I have the somewhat unfortunate luck of having a slip which is usually to leeward (to the north in this case). The slips on the other side of the dock are protected from northwinds, and can use the southwinds to slow their entry into their slips. In my case, I have a relatively narrow approach to my slip (actually, the approach space is adequate, when the powerboaters aren't stacked up at the club, which lies just behind my slip). Sunday, after wrestling with my 26.5 in winds too strong for my skill level, I motored back to my slip. I missed my initial pass, then reversed back out to try again. Each time that I got back far enough to attempt my approach, the wind would force me back to straight down wind (I needed to be about 25 degrees off of downwind to make the cut). Even under power, I was not able to get lined up properly. The wind ended up pushing me very close to the fingers from other slips (other sailors prevented the collision). They mentioned that several things contributed to my situation - high freeboard, small rudder, fixed outboard, strong wind with a leeward slip, and a crowded approach area (of course, they didn't state the obvious fact that I need much more docking practice). Have any of you had this problem with the 26.5 or another Hunter? Do you have any suggestions on how to overcome this situation (other than the obvious - practice, practice, practice)? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Jason Hunter 26.5 sail #888
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Rudder/motor connection....
Jason, One thing that will make a BIG difference is to get one of those devices that connect the motor and rudder together so that you have directed thrust from the OB. There is a nice setup posted in the photo archives of a homemade version. Hope that helps! Tom
Jason, One thing that will make a BIG difference is to get one of those devices that connect the motor and rudder together so that you have directed thrust from the OB. There is a nice setup posted in the photo archives of a homemade version. Hope that helps! Tom
Warping may work.
If you have help,and if I understand your situation, and if you have a piling, Try warping into the slip. Tie a dock line to your bow cleat on the dock side. Come in close to the dock piling and wrap the line (DON’T TIE) around it. This will stop the forward movement of the bow so that it can now only move in a circle around the piling at the radius of the line. Power forward and slightly (stern) away from the dock. The line will force the bow to swing into the slip and the stern should follow. You should be able to turn into a slip with less than a boatlength of clearance. Also… Practice, practice, practice.
If you have help,and if I understand your situation, and if you have a piling, Try warping into the slip. Tie a dock line to your bow cleat on the dock side. Come in close to the dock piling and wrap the line (DON’T TIE) around it. This will stop the forward movement of the bow so that it can now only move in a circle around the piling at the radius of the line. Power forward and slightly (stern) away from the dock. The line will force the bow to swing into the slip and the stern should follow. You should be able to turn into a slip with less than a boatlength of clearance. Also… Practice, practice, practice.
Sailboat Judo
Boats turn better one direction than another. Has to do with the direction the prop turns. The trick is learning to use these forces, instead of fighting them, a kind of "Sailboat Judo". "Chapman's Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling" explains how to use these forces to work for you instead of against you. It also shows how to use spring lines to get you in and out of awkward places (against the current, against the wind, cross-winds, etc. etc.) when nothing else will work. Highly recommended. Read it over, practice a bit, and everyone else in the marina will think you're a pro!
Boats turn better one direction than another. Has to do with the direction the prop turns. The trick is learning to use these forces, instead of fighting them, a kind of "Sailboat Judo". "Chapman's Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling" explains how to use these forces to work for you instead of against you. It also shows how to use spring lines to get you in and out of awkward places (against the current, against the wind, cross-winds, etc. etc.) when nothing else will work. Highly recommended. Read it over, practice a bit, and everyone else in the marina will think you're a pro!
Know right where you are
I think. No piling there if I recall, but you can do the same thing Ernie suggests with a deck cleat on the pier finger. The trick is doing one of two things: 1) getting someone off the boat and onto the pier or 2) getting someone at the bow to get a bight around the cleat. The latter can be done with a boat hook. This past weekend's wind makes both difficult. For powering in, the ability to turn the motor with the rudder or at least at the same time as the rudder (one hand on the motor and one on the tiller) is a major help. You can beef up the protection on your slip for practicing purposes. Normally you would enter/turn into your slip at .5-1.5 knots, but in high wind, you might try being at 2.5-3.5 knots when you make the turn. I agree, "slow" is usually your friend, but in higher winds, it's more of an acquaintance. The key is to get the bow committed into the slip. Once committed, you will have a crewmember (if available) with bowline already in hand, ready to step onto the pier (not jump) and provide additional steerage for you. You want to tell your crew not to pull too hard or you will have even less control; their job is to merely keep the bow in the center of the slip. In any case, it is never wise to rely on reverse to stop your boat. I suggest you use a buoy on the lake somewhere to really get a good handle on exactly HOW your boat handles in the same situation. Try several methods of coming to a complete stop and holding the boat against the wind for several seconds dead windward of the buoy. With slight propwalk and lots of rigging, it's a really fun challenge.
I think. No piling there if I recall, but you can do the same thing Ernie suggests with a deck cleat on the pier finger. The trick is doing one of two things: 1) getting someone off the boat and onto the pier or 2) getting someone at the bow to get a bight around the cleat. The latter can be done with a boat hook. This past weekend's wind makes both difficult. For powering in, the ability to turn the motor with the rudder or at least at the same time as the rudder (one hand on the motor and one on the tiller) is a major help. You can beef up the protection on your slip for practicing purposes. Normally you would enter/turn into your slip at .5-1.5 knots, but in high wind, you might try being at 2.5-3.5 knots when you make the turn. I agree, "slow" is usually your friend, but in higher winds, it's more of an acquaintance. The key is to get the bow committed into the slip. Once committed, you will have a crewmember (if available) with bowline already in hand, ready to step onto the pier (not jump) and provide additional steerage for you. You want to tell your crew not to pull too hard or you will have even less control; their job is to merely keep the bow in the center of the slip. In any case, it is never wise to rely on reverse to stop your boat. I suggest you use a buoy on the lake somewhere to really get a good handle on exactly HOW your boat handles in the same situation. Try several methods of coming to a complete stop and holding the boat against the wind for several seconds dead windward of the buoy. With slight propwalk and lots of rigging, it's a really fun challenge.
"Things That Work"
Sail Magazine's Things That Work book has some good suggestions which I may try myself. On page 36 they show a slip with a taut line strung across the front of the slip, a little ways back from the dock, which helps stop the boat. Additionally, taut lines are run fore and aft on each side of the boat to help keep the boat centered in the slip. The fore-and-aft lines are mounted to cleats on the dock that are close together, so the lines form a wedge as they go out to the aft ends of the finger piers or pilings (which ever may be the case). I know that none of this helps you with the difficult manuevering required to enter the slip itself, but maybe this system will make it so you don't have to enter so perfectly. One less thing to worry about. Also, remember that the boat can be better controlled if you have some centerboard down. I dock in fairly shallow water and having the centerboard up makes it all the more difficult. Ron Mehringer S/V Hydro-Therapy
Sail Magazine's Things That Work book has some good suggestions which I may try myself. On page 36 they show a slip with a taut line strung across the front of the slip, a little ways back from the dock, which helps stop the boat. Additionally, taut lines are run fore and aft on each side of the boat to help keep the boat centered in the slip. The fore-and-aft lines are mounted to cleats on the dock that are close together, so the lines form a wedge as they go out to the aft ends of the finger piers or pilings (which ever may be the case). I know that none of this helps you with the difficult manuevering required to enter the slip itself, but maybe this system will make it so you don't have to enter so perfectly. One less thing to worry about. Also, remember that the boat can be better controlled if you have some centerboard down. I dock in fairly shallow water and having the centerboard up makes it all the more difficult. Ron Mehringer S/V Hydro-Therapy
Practice makes sense
I think that your statement that you need practice makes the most sense. I was planning a two week trip on the coast in my 240 and had the same scenes happen to me. So,I picked up my books(chapmans,ect) and went in search of other slips to practice with. Learn how your boat stops, turns and backs down. This will help you in ways you would never imagine. You will be surprised at the outcome. I dock in a similar situation, last slip in a crowd. Last time out I had high winds so I put my friend on the dock ahead of us, so that he was there to "soften the blow" All said, yours will never be a boat that is easy to dock! Russell s/v Summer Luvin'
I think that your statement that you need practice makes the most sense. I was planning a two week trip on the coast in my 240 and had the same scenes happen to me. So,I picked up my books(chapmans,ect) and went in search of other slips to practice with. Learn how your boat stops, turns and backs down. This will help you in ways you would never imagine. You will be surprised at the outcome. I dock in a similar situation, last slip in a crowd. Last time out I had high winds so I put my friend on the dock ahead of us, so that he was there to "soften the blow" All said, yours will never be a boat that is easy to dock! Russell s/v Summer Luvin'
Re: Taut line across the front of the slip
Not a bad idea to put a bumper (or bumpers, plural) in the middle of that line so you're not going directly against bare rope. They make bumpers you can pass a line through, then make knots at the opposite outboard ends to keep them in a centered position. If you go in a bit "hot", they will help cushion your landing. Oh, and make sure the line is made fast to strong dock cleats that are bolted through...
Not a bad idea to put a bumper (or bumpers, plural) in the middle of that line so you're not going directly against bare rope. They make bumpers you can pass a line through, then make knots at the opposite outboard ends to keep them in a centered position. If you go in a bit "hot", they will help cushion your landing. Oh, and make sure the line is made fast to strong dock cleats that are bolted through...
Lee shore slip
I've certainly had fun at the docks on SF Bay. I have a great slip now but I didn't before. Had inner tube at dock at first to soften unexpected harder than expected landings. Then made certain bow lines were length of boat less 1 foot so can't get caught in prop. You can use lines when wind is too hearty to bring your boat in safely. Also, skip the tiller and tie it off and work strictly off your outboard. You have much more control. Then, get on the list for a better slip!
I've certainly had fun at the docks on SF Bay. I have a great slip now but I didn't before. Had inner tube at dock at first to soften unexpected harder than expected landings. Then made certain bow lines were length of boat less 1 foot so can't get caught in prop. You can use lines when wind is too hearty to bring your boat in safely. Also, skip the tiller and tie it off and work strictly off your outboard. You have much more control. Then, get on the list for a better slip!
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