Newbie question with the disclaimer that the thought of docking my boat brings great anxiety. Walking around my marina today I noticed a few boat had horizontally-placed fenders permanently fixed to their floating dock rather that have a vertically-placed fenders hanging from lifelines, etc. To my inexperienced mind, I like the idea of the permanent horizontal fenders on the dock, one less thing I need to worry about. Wondering what the experienced minds think?
Horizontally placed dock fenders
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horizontal fenders
It makes an awfully big difference what your situation is. if you are on a floating dock, you can tie up and stay very confident of your position relative to the dock. If you are on a fixed dock, the tide range becomes a major consideration and you have to allow for it. The other variable is the kind of dock structure. If it has pilings, like mine does, then regular vertical fenders don't do much good. If the boat moves close to the dock, the piling will just push the fender out of the way and eat up your boat. I have used mooring whips for a number of years to avoid the need for fenders altogether. before I had the whips I usually had a combination of fenders strung horizontally, using lines on both ends, and fender boards. You can buy the ends for fenderboards relatively cheaply, and stuck on a length of 2x3 they do a very effective job. This year I decicided to try some flat fenders as well.
It makes an awfully big difference what your situation is. if you are on a floating dock, you can tie up and stay very confident of your position relative to the dock. If you are on a fixed dock, the tide range becomes a major consideration and you have to allow for it. The other variable is the kind of dock structure. If it has pilings, like mine does, then regular vertical fenders don't do much good. If the boat moves close to the dock, the piling will just push the fender out of the way and eat up your boat. I have used mooring whips for a number of years to avoid the need for fenders altogether. before I had the whips I usually had a combination of fenders strung horizontally, using lines on both ends, and fender boards. You can buy the ends for fenderboards relatively cheaply, and stuck on a length of 2x3 they do a very effective job. This year I decicided to try some flat fenders as well.
Good Idea
I use a variation of what you saw. I have three round buoys on a line along my dock. It is great to never have to mess with fenders! I am in a lake and at a floating dock. It amazes me that not everyone does this, it is so much easier. Be sure to carry a few fenders on the boat just in case you need to dock somewhere else or raft up with another boat.
I use a variation of what you saw. I have three round buoys on a line along my dock. It is great to never have to mess with fenders! I am in a lake and at a floating dock. It amazes me that not everyone does this, it is so much easier. Be sure to carry a few fenders on the boat just in case you need to dock somewhere else or raft up with another boat.
Soft docks
Making your dock soft usually requires more fenders than the 3 it takes to protect your hull when hung off the boat. If the dock can be made soft in a manner that will ensure the fenders stay put, then you are right. The goal is to have fenders be in between your hull and hard surfaces. I have always felt hanging fenders from life lines was not a good idea. I prefer a more solid attachment point in case things get really rough.
Making your dock soft usually requires more fenders than the 3 it takes to protect your hull when hung off the boat. If the dock can be made soft in a manner that will ensure the fenders stay put, then you are right. The goal is to have fenders be in between your hull and hard surfaces. I have always felt hanging fenders from life lines was not a good idea. I prefer a more solid attachment point in case things get really rough.
dock fenders
Eric, lots of good advice here so far so let me add one other bit of info. Horizontal fender will work fine as you described in most situitions,what you will need to be careful of is in bad weather and storms. Fenders that are horiontal will tend to "roll" up the dock with a big wave and may not give you the protection you want so in bad weather you will need to use vertical fenders as well. You will also need to make cleaning the dock fender part of a boat washing as they will get growth on the bottom, All in all they are a good idea give a few limitations. Good Luck with you new boat and the docking will become more and more easy with so time and practice. For what it is worth docking is probely the most "anxious" part of boating for the overwhelming number of boaters. Where are you located in Mystic ? We are in Noank right around the corner from you . Good Luck !
Eric, lots of good advice here so far so let me add one other bit of info. Horizontal fender will work fine as you described in most situitions,what you will need to be careful of is in bad weather and storms. Fenders that are horiontal will tend to "roll" up the dock with a big wave and may not give you the protection you want so in bad weather you will need to use vertical fenders as well. You will also need to make cleaning the dock fender part of a boat washing as they will get growth on the bottom, All in all they are a good idea give a few limitations. Good Luck with you new boat and the docking will become more and more easy with so time and practice. For what it is worth docking is probely the most "anxious" part of boating for the overwhelming number of boaters. Where are you located in Mystic ? We are in Noank right around the corner from you . Good Luck !
anxiety and docking
I used to be anxious too while docking. For what it is worth, a guy at our club was talking about docking and said, "When you think you are going slow enough that is the time to slow down". I thought it was kinda stupid but I was willing to try anything. yep it works. Like learning to crawl before walking. An interesting thing to do is time yourself and see which is really faster going slow or going real slow. I found that real slow was actually faster as I got in the slip on the first try and did not have any of the "start overs".
I used to be anxious too while docking. For what it is worth, a guy at our club was talking about docking and said, "When you think you are going slow enough that is the time to slow down". I thought it was kinda stupid but I was willing to try anything. yep it works. Like learning to crawl before walking. An interesting thing to do is time yourself and see which is really faster going slow or going real slow. I found that real slow was actually faster as I got in the slip on the first try and did not have any of the "start overs".
Practice Docking On A Quiet Day
I love to dock my boat. I find it to be a game/challenge. I prefer to back the boat into the slip. Just like sailing, you first must check where the wind is comming from. The wind can play havok with the bow and push it away well before the sten. Slow and steady always wins the race when it comes to docking. Always have fenders and your dock lines well located in advance of the the time you are ready to land your ship. Have all dock lines ready without twists fed back and close to the cockpit just in case your attemp is poor and your can quickly get to a line. Have a spare fender (loose) just in case a quick fender is needed to place between the dock and your boat...never use your foot..it hurts. Finally, pick a calm day at your club when nobody is there to critique your style and practice. Have Fun!
I love to dock my boat. I find it to be a game/challenge. I prefer to back the boat into the slip. Just like sailing, you first must check where the wind is comming from. The wind can play havok with the bow and push it away well before the sten. Slow and steady always wins the race when it comes to docking. Always have fenders and your dock lines well located in advance of the the time you are ready to land your ship. Have all dock lines ready without twists fed back and close to the cockpit just in case your attemp is poor and your can quickly get to a line. Have a spare fender (loose) just in case a quick fender is needed to place between the dock and your boat...never use your foot..it hurts. Finally, pick a calm day at your club when nobody is there to critique your style and practice. Have Fun!
(BTW, it wasn't me, I just walk off the dock backwards. one more...
'Terrible things seldom happen at slow speed' was the advice given to me. The biggest surprize for me was how far my boat will coast and it is a long way. I now put her in neutral at a certain spot and depending on the winds usually slide right in and then just a touch of reverse. Good luck to you.
'Terrible things seldom happen at slow speed' was the advice given to me. The biggest surprize for me was how far my boat will coast and it is a long way. I now put her in neutral at a certain spot and depending on the winds usually slide right in and then just a touch of reverse. Good luck to you.
Speed can be too slow
One caveat on going slowly. Unless you have an outboard, your steerage depends on water flowing past your rudder. Between the sidewards thrust generated by your propellor (prop walk) and the fact that both the water and wind affect your boat regardless of what you do with your engine, you need to be aware of all of these factors while proceeding. Unlike a car, when you stop a boat it can and will keep moving, and not necessarily in the direction in which it is pointed. Prop walk is not necessarily a bad thing, it can be used by you as long as you know how it behaves. But when you first engage the engine, expect the boat to move sideways and the rudder to do nothing, until you have some way on. Similarly, when coasting to a stop, know where the wind and current are and compensate accordingly.
One caveat on going slowly. Unless you have an outboard, your steerage depends on water flowing past your rudder. Between the sidewards thrust generated by your propellor (prop walk) and the fact that both the water and wind affect your boat regardless of what you do with your engine, you need to be aware of all of these factors while proceeding. Unlike a car, when you stop a boat it can and will keep moving, and not necessarily in the direction in which it is pointed. Prop walk is not necessarily a bad thing, it can be used by you as long as you know how it behaves. But when you first engage the engine, expect the boat to move sideways and the rudder to do nothing, until you have some way on. Similarly, when coasting to a stop, know where the wind and current are and compensate accordingly.
redfishnc is right
everything becomes peaceful and easy at very slow speeds. Learn how far your boat will coast in different wind speeds and directions. Currents also play a major role but some Marina's like mine doesn't have much of a current if at all. I'll tell you a story which should help you understand how much speed affects all this. One weekend I was starting out on a long trip and two hours into the trip I busted my quadrant. I had to use the emergency steering the whole way back and if you haven't tried that, it's a real pain. I found out the hard way that you can't backup with it, which is how I normally dock. So, I went in bow first on the second attempt but I didn't have the ability to change the fenders due to being single handed and using the emergency tiller. I came in real slow, almost perfect speed. The hull never touched anything as I hopped off and tied her off and I only have a foot clearence on each side in my tight slip. I see people coming down the fareway doing 5 knots. I can't wait for the one day that they have a mechanical failure and they take out the dock going 5 knots. NOW...important note...if you find yourself docking in winds over 15 knots, be very careful. You can still go in a slow speeds but remember that the wind will effect the course and when the boat stops, that bow is going to spin in the direction of the wind pretty quickly so be ready to grab the bow line when docking in high winds or use a good spring line. How does a spring line work? It's simple but doesn't work on every dock (doesn't work on short finger docks). As you come into the slip slowly but still in gear, hope off the boat onto the finger with a line attached to the midship cleat. Wrap the line around the finger cleat nearest the fareway and pull the line tight. As the boat continues forward, it will slow down and pull itself up against the finger. Once stopped, let the line out until you have the boat in the right position, then cleat it. Now cleat your bow and then replace the spring line on the finger cleat with the stern line. Turn off engine. Of course this also works going in stern first but a little different. There is also a way to do it without hopping onto the dock but that get complicated and I find it easier to just hop onto the dock because I sometimes miss the cleat when trying to throw a loop over it on the finger. Once you learn the coasting, speed, wind affects, and how to use a spring line, you will find docking is very easy. Don't forget though, the lessions you learn about wind speed and direction should also be applied when leaving the dock. So many times I see boaters running into neighbor boats when leaving because they don't pay attention to the wind before departing.
everything becomes peaceful and easy at very slow speeds. Learn how far your boat will coast in different wind speeds and directions. Currents also play a major role but some Marina's like mine doesn't have much of a current if at all. I'll tell you a story which should help you understand how much speed affects all this. One weekend I was starting out on a long trip and two hours into the trip I busted my quadrant. I had to use the emergency steering the whole way back and if you haven't tried that, it's a real pain. I found out the hard way that you can't backup with it, which is how I normally dock. So, I went in bow first on the second attempt but I didn't have the ability to change the fenders due to being single handed and using the emergency tiller. I came in real slow, almost perfect speed. The hull never touched anything as I hopped off and tied her off and I only have a foot clearence on each side in my tight slip. I see people coming down the fareway doing 5 knots. I can't wait for the one day that they have a mechanical failure and they take out the dock going 5 knots. NOW...important note...if you find yourself docking in winds over 15 knots, be very careful. You can still go in a slow speeds but remember that the wind will effect the course and when the boat stops, that bow is going to spin in the direction of the wind pretty quickly so be ready to grab the bow line when docking in high winds or use a good spring line. How does a spring line work? It's simple but doesn't work on every dock (doesn't work on short finger docks). As you come into the slip slowly but still in gear, hope off the boat onto the finger with a line attached to the midship cleat. Wrap the line around the finger cleat nearest the fareway and pull the line tight. As the boat continues forward, it will slow down and pull itself up against the finger. Once stopped, let the line out until you have the boat in the right position, then cleat it. Now cleat your bow and then replace the spring line on the finger cleat with the stern line. Turn off engine. Of course this also works going in stern first but a little different. There is also a way to do it without hopping onto the dock but that get complicated and I find it easier to just hop onto the dock because I sometimes miss the cleat when trying to throw a loop over it on the finger. Once you learn the coasting, speed, wind affects, and how to use a spring line, you will find docking is very easy. Don't forget though, the lessions you learn about wind speed and direction should also be applied when leaving the dock. So many times I see boaters running into neighbor boats when leaving because they don't pay attention to the wind before departing.
another Bumper!
These are really nice units. They have several attachment methods and are UV resistant too.
These are really nice units. They have several attachment methods and are UV resistant too.
An awful lot depends on how heavy the
boat is. The wind takes several seconds to start my boat moving so we can guide it, with engine and boat hooks, into the slip. I back into a north facing slip and with a strong south wind must idle the engine in reverse just to keep from being blown out. With a cross wind we tie up the weather side first. With a strong north wind we can drift her into the slip but sometimes need a little forward engine to stop her before she climbs up on the dock.
boat is. The wind takes several seconds to start my boat moving so we can guide it, with engine and boat hooks, into the slip. I back into a north facing slip and with a strong south wind must idle the engine in reverse just to keep from being blown out. With a cross wind we tie up the weather side first. With a strong north wind we can drift her into the slip but sometimes need a little forward engine to stop her before she climbs up on the dock.
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