First Mishap

[Bill Roosa]

My least favorite part is docking in a new marina and I've got everything mostly under control then the depth alarm goes off at the most inoppertune time.

 

[Bigjer40]

Insurance?

I have a boatload of insurance on my slipped boats. Pardon the pun. Whatever I ruffle is covered up to seven figures. My agent is a member here. Say, you may have hit his boat! lol

If you do not have insurance, get it. Get lots of it. Costs nothing in the scheme of things.

Mine is thru State Farm. I'm going to really look into the coverage for future incidents!

 

[sling]

Does any one know whear I can get a furly

 

[sling]

For a 33.5 hunter

 

[Dmac336]

Ahhh....we have all been there...last year 2x for me... once pulling back into slip downwind, downcurrent ... after coasting down river and into basin, between my pilings, engaging quick bursts in reverse ...I still could not slow down and smashed into dock...cracked gel coat but nothing more.... it was everyone popping out of their boats looking for the cause of the loud dock shake and realizing I was the culprit that hurt the most...

second time, I was pulling out in forward ... with gear engaged, aft of boat passed pilings and I began to turn to port.... but no response as boat kept going straight- towards a pristine Bristol 40 whose owner happened to be watching from his cockpit...put her in neutral but momentum was now not on my side as I drifted towards my snarling neighbor - at one point, I swear he stood up and waved his arms like judge Smails did as Rodney Dangerfield was about to crush the Flying Wasp in Caddyshack ... panic having set in, I realized I had neglected to untie my wheel - so rudder is not swinging at slip... I get it untied and turn hard to starboard, barely missing a stern on stern collision... smile and act like I was not worried.. power up and do a 180 in basin barely missing more boats as I right the ship and head out for the day with my tail between my legs....

 

[Tally Ho]

The note about coming in with a bit of speed to overcome wind is valid...[\quote]

My son and I took sailing lessons 2 years ago, and we spent a lot of time on dock and harbor work. My son is fearless and volunteered to take the first turn docking the boat. I thought he was coming in a bit too fast, but hey, I was paying for the instructor to instruct, so I kept my mouth shut...the skipper started telling him "more reverse power...MORE REVERSE POWER" and all I could think about was the concrete pier we were about to run into...but luckily the charter guys were probably used to this and had rigged a rope between the 2 pilings, which absorbed the speed and kept us from hitting the dock. Whew!

I bought a Hunter 280 last year and spent the first part of the season trying to get used to it, and worrying every time I went out or came back into the slip. My slip neighbor has a new Hunter 33...so I am usually happy when he is out and I don't have to worry about his boat. I wanted to back into the slip to do some work, and my neighbor and his wife were getting to head out for a sail. Jack is always ready to lend a hand, so he came over to grab a line. His wife and little dog were sitting in the perch seat waiting to go and my wife was with me. Jack said "might be a bit tricky with this cross wind (blowing me into his boat). I started backing, things were looking good, and then I thought...coming in to fast and let off the throttle...and sure enough, started drifting right for the stern corner of Jack's H33, and his wife in the perch. A very tense couple of seconds as I weighed my options, and finally put it back into forward and pulled out with inches to spare.

My heart was pounding, both our wives were pretty excited, but Jack says "you had it, just don't let off the throttle next time". So I gathered all of the courage I could muster, started the run again and kissed her right up against the finger pier .... No Problem ;-)

But I may rig up that safety line... my 2 sons want to take the boat out while I am at work ;-(

Greg

 

[Bigjer40]

Ahhh....we have all been there...last year 2x for me... once pulling back into slip downwind, downcurrent ... after coasting down river and into basin, between my pilings, engaging quick bursts in reverse ...I still could not slow down and smashed into dock...cracked gel coat but nothing more.... it was everyone popping out of their boats looking for the cause of the loud dock shake and realizing I was the culprit that hurt the most...

second time, I was pulling out in forward ... with gear engaged, aft of boat passed pilings and I began to turn to port.... but no response as boat kept going straight- towards a pristine Bristol 40 whose owner happened to be watching from his cockpit...put her in neutral but momentum was now not on my side as I drifted towards my snarling neighbor - at one point, I swear he stood up and waved his arms like judge Smails did as Rodney Dangerfield was about to crush the Flying Wasp in Caddyshack ... panic having set in, I realized I had neglected to untie my wheel - so rudder is not swinging at slip... I get it untied and turn hard to starboard, barely missing a stern on stern collision... smile and act like I was not worried.. power up and do a 180 in basin barely missing more boats as I right the ship and head out for the day with my tail between my legs....

Wow! That is as close as it gets!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bigjer40]

The note about coming in with a bit of speed to overcome wind is valid...[\quote]

My son and I took sailing lessons 2 years ago, and we spent a lot of time on dock and harbor work. My son is fearless and volunteered to take the first turn docking the boat. I thought he was coming in a bit too fast, but hey, I was paying for the instructor to instruct, so I kept my mouth shut...the skipper started telling him "more reverse power...MORE REVERSE POWER" and all I could think about was the concrete pier we were about to run into...but luckily the charter guys were probably used to this and had rigged a rope between the 2 pilings, which absorbed the speed and kept us from hitting the dock. Whew!

I bought a Hunter 280 last year and spent the first part of the season trying to get used to it, and worrying every time I went out or came back into the slip. My slip neighbor has a new Hunter 33...so I am usually happy when he is out and I don't have to worry about his boat. I wanted to back into the slip to do some work, and my neighbor and his wife were getting to head out for a sail. Jack is always ready to lend a hand, so he came over to grab a line. His wife and little dog were sitting in the perch seat waiting to go and my wife was with me. Jack said "might be a bit tricky with this cross wind (blowing me into his boat). I started backing, things were looking good, and then I thought...coming in to fast and let off the throttle...and sure enough, started drifting right for the stern corner of Jack's H33, and his wife in the perch. A very tense couple of seconds as I weighed my options, and finally put it back into forward and pulled out with inches to spare.

My heart was pounding, both our wives were pretty excited, but Jack says "you had it, just don't let off the throttle next time". So I gathered all of the courage I could muster, started the run again and kissed her right up against the finger pier .... No Problem ;-)

But I may rig up that safety line... my 2 sons want to take the boat out while I am at work ;-(

Greg

I'm a chicken, I changed slips!!!!!!!

 

[Bigjer40]

I am so happy to report that my slip neighbor called me tonight and no damage to his boat! What a load off my shouders!!!!!!!!!! Lesson learned!

 

[Sail123]

John C:

Reading this thread, two things come to mind

Will you help me navigate in and out of the docks and can I raise my insurance? Lol