Docking alone

[Franklin]

I'm getting my boat (1997 376 hunter) soon. I used to sail a lot alone on my 21 ft and it was easy to get in and out once I got the floating continuation understood. Now that I'm getting a much bigger boat that is much heavier, I'm realizing it's going to be harder. Two questions...it is possible to dock by one's self, right? Any tips (other then don't hit the boat next to you ) you can give me on how to do this alone on a larger boat? Note: standard dock with a boat on one side and walkway on the other.

 

[Terry Cox]

Franklin, I frequently solo dock our P42 ...

Read and adjust for wind and current early. Slow and easy with the boat hook at the ready. I aim for a cleat to secure our midship dock line first, so that line is at the ready. Once I kiss the dock I stop forward motion and jump off to secure the line. Once she settles down I finish off with the rest of the lines.If wind and/or current present a hazard I tie up at the guest dock until conditions ease. No sense in banging up other boats just to get into our slip.Terry

 

[Daryl]

Docking

After you get comfortable with the new boat you will find most movement is predictable. Learn how to use the prop wash you get when using reverse. Your approach will vary depending on wind comditions. I always back in the slip so I get get off the boat sooner with the cockpit entering the slip first. Get a few ten inch fenders for both sides. Bumping you neighbors boat won't be bad with good fenders. I did it twice in ten years. Be sure to have your lines ready on the boat before you get to the slip. Dock boys or boat neighbors on the dock make it very easy. I added a mid ship cleat that was very helpful.

 

[BBC16385]

Nothing to it

I go alone on our P42 a lot. I don't dock at other places much unless I have to, like to take on fuel. I will anchor for overnight.But returning to your own slip is easy docking because you have already set your slip up for solo arrivals. The key to it is to NOT come it stern first. You must set up for bow in docking.My bow clears the outer poles at just under 1 kt. The engine is already in reverse at idle. The forward speed alows me to complete the turn into the slip without touching either side. The a strong reverse thrust stops the boat. I reach the starbord stern line hanging on the pole and drop it onto the cleat. That prevents the bow from touching the pier. The other lines are a snap. We have all our loops on the boat side of the line and the other ends are tied onto the dock cleats or poles and are adjusted there. The majority of boats do it the other way and I don't know why. They are always having to adjust lines onboard. We only have to adjust lines when a hurricane comes with a high tide. Otherwise, they are always set at the correct length.

 

[Warren M.]

Docking Solo

Every one has their favorite way for docking alone. Practice seems to be the key. Practice on a calm day and with crew at the ready. Tell the crew what you are going to do, but for them not to help unless they really need to fend you off or stop you from bumping something that doesn't need bumping. I also agree that going in bow first is MUCH easier. Also, practice reading the wind/tide conditions and how you think they will impact getting into your slip safely. A strong cross-wind or tide, just as you turn toward the slip, is going to create a challenge that you need to be ready for. Being surprised by your bow falling off at the last moment, and realizing you are not going to get into your slip, creates panic...or worse. If you have thought about this beforehand, it won't happen to you.One of the things that helps me a lot is having a port and starboard pre-measured line with a loop in the end on each of the aft pilings on my slip. As the bow enters the slip, I reach for one or other of these lines and simply drop it over a winch. Bingo. Boat stops just where I want it.

 

[V Peterson]

Docking and undocking alone

Lots of great advice here. Knowing how your boat will behave is key. How much speed to maintain steerage, what is turn radus at differnt speeds, do you have steeage when starting to back up, how severe is prop walk and in what direction, what does your stern do in reverse? Practice with someone onboard. Practice turning your boat 360 degrees in place (or as close as you can) using fwd/rev and prop walk affects until you feel confident. Can you turn it both directions? Mid deck cleats are great to have, keeps boat parallel to dock, I added one to the rail of my 37c. Learn about spring lines, I use one when leaving since my boat has a lot of prop walk in reverse (wrong direction for my current slip). Your docking situation and boat are unique and you will over time find what works best for you. Take it slow. Good luck

 

[Andy]

Keep in gear

With a boat on one side and a dock on the other, use to tie an "early line" and keep the boat in gear slowly (very slow). For example, if the dock is to port, have a bow line rigged to drop from port to dock cleat, return to helm, and put gear forward (assuming you have typical port direction prop wash, the stern will snugg to the dock while the bow line holds the bow off the other boat.If the dock is to stern, you will want a the bow line to lead aft; while in forward the stern will tuck to starboar against the dock.

 

[Don s/v Tellico]

Mid-ship Cleat?

The P.O. of my 93 37.5 installed heafty midship cleats - couldn't live without them. I use my boat solo extensively. With a line on the midship running back to the cockpit, I can pull to the dock, step out with the line and lasso the boat to the pier in just about any condition. (There are exceptions, but sometimes you just have to wait it out.)With either a bow or stern line you still have to do a fire drill to get the other end under control quickly. Miship will hold her just right and there's no rush. I won't ever do it again without a midship cleat.If you don't have them, add them. Mine are mounted just outboard of the inside salon speakers. The P.O. must have removed the speakers, reached in and bolted them down that way.Also, contrary to what some say here, I dock stern in, unless the wind/current is really bad. Just takes time, learn to use the gears when backing, rudder is pretty useless at the slow speed.

 

[Don12364]

Alligator Catcher

Franklin,Make one of these - see attached photo. 40" of garden hose, slit 6" from one end, pull old 1/2" diameter rope through and tie short end in a small bowline to form the noose. Get a 6' long garden cane and fatten the thin end with tape to make a nice slide fit in the end of the hose.Now, feed the tail of the rope through the base of your midships stanchion and take it to a winch. Leave the noose on the side deck. Approach the dock and stop the boat. Grab the cane, put the noose over a dock cleat, pull it tight and remove the cane. Smartly back to the winch, pull out all slack and even winch if necessary - or motor backwards or forwards to keep the boat alongside.Its done quicker than reading this.Been using this for years in all wind and current conditions. Also works well in hands of "The Admiral". Best not to risk loosing her just at the critical moment then finding you really are single handed.Best part - its FREE.

 

[sailgirl]

Cheater lines and dock boys

Our boat is on a floating dock that has full length fingers on one side of the boat. On the other side there is a piling between our slip and our neighbors. A dock neighbor of ours often single hands his H37 and and he showed us a tip that he uses to keep his boat inside his space. He runs what we call a cheater line from the outside piling to the dock cleat. When he goes out he moves the line from the cleat which is in the usual place on most slips to tie up the bow or the stern (depending on which way you pull in) to a cleat that he has installed on the dock that is about centered in the slip.(on the dock not the finger) The cheater line is now angled from the back piling to the center of the slip. He pulls bow in so the line will catch the bow and keep it from falling off onto his neighbor beside him. That frees him to secure the mid cleat or the stern line. We have added "dock boys" to our slip. These are made from pvc pipe that are attached to the finger portion of the dock. They have a hook on them to place your dock lines so when you come in they are up off the finger and can be grabbed easily and slipped on your cleats. This has eliminated the sometimes frantic attempts to grab the lines up off the dock with a boat hook or even the need to jump off the boat to get the line. As I said we are on a floating dock and usually pull bow in. If we decide to back in we simply don't move our cheater line over to the mid position on the dock. It will still keep the boat from falling off onto our neighbors side if the wind or current is working against us. I'm not sure if this set up would be of help in your situation or not but it sure works for us and when our neighbor comes into his slip alone it is a thing of beauty to watch!

 

[Franklin]

Thanks

First I want to say thanks all for the helpful advise. I feel much better now about sailing by myself in this boat. If anybody can do it, then I can too.Unfortunately, we don't have outpost between slips...just a finger on one side. Bummer because I like that idea of the angle. The Dock Boys idea is good too but I like the Alligator Catcher idea even better because it works on any dock, not just mine.I think the first thing I'm going to do is buy a bunch of those things you put on the side to protect against bumps because the very first time I will be trying it by myself. I will practice as much as I can in the open water before hand though...espeically the idea of pulling in bow first at just under 1 knot and then hitting reverse hard to stop the boat. If I can do that and use the Alligator Catcher, I should be fine....I hope Once again, thanks all.

 

[Jack W]

Dockarini

Someone just told me about an inexpensive new product which he thought was called "Dockarini"--I'm not sure if that's the correct spelling.It is basically the "alligator catcher" concept.I don't know who makes it or even if that's the correct name.Maybe someone on the forum knows about it.?

 

[Jack W]

Found it!

I found it!http://www.dockareni.com/

 

[pauljgrenon]

Docking Essay

Check out this link.. Very good information.

 

[Franklin]

Great article

I was going to try bow first docking but after reading that, I'm convinced stern is the way to go. I think I should be able to reach over and use the Aligator hook to put the mid-ship line down first without even leaving the wheel as the boat backs in. Then I can just crank way on the winch on that line and perfecto...I'm halfway docked already without even leaving the cockpit.

 

[Del Wiese]

mid ship cleat option

Assuming you have an aluminum slotted toe rail, I have an option to fastening cleats to the deck. I have a pair of lines that I use as spring lines when cruising. They have a plastic thimble spliced at one end and I use a Quick Link to connect the thimble to the toe rail. Gives me the flexibility to put them where I want them, and not use them when at home and don't need them.