Docking in a slip

[stevewitt1]

small tidbit to add FWIW

Lots of great advice!

Look close at the suggestion to tie your OB to the rudder given that you will have to back out to starboard. Most prop walk is to port.

Another suggestion:

At a marina I frequent at times with a similar configuration of a pole at your stern between you and your neighbor i saw one slip that the boater tied lines from the pole towards the interior of the slip and back to a cleat halfway down the finger. A line attached to the forward center of that line lead to the main dock directly in front of the center of the boat forming a bridle of sorts. This V allowed the boater to motor up snug in the V but not reach the dock to impact it. I was told he was a single handed boater most of the time.
Just for what it's worth!

Steve
visit us at: www.ocontoyachtclub.com and www.warbirdsix.com

 

[kentobin]

slack tide and no wind.

have a couple of friends with you. one on the boat to handle the lines and make sure you don't rub the boat in the slip next to you and another on the dock to catch a line.

keep your boat speed down. as soon as you get close enough to your friend on the dock
through him a line. put boat in neutral. he should be able to pull you into the slip without any trouble. depending on the angle you're going into the slip you may have to watch out for the boat next to you. that's why I like two finger slips if available.

keep it as simple as possible the first time and worry about maneuvering and topics like stern walk later.

I like Practical Seamanship by Dashew but it references inboard engines and I have no idea if that will help you with an outboard.

 

[BrianH]

Lots of good advice all the way around. The one issue I had when I first started in sailing many years ago was understanding how the boat steers, that is to say, it steers from the back.

I have passed along a tip that I picked up somewhere and it helps when steering and docking: Go to the grocery store and push a shopping cart backwards. The pivot wheels are then in the back and the none pivoting wheels are in the front. Once you get a feel for that type of turning, you will get a much better understanding of how your boat turns and be able to make those adjustments when docking and undocking.

Oh and have FUN!!!

 

[bananabender]

Well you've had all the sensible replies which should get you safely into the slip. For an alternate rent 'Captain Ron' to see how it could be done

 

[Ross]

Start practicing in conditions as calm as you can get. I have been backing into the same slip for 12 years and some days I make it look like I know what I am doing and when the wind and tide are against me I look like a complete lubber.

 

[iSailor]

Another suggestion:

At a marina I frequent at times with a similar configuration of a pole at your stern between you and your neighbor i saw one slip that the boater tied lines from the pole towards the interior of the slip and back to a cleat halfway down the finger. A line attached to the forward center of that line lead to the main dock directly in front of the center of the boat forming a bridle of sorts. This V allowed the boater to motor up snug in the V but not reach the dock to impact it. I was told he was a single handed boater most of the time.
Just for what it's worth!

Steve
visit us at: www.ocontoyachtclub.com and www.warbirdsix.com

I am going to try that bridal idea for when I single hand!

 

[BoatlessAfterKatrina]

I will be moving off a mooring and into a slip. I need advice on how to dock, as I have never done this before. What is necessary and how to tie up? The slip is in a very protected area from the current and possibly the wind. See attached photo. The only slip coming available is seen on the right with a 28 foot Searay in it.

I just picked up a couple extra fenders and 110 feet on line from a consignment shop. All looks virtually new.

What else is needed? Any recommend literature is also welcomed.

Thanks,

Richie

A couple of points:

First, I single hand about half the time, and I back my Hunter 33 into the slip (that's a 10' beam going into a 12' slip).

It's important to prepare to dock when you're leaving the dock. Don't just 'cast off' and split, place your dock lines where you can easily retrieve them without a boat hook. The important one is the spring line (which for me is attached to the cleat on the dock and gets looped around my stern cleat). This is the line that stops the stern/bow from smashing into the pier.

Most important, however, is to maintain control of the boat at all times when docking. If that means coming to a dead stop, do it. If it means warping in using your pilings, do that. If you miss the mark and have to turn around and try all over again, do that. I generally drift in until the dock is abeam, then I turn up using the last bit of momentum and throw it into reverse, swinging the wheel around. The hard reverse for just a moment brings my stern in with the prop walk, and gives me steerage astern ASAP. It's just a short blast, then neutral again.

Don't be afraid to handle your pilings, generally fend, don't shove.

In short: Set up for your return as you leave the dock and maintain control (go slow) at all times.

 

[Boo Boo]

I thought I might have some practical tips on docking. Though I am no expert, I am relatively new to sailing and spent considerable time developing techniques, then coaching my timid wife how to dock; all in selfishness should something happen to me.

Find a dock with no other boats around it and practice as has been said. We used the visitor’s dock and did about 20 dockings to get the feel of maneuvering.

Get your lines ready. You should have a line attached to the aft of mid ship that is fairly long. The line should be brought forward and your dock assist should have it in hand as he/she gets off the boat. The line should be attached to the boat at the stern so that when it is placed over the first dock cleat, if the boat continues to move forward the bow of the boat will be drawn into the dock, not away from it and into your neighbour. There should be a bow line brought back and draped over the lifeline so it is easy to grab once the stern line is secure. Also remove your lifelines on the cockpit docking side if that can be done so you don’t trip over them. Your dock assist should stand outside the lifelines using a shroud for support. Last thing you want is to crush him when he trips trying to jump over the lifelines

Steer for the center of the opening. We found it very hard to judge how far off the dock we were and often would come too close. We had to fend off to avoid a strike. If you steer for the center of the opening, more than likely it will put you in the right place, and it is an easier mental adjustment as an aim point.

Pay attention to windage. Look at the windex of all the other boats already at dock. This will give you a good idea of how it will affect you as you approach and allow you to adjust.
Be aware of Prop-walk. We have an inboard motor and as we place it in reverse to slow down, the stern makes a significant move to port which is good for us since we dock on the port side.
We leave the prop in idle forward until we make our final turn, then put it in neutral. Momentum will give us steerage, but forward speed will be low enough to make it easier to stop. If the wind is strong from the nose, idle can be delayed so as not to slow too fast and lose steerage.
When the dock assist has secured the first line, he can move forward to the bow line. Once the engine is in neutral, you also can help.

This technique also works for us for single handed docking except there is not dock assist forward. Me, as driver, just makes sure the lines are ready as described above. I bring the boat to a stop more or less. A little forward momentum is ok because I will jump off, secure the rear line. If there is any forward momentum as the boat stops, the bow will move in and make it easy to grab and secure the bow line. The trick is to have a line attached at the rear of the boat, and use that first.

 

[cygnussailor]

Bring it in with just enough speed to have steerage. If it looks like you might hit the dock shift into reverse and bring it to a full stop. It's much better to bump against the dock at zero speed than to scrape the boat against it. You can usually tell, based on conditions, which side is most likely to give you trouble. Have crew ready to fend you off if necessary. Warn them not to commit any body parts that can't be gotten out of the way in a hurry! Bringing the boat to a full stop if you are going to hit the dock makes fending off very easy and should cause no damage to the boat. Figure out where the balance point of the boat is (usually about 2/3 of the way aft. A single aft spring line of the proper length, tied at the balance point, and dropped on the aft dock cleat as you go by is really all you need to complete the dockage procedure. Once that line is on the cleat just bring the boat to a stop when the line goes tight, then drop the motor back into forward and you can motor against that single spring line all day if you would like. Fenders are a mixed blessing...if you have an absolutely smooth dock such that the fenders can't get hung up on a piling or whatever, you can deploy fenders before docking. If however, your dockside surface is not absolutely smooth you are better off not deploying fenders beforehand. I only put out fenders early if the dock is so low (usually floating docks) that any contact with the dock will be made with the hull and not the toe rail/rub rail.

 

[chances r]

docking

Back you boat in its easier then it might appear. Phil

 

[minnella]

coming in to a slip

I will be moving off a mooring and into a slip. I need advice on how to dock, as I have never done this before. What is necessary and how to tie up? The slip is in a very protected area from the current and possibly the wind. See attached photo. The only slip coming available is seen on the right with a 28 foot Searay in it.

I just picked up a couple extra fenders and 110 feet on line from a consignment shop. All looks virtually new.

What else is needed? Any recommend literature is also welcomed.

Thanks,

Richie

Never jump or try to stop the boat....it's called momentum. I like to use a spring line from the end dock cleat to the center boat cleat...it becomes the spring line when tied up. It is adjusted to where I like the bow of the boat. I leave it tied to the dock at the proper length. When I am coming in I pick it up with a boat hook and drop it on the center boat cleat. This has the effect of stopping the boat short and drifting it to the dock even in a contrary breeze.

 

[rgranger]

I heard that it should not be called docking, but a control crash.

I've always said that docking is a spectator sport...

 

[Bob Cronin]

Docking a sailboat

I tried the same switch - unfortunately the only slip available had to be approached from the southwest the same direction as the prevailing winds. My C&C 24 is 'beamy'- 8'9" and I have a six HP OB. It did not go well. Going in with the engine in reverse limits your maneuverabilty - If my neighbor's boat had been in its slip - I would have hit it twice. I had bruised my 70 year old knee jumping off with dock lines in hand and had to give up on the whole thing and went back to my mooring. My only advice would be to make sure your slip is upwind from your approach.

 

[Cre8tve1]

questionable docking advice...

Go really fast then put the brakes on.

 

[LoveTwoSail]

Two additional notes:

I read through very fast, so I may have missed these in another posts.

1) Train the first mate to useful and comfortable in the docking procedure. Work together.

2) Get a good boat hook, preferably one with a loop at the end to grab the pilings if necessary.

 

[Buck 100]

Just go slow

Ritchie. It's just docking a sail boat, not brain surgery. Before you go in to dock, practice backing down to see how your boat reacts. Make a few practice runs. I think the secret is go slow.

 

[jespo463]

All passengers need to sit down - 1) so no one gets hurt and 2) so you can see. And do not get in a hurry...take your time. My dad owned a boat dealership, I've driven and docked lots of boats. But when I was about to dock my first sailboat he just sat back... My mom asked if he was going to help and he said "we won't always be here with her, she needs to do this by herself, she can do it...just take your time." I crept in that slip like a grandma but never had any problems. Have fun!

 

[msmalter]

If you have an outboard on the C22, it will be a piece of cake pulling in and out as you can turn the engine and don't have to worry about prop walk. The key to stopping the boat once you are in the slip is a spring line. With a line connected between a midship cleat and the piling at the stern of the slip, you can leave the engine idling in forward, and the boat will pull in parallel to the finger dock and stay there, even with a moderate cross wind.

 

[sailndays]

Well, one could go in strictly under your jib, then drop it and coast in..... Naw... Have crew jump on the dock and walk it in. Better yet, find a different marina. I would never rely on my motor for entering a slip safely. I've had my engine die and refuse to start when entering the marina. Then what would you do? Best learn how to approach a dock strictly under sail. Sea Scouts taught me that and saved my bacon more than once.

 

[Chathambreeze]

Catalina 22 are not heavy boats. Taking it slow and on approach in neutral. Throw into reverse entering slip to slow down and avoid hitting bow. Spring lines are usually for larger boats and need cleat midship. Lower lifeline on port side next to dock prior to approach. The dock lines should be cleared and free end should go under lifeline and brought up and over onto deck. Biggest mistake is to have likes cleared on boat. Our first attemp We needed them quickly and had trouble feeding them under lifelines.
Once you get comfortable think about backing in stern first. Will need to practice reverse out in open water near mooring to judge your prop walk.
Enjoy the challenge.