I have found that I can dock my boat by my self the best. I am a single handed sailer(I sail A Hunter 40). I have it down to a science. I have both sturn lines hung on the out side post which i put in the way out of dock,I then hook the lines on the way into the slp and I cleat them off as soon as possble and the rest is a piece of cake. I always seam to have problems when someone the dock trys to help.This took a full summer of pratice but it works for me, by the way I do pull in bow first. Pratice, it works.
Dock thy self !!!
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Docking
As a long time single hander docking alone is second nature to me. I cleat off the bow and stern lines, put the fender over and bring the boat in. Dockside help, while appreciated, is not wanted. I come in at a 45 degree angle to the dock, when the dock is no longer visable over the bow quarter, I straighten the boat along side of the dock and I am in. It is a simple matter to jump off and connect the bow or stern line first, depending on time wind etc. After both lines or connected it is a simpple matter to adjust, add spring linews, adjust how high or low the fenders or to the water. Connect the shore power and I am in. I sailed from RI to Fl this last summer and have had to adjust this a little as they tie off between poles vs. floating dock. I installed hooks on all 4 pilings and have the dock line on the. I come in setting up for wind or tide (again the angle in a running tide or heavy wind seem to always be 45 degrees to the side I intend to grab,) and pick up the stern line connect it, go to the gow and repeat the process. One connect I connect the other side bow and stern, connect springs and shore power and I am done. Jim
As a long time single hander docking alone is second nature to me. I cleat off the bow and stern lines, put the fender over and bring the boat in. Dockside help, while appreciated, is not wanted. I come in at a 45 degree angle to the dock, when the dock is no longer visable over the bow quarter, I straighten the boat along side of the dock and I am in. It is a simple matter to jump off and connect the bow or stern line first, depending on time wind etc. After both lines or connected it is a simpple matter to adjust, add spring linews, adjust how high or low the fenders or to the water. Connect the shore power and I am in. I sailed from RI to Fl this last summer and have had to adjust this a little as they tie off between poles vs. floating dock. I installed hooks on all 4 pilings and have the dock line on the. I come in setting up for wind or tide (again the angle in a running tide or heavy wind seem to always be 45 degrees to the side I intend to grab,) and pick up the stern line connect it, go to the gow and repeat the process. One connect I connect the other side bow and stern, connect springs and shore power and I am done. Jim
Practice practice and Stern too!
Somewhere in an old scrap book I have a picture of no less than 10 dockmates trying to help us dock stern to in a strong cross wind. After a zillion tries we final pulled in forward and swung the boat with long lines. But now after 10 years I feel pretty confident (knock knock on teak) coming in single handed stern to. Like the others, sometimes you can get too much help. I alway appreciate dockmates that catch me after I am well in the slip or handing over a line. But the worse think anyone can do to a stern docker is stop the boat "too soon" like in the before mentioned crosswind. And it usually happens with people on board. My rule-clear the decks, stay seated and keep hands and feet inside the vessel until we have come to a complete stop AT THE DOCK. Thank you and have a nice flight home!
Somewhere in an old scrap book I have a picture of no less than 10 dockmates trying to help us dock stern to in a strong cross wind. After a zillion tries we final pulled in forward and swung the boat with long lines. But now after 10 years I feel pretty confident (knock knock on teak) coming in single handed stern to. Like the others, sometimes you can get too much help. I alway appreciate dockmates that catch me after I am well in the slip or handing over a line. But the worse think anyone can do to a stern docker is stop the boat "too soon" like in the before mentioned crosswind. And it usually happens with people on board. My rule-clear the decks, stay seated and keep hands and feet inside the vessel until we have come to a complete stop AT THE DOCK. Thank you and have a nice flight home!
Always go slow
Rule #1 Go slow when docking Rule#2 Remember rule #1 If you practice docking forward and backward it is all very simple when you contol your speed...even with the wind off your bow.
Rule #1 Go slow when docking Rule#2 Remember rule #1 If you practice docking forward and backward it is all very simple when you contol your speed...even with the wind off your bow.
tides
My wife and I have finally got a system down for docking our 46' morgan in our slip. We tie a long dual spring line on the dock side and as we come in grab and connect that. that stops forward and reverse motion as my wife grabs that line I grab the stern and tie that off that stops swing. from then on its just tieing the rest and adjustments...all of our lines are marked to the correct adjustment legnth with black marker. just pull the line in to that mark and we are done. Going Slow IS key however you must keep flow across your rudder or you have no control....Our problem is when the tide is going out of our river the current will go in the same direction we are docking...at these times I play a game of throtle trying to keep water rushing over the rudder and maintain steerage......or I can drift into the slip.....however that doesnt give me any controle if I miss judge the pilings. Practice,,,practice..practice.....and good bumpers!
My wife and I have finally got a system down for docking our 46' morgan in our slip. We tie a long dual spring line on the dock side and as we come in grab and connect that. that stops forward and reverse motion as my wife grabs that line I grab the stern and tie that off that stops swing. from then on its just tieing the rest and adjustments...all of our lines are marked to the correct adjustment legnth with black marker. just pull the line in to that mark and we are done. Going Slow IS key however you must keep flow across your rudder or you have no control....Our problem is when the tide is going out of our river the current will go in the same direction we are docking...at these times I play a game of throtle trying to keep water rushing over the rudder and maintain steerage......or I can drift into the slip.....however that doesnt give me any controle if I miss judge the pilings. Practice,,,practice..practice.....and good bumpers!
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