was towed to my ball and tied on. Tried to re-start engine and it started easily.

We discussed what happened:

1. Always best to get the mooring the first pass if you can. Not always possible but have your hook-body-partner all ready for the best possible chance.

2. In the future I may come in luffing the main - ready to sail if I have any engine trouble at the wrong time. The rolling-furler was tucked away and would take too much time to raise jib.

3. Time trips so that you come in during more of a slack time which makes things infinitely easier if you are less experienced. Hudson current can exceed 6kts

4. Don't go alone if you can avoid it - especially if you are less experienced.

I think I actually healed the engine out of the water as I was coming in - enough that I overheated and the motor shut down.

Any thoughts from more experienced sailors would be most welcomed. I was a bit upset about this incident especially after such a good sail.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Any thoughts from more experienced sailors would be most welcomed. I was a bit upset about this incident especially after such a good sail.

Glad to hear it all worked out for you.

In answer to your question: Just like docking, picking up a mooring ball requires PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

Spend a half a day or an entire day doing nothing but. NOTHING.

Since most of us only dock or moor ONCE at the end of a day, there really isn't a lot of PRACTICE happening, is there?

Only YOU can get better at the maneuver, so go do it, A LOT.

That's what experience really means, isn't it?

Good luck.

 

[agprice22]

On the lake today. Wind blowing a gentle 7 to 10 knots. Man and 3 teens on a 29 foot sailboat motoring a Northerly heading. I was sailing about 2 - 3 knots, close hauled on a starboard beat in a Northerly heading and beared off the wind to a close reach in an Easterly heading to give him room as he was bearing down on me and readying to raise his sails, heading into the wind. He was about 300 ft from me, and he left the tiller to one of the teens, who apparently had no idea how to steer the boat or perhaps where the man wanted him to steer it. The teen came off the wind to the East as the man was trying to raise the sails. I was now only about 200 ft away, and other boat is now motoring and under sail, and bearing down on me. I tacked due South the give him room, and the helmsman again matched me. At this point, he is less than 100 feet away. I pulled out my horn, but thought better of it, since at this point I could simply yell to them. I yelled that I was trying to give them room, but they were chasing me all over the lake! They apologized. I quickly tacked due West, and the other boat did not follow and finally tacked back East, collision avoided!

This occurred only 10 minutes after I was sailing a starboard tack, close hauled to the North and crossing the course of a 33 foot sailboat bearing down on me from the West, sailing a port tack, close reach to the East. He approached at speed, and beared off at the last minute to pass about 30 - 40 ft to my stern. Due to my tack, my speed was slow, and my options were limited.

After the second near collision in 10 minutes, my wife congratulated me for handling the boat well, and she noted that had the first sailor been near the second sailor we encountered, there very well could have been a collision, as the one was willing to play chicken with his 33 footer, and the other couldn't control his boat.

Moral of the story: be ready to manuever, and don't assume the sailors around you know what they are doing! The first encounter was unnecessarily close by choice of the boat on the port reach. By the trim of his boat and sails, he clearly knew his stuff, but He should have beared off much earlier. He sailed under the assumption that I knew what I was doing. Had I panicked and tacked in front of him, we could easily have collided. The second sailer left the tiller to an inexperienced helmsman, or he failed to give that helmsman a bearing to follow, and so he steered whatever he pleased! His boat was a mess, sails flailing, lines and fenders dragging in the water. Looked like he and his crew had no plan or communication.

I sailed to other side of the lake. It was quieter, and we anchored and had lunch while watching the other boats dueling 2 miles back across the lake.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[Jumpstart]

If you have been sailing for long you probably have had to sail in to the dock at some time. Nobody practices the skill much but there are few things that can help.

Best tip is to have 2 collapsible canvas buckets on board. Tie a line on each and kick them off the transom as you are coming in to the dock. You would be surprised how quickly it slows the boat. Test it out with various line lengths to get the best stopping power for your boat.

If you have roller furling drop the main and control your speed on your approach by furling the sail as much as you need to control the speed.

Have crew near shrouds with line to catch dock post.

Lots of fenders.

If at all possible pick a slip to dock in which faces upwind.

In 35 years I have sailed into a dock about 4 times. Once in 25 knots at night by myself. Not for the faint of heart but you can do it if you learn how to control your boat speed.

 

[NotCook]

Andrew, you offered a lot of great advice in your initial post. Having an anchor ready to deploy whenever you are relying on the engine is important, taking care to clear an active channel before dropping it. We approach every trip into the marina (and out - essentially anywhere in a confined space) as if the engine is going to quit at the worst possible time. Nor do we rely on throwing a turn around a cleat to stop us at the dock. Unless it is a huge commercial ballard, we wouldn't expect a cleat to stop 39 tonnes at anything but dead slow.

We won't be able to "throw" our 75# Bruce with 5/8" chain far enough to make a difference, but the "kedge into the dock" with two anchors approach might be an option for some boats with lighter anchors.

On the otherhand, don't overlook the possibility of using your tender as a tug to pull you away from drifting into the rocks. That can even be an option in the short term by rowing, if a motor isn't available on the tender. Sometimes just putting the bow of the tender against the bow or stern of the vessel to "steer" or push around that end can be effective, as well as pulling the vessel away from the rocks.

Having thought through in advance what your options are with the resources at hand is invaluable preparation.

 

[NotCook]

If at all possible pick a slip to dock in which faces upwind.

Another good bit of advice here - in an "emergency", don't feel you need to put her in your own slip. The objective here is to get her to ANY dock - even a gas dock, commercial dock, or any place that allows you to tie up and prevent uncontrolled navigation into a hazard. You can always move it later, under better conditions, and when not facing potential "salvage" terms.