End Slip?

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Jan 13, 2013
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Hello, the harbor has offered me an end slip for my father's 42' sailboat. I don't have too much of a problem docking with 1-2 others, but this would make it very easy for my father if I'm not sailing with him. Actually, he has never even tried going out alone without me. And end slip would help me out when it blows near 30+ knots as well.

Someone once told me his boat rolled up over the floating dock on two separate occasions and suffered $20k of damage. Does anyone recommend against end slips? Are there other issues? I imagine the constant battering against the fenders would rub the wax off the hulls... I'm ok doing an extra wax job though. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
Nov 24, 2012
586
Somewhat difficult to reply without more details such as when and how it rolled up over the dock. How high is the floating dock off of the water? What direction is the prevailing wind? What kind of wave action is there in the harbor?

I am on an end dock and abeam of prevailing winds here on Lake Erie. Winds have gusted to 40+ while at the dock. I do have plenty of fenders out and they seem to work fine (our floating docks sit about 18'' off the water). I would recommend covers for the fenders - available at WM. The fabric covers keep the fenders from scouring the hull. Another precaution I take since the boat sits in a well with another 423 is to make sure the boat is offset from the other 423. That way in high winds when the boats are rocking back and forth there is little chance of the rigging getting tangled up.
 
Jan 13, 2013
3
Thanks for the info. I'm in a similar situation as you. I'm in Lake Michigan and the strong north winds will be hitting me into the dock in early summer and the fall. The dock also sits about 18" high. I believe a motor boat is on the other side of me. The covers for the fenders make sense. I appreciate you taking the time for your advice.
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
a fender board between two fenders and the dock would probaby help.
 

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
Its difficult for me to visualize a boat over riding a floating dock. The marina that I am familiar with has upright 6 x 6 posts bolted to the sides of the docks about ten feet apart. It seems that either a couple of well placed fender boards and/or fenders secured to the upright posts would prevent any override. When I bring my boat there, it is usually parked on an end dock while awaiting haulout, and after launch in the Spring.

Where I keep my boat, I moor to a seawall, and my boat will rock and roll in a SSW wind, but have had no seriuos issues.
 
Jan 13, 2013
3
Thanks Doug. Yeah, it is hard to imagine a boat could roll up. It's a 50' Hunter a few slips from me and has said that after two claims his insurance was cancelled. I can only guess he had limited fenders out, but you would think after the first incident he would have a boat load of fenders out. ;)
 
Mar 28, 2010
91
Catalina C320 Washington, NC
It's not so much the wind speed as it is the wave action that could damage the boat. And the boat doesn't have to go completely up onto the floating dock. Boat only has to make hard contact with hard surface on the dock. When things are really rocking and rolling in my slip (traditional fixed piling arangement), you definitely don't want to come into contact with anything hard, floating or fixed, and fenders have a good chance of working out of place. If you are subject to high wave action, you might be better off away from the end slip.
 
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