If engine fails how to sail into the slip ...

[eliems]

I almost had to sail home after my starting battery wouldn't crank the Yanmar and that got me worried that I have never sailed the (Hunter 28) into my slip.

This would have been much complicated by 1/2 inch of ice on the water (Salt water) within the marina. Fortunately a hot water bottle on the battery and another on the engine got the motor started but I want to know ...

What would the procedure be to get back to my slip? Should I approach on main sail or head sail? (Furling)

I have to enter, run down a narrow corridor and take a right down between to fingers and right into a slip with not much room to spare.

Furl to slow and stop?
Let the main luff to slow and stop?

 

[anchorclanker]

Have a paddle aboard? Can the engine be started by hand? Just seems like coming into a marina with any sail could get real dramatic, real fast.

 

[TLW]

I have done this quite a bit and even in a Hunter 28. The big concern, of course, is that you have NO BRAKES. It is helpful if the direction into your slip is also to windward, but you should be so lucky. I always want to sail in on the head sail because the furler lets you control the amount of sail, you can "turn it off" quickly (furl completely,) and you can roll her out again when you realize you have mis-judged. With experienced crew on board, you have more options as they can help handle any sail. As always, the rule is approach the slip at a speed no faster than that at which you are willing to hit the dock.

 

[justsomeguy]

Given that narrow corridor and then those two right turns (those really complicate sailing in), if you've an anchor, you might want to make use of it?

Or, pick a slip that presents itself to your situation. Folks will understand.

As for stopping, a stout bucket and line, cleated off and tossed overboard will slow you down.

When the chips are down, I think you'd be surprised how well you might function. As much as I appreciate boredom, ain't adrenaline fun?

 

[Rick D]

I have only had this happen twice in 40 years. Once I came in on the jib (my recommendation) to a down-wind bulkhead end slip. The next time, after a 40 mile sail, I opted to call the harbor patrol since the boat was bigger, it was an upwind sail in the basin and the boat barely fit in the slip (the same slip as the prior one but the boat was 4' wider and the same longer). Both were OK decisions. In a lot of marinas, it is simply unsafe and unwise to attempt a short-handed sail in IMHO.

 

[Stu Jackson]

1. Practice it before you need to do it

2. Start battery failed? What about your house bank?

 

[Ray Bowles]

Your boat is in the size range of 3 boats I have owned or currently own. I have sailed many times into our small marina and stopped at the slip I was in. These smaller boats will coast forever after the engine has been shut down or sails dropped. I always enter the marina proper with only my head sail up. The sail I most often use is a 115% jib as it is easy to tack or jib and quickly inflates or stalls. I always have the sail stalled early enough so that I can fend off any boat that might dash into my path if needed. I also carry 2 paddles that are long enough to neel on the cockpit seat and reach over the side and paddle.
The main premise is that you must do NO HARM to any other boat. If needed, sail your boat to the first safe dock available and dock there no matter what that dock is used for. Then tow your boat to your slip and fix her. Practice this type of sailing in a safe area. It is a lot of fun and you will be amazed at what your boat will do.
Ray

 

[Stu Jackson]

The main premise is that you must do NO HARM to any other boat. If needed, sail your boat to the first safe dock available and dock there no matter what that dock is used for. Then tow your boat to your slip and fix her. Practice this type of sailing in a safe area. It is a lot of fun and you will be amazed at what your boat will do.

Ray,

VERY well put.

+1,000

 

[David in Sandusky]

Use the main

The key is to stop the boat heading between a beam reach and head to wind. The concept is simple. Luff the main to slow. Back the main by having crew push the boom forward to brake. Trim the main to add speed, easing it once you have control with the helm.

You don't have to get the the boat into the slip! If you get a line over to the end of the slip, you can slowly ease the boat into the slip using your lines, and putting a crew ashore. (There are usually folks ashore who are glad to help.)

If the wind doesn't allow a controlled stop using this concept, then tie up at another dock. The gas dock, or an empty slip are alternatives.

If all else fails, drop the hook in a sheltered part of the marina, or just outside it, and call for help.

We used this technique to dock our friends' h30 at Drummond Island after an engine failure in 20 knot winds a couple of years ago. All went well, but as the bow line was passed to the folks on the dock, the steering cable parted! We had set up our approach so we could drop the anchor if we missed, so we had a viable backup plan.

You can practice the technique approaching a buoy as if it were the dock. It's surprising how much delicate control you can have at slow speed on the main.

 

[eliems]

Thanks! That makes sense to me. I will practice it. Looks like some would be more comfortable with a headsail although mine is a big 135%. Probably the most control would be with my main and in the way mentioned above.

I think I would take the advice mentioned and sail to the Gas Dock. The marina would give me a tow from there. Most often I am single handling.

 

[LloydB]

slow is good

 

[DougM]

Its a challenge in a keelboat...but practice helps. I took a J-world racing class a few years ago, and those boats had the motors stowed. We had the two right hand turn situation to get into the slip. The trick was to learn how far the boat would drift in different wind and current conditions. The first time was a little intense, but after that it bacame almost second nature.

Pulling up perpendicular to your slip and tossing a line to someone on the finger dock, or wrapping a line around a piling to swing the boat int the slip can be an alternative if your neighbors don't have a lot of hardware hanging off their transoms. You typically don't want to risk damaging your neighbors' boats much less your own.

I now have a 32 foot Beneteau,and can just about parallel park it between two other boats without engine power. I do this at my own dock because I am familiar with the possible conditions. I doubt that I would be so confident in an unfamiliar docking area.

 

[Winkfish]

I prefer using the main if I'm single handing. I can backwind it if needed. As others said, slow is good. One thing when I had my Santana 20, no motor, is set up a couple of crossed lines in my slip so if I wasn't able to stop, the lines would prevent the bow slamming into the dock.

 

[zeehag]

practice in open areas -- you will find your headsail is your steering sail--to be used in tight spaces.

have long lines on board for emergency slip entry..

 

[Allan12210]

Rig a midship spring line. When you pull in to your slip (or anywhere else for that matter) wrap that line around a cleat and it will stop you. I've done this numerous times.

The other key is to practice first. In my case I have a downwind slip so I typically use the jib. Only have enough out to make way when I need that and when I make the final turn downwind I roll it up and coast in with spring line in hand at the helm. Step off and cleat to an after cleat on the dock.

Its only happened to me when I ran out of fuel, had clogged filters, dead battery, fouled prop, prop fell off...you know, all the time over the years. Docking and anchoring under sail is a good skill to have. Practice just like you would (or should) for man overboard.

 

[sailaway78]

Practice

You need to practice this before you actually need to do it. Practice with the engine running and in neutral, then if you get into a pinch, you have the engine to rely on to get you out of trouble. If you have a roller furling jib, then you can sail in with just enough sail out to have some momentum. One thing you need to learn is how much headway your boat will make, after all sail is furled. It isn't necessarily easy, but with practice it can be done.

 

[Kermit]

At least one of our club members leaves his docklines tied on the dock cleats while he's out sailing. I'll never understand what he's thinking. They don't do him one bit of good while his boat is not at the dock. (Sorry for the soapbox.)

So, the answer to your question: Always dock heading straight into the wind. If the wind is blowing at some other angle other than straight down your bow, adjust the placement of the dock.

 

[anchorclanker]

Lots of good comments, but not too many about the engine. There are hand cranks for these little yanmars, has anyone tried cranking one up that way?

Might be a good time to give the engine a full going through, including the starting system and maybe a new battery.

 

[zeehag]

do not try to hand crank your yannie on the way into the slip.
do what nne sed..and kermit.....

 

[anchorclanker]

I would want the motor running well before heading toward the marina. Out on the water a ways would be the place to be playing with it, not on your way into the slips. Once your entering the marina its probably a good idea to have a paddle where you can grab it quick. If the motor quits at that point just shift to neutral and forget about it.