Docking alone

[Franklin]

Just thought I would update you guys one how I set up my slip for docking my hunter 376 in a tight 38 ft slip.Run a line down middle to help protect my neighbors boat. Run a line just a few feet out from the dock (from the middle line to the finger). Pad that line with water pipe insulation and then wrap with clear insulation tape. Keep boat off of this when tied down (only used to prevent bow from running into dock when entering slip). Four bumpers on finger side of boat.This setup works great. I don't have to worry about putting it in reverse when coming in (that's where I usually end up messing up) or hitting the finger or hitting my neighbor's boat. When timed just right, the boat is bearly moving when the bow hits the stopping line, but with still enough speed to provide steering coming into the slip. Once it hits the line, it seems to just sit there and say...hook me up

 

[patrick]

How do you run the line

"down the middle"? Do you tie it to your neighbors boat or do you have a piling there?

 

[Franklin]

Piling

Run it from the piling.

 

[David Ochoa]

Marina

Where you at Franklin, like to see your setup to see if it'll work for me. I'm in a 50 ft slip.

 

[Franklin]

My slip

Send me an email to FranklinGray@Gmail.com and we can meet up sometime. I'm out there just about every weekend.

 

[frank arndorfer]

Have a plan

In my early days of flight school, an instructor had a saying:"Takeoffs are optional; landings are mandatory."That always made pretty good sense to me. I've used it every time we take our boat out. before untying, a docking plan is reviewed by myself and whomever else happens to be with me. Lots of practical aids to help in docking but the proper mental approach should be first and foremost.

 

[t rahaim]

king of the spring line

here is a link to the best explanation of docking i have found yet

 

[SoupyT]

Good idea

I've been contemplating a line at the end of my slip in much the way Franklin describes, now I shall rig one and see if it works.Thanks to the person who provided the link to Jack Klang's little book, very handy. I always enjoy Jack's presentations for Quantum, and look forward to catching him this weekend at Strictly Sail.However, as the definitive guide to docking, he loses out to David Owen Bell (Dockmanship). That book has guided me through docking (and not destroying sailboats, outboard dinghys, sterndrive ski boats, and my last boat, a 10 ton twin screw.Also, you have to chuckle at Jack's three rules of docking. At my marina, 50% of us have to dock downwind. I've got used to it, and I tend to disagree with his statement that you can't steer while being blown downwind by wind alone.