First Dock Bite *cry

[Scott B]

Tried docking at the pump-out dock on Saturday in a strong cross wind blowing off the dock and managed to swing the bow in and take a smilie off the bow. *yks Kinda feels like the first ding on that new car.

Looks like I'll have to do some research and do some touch-up repairs this fall or next spring not to mention brushing up on my skills at docking with the wind blowing off the dock.

 

[Ross]

Scott, Ouch!! Practice you boat handling BEFORE

you make the repairs. These durn boats are like computers --- They have a mind of their own and do as they please sometimes.

 

[Mike B]

Join the club

Join the club, even being as careful as you can be we've all bounced now and then.

 

[Jim]

There will more that is why

they sell gel-coat repair kits.

 

[Chuck Creel]

Dock Bite

Well your not alone i promise and there will be more if you keep the boat.
I have been a tugboat captain for over 12 yrs and remember well my first docking at a strange marina. Wind kicked up abt 15-20 cross wind as i was trying to get in slip. Right next to a beautifull cat320 all nice and shiny. Had it not been for fenders and help from the other boat, could have been nasty.

Quite embarrasing to say the least considering the license i hold.


Just enjoy the boat and the boat handling will come with time.

Fair Winds

 

[Ross]

It happens to the best.

The Amtrak bridge here is protected by heavy timber on the stone supports. Last year about 20 of the timbers were crushed by a gravel barge.

 

[Scott B]

I know more will come

but the first always hurts the most.

I gave up being embarassed last year and try to learn with each new experience. This one wasn't as high on the red-face scale as trying the same manouver at the town dock at Killarney with lots of people on shore watching me try to dock single handed.

I did look at this manouver at the Sailing US site and how to cleat off your bow line towards the stern and power into the dock, but that was last winter and with so much new info to absorb this one went away with the diminishing brain cells.

 

[Mike B]

Using a spring line

Scott using a spring line is a great way to get yourself into and out of tight spots. It takes practice and unfortunately no two times ever seem to be the same. Getting your crew to handle the line properly is a challenge. Getting a dock hand to do the same is near impossible. Some (few) marinas train their people and it shows. Most only keep them for a summer and they're gone. Most everyone thinks you have to over tighten the lines to make them work for you but in most cases it's the wrong thing to do. Just remember to make the boat work for you. Know how she'll react in all conditions and you'll dock like a pro. Nothing like pulling into a slip or up to a dock in a good wind with an audience. Do a good job and watch the crowd disappear. They'll be too embarassed, knowing they could never pull it off, to hang around.
Mike

 

[TimCup]

what chance do I have?!?

every time someone screws up docking their boat, it's their incompetence, at least it feels that way. The admiral would be less embarrassed if her top fell off than she is when I make a "less than perfect" docking. I like the old flying expression- any landing you can walk away from is a good landing!

I believe bow thrusters should be standard equipment on anything over 15 feet (oh yeah, I've got issues!!). Until then, I recognize the difference between my truck and my boat-

My truck has no issues with tide, unless I'm washing it with Tide..

My truck has no issues with wind, until the weatherstripping wears out...

My truck has BRAKES, so I can stay perfectly still as long as I want (hate those crowded fule docks)...

My truck has "park" so when it's in the perfect position, I can just throw it into it, and never move!

My truck can pull out sharply without the back hitting something...

No painted lanes, no painted parking spaces... how can ANYONE be expected to drive these things?!?

So, getting back to my title. My truck is so much easier to operate. And I still backed into a tree last month... I got no chance!


cup

 

[Ross]

Cup, you must pour a rum libation into the water for Neptune

at regular intervals. Filtering it through you kidneys is permissable. ;D

 

[TimCup]

Ross- I really like the sound of that-

particularly the "regular intervals" part!*!

cup

 

[BobM]

I wimped out

I needed a pump out after a three day trip. I stopped by the harbormaster's office and they told me to bring it over to the dock. I thought this was the new arrangement as I heard they lost their pump out boat to an accident a year or two ago. I didn't want to do it without one other experienced person on board, just in case and I was hoping for mild weather. The my friend told me they had a new pump out boat so I just called them to the mooring. Whew...trauma avoided. Of course my boat is a heck of a lot older than yours, but still don't want to damage it. Maybe we can start a trend...they make this keel guard stuff...we can get them to make us something for the bows of our boats for just such occasions. If we all do it we will be brilliant...if just one of us does it he'll just be "that idiot."

Solidarity brothers,

 

[sinnettc]

I feel your pain . . .

2nd or 3rd time out with the new boat (2001 Catalina Capri 22) we managed to get blown cockeyed backing out of our slip. I'm pretty sure the scratch on the side wasn't there when we bought the boat - which means the neighbor's outboard did get me. *sigh*

Chris

 

[sailaway78]

That first little ding

on a new boat is almost a welcome. Not only is it a badge of honor, but now you can quit worrying about putting the first scratch on it.