I leave my dock lines at the dock. But I have enough extra lines on the boat to lash the thing to a flag pole. To leave the dock without extra lines would be, well, you know...
If engine fails how to sail into the slip ...
- Thread starter eliems
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I've had a number of engine failures over the years:
1. I've sailed into the slip, but ONLY if the wind speed and direction were favorible and only if the aproach was simple and provided some bail-out plan. Discuss the whole plan with the crew before starting.
2. Always have an anchor ready to go in seconds. Drop it someplace safe and then sort things out. Maybe you can get the engine going again. Maybe you anchor close and use #3....
3. Warping the boat around with long lines is slow but often very safe. I've moved boats from one slip to another this way, without engine or help. Slow but safe if well planned.
and all the other posters added.
1. I've sailed into the slip, but ONLY if the wind speed and direction were favorible and only if the aproach was simple and provided some bail-out plan. Discuss the whole plan with the crew before starting.
2. Always have an anchor ready to go in seconds. Drop it someplace safe and then sort things out. Maybe you can get the engine going again. Maybe you anchor close and use #3....
3. Warping the boat around with long lines is slow but often very safe. I've moved boats from one slip to another this way, without engine or help. Slow but safe if well planned.
and all the other posters added.
I don’t think you are allowed to sail through either of the narrows or in Vancouver harbour. Here are some of my thoughts:
Why is your backup/reserve battery so low that you can’t start the Yanmar?
Don’t you have decompression on your Yanmar to get up to speed with a low battery or with the hand crank?
A small spray of WD-40 into your air intake can help get her started.
Why is your backup/reserve battery so low that you can’t start the Yanmar?
Don’t you have decompression on your Yanmar to get up to speed with a low battery or with the hand crank?
A small spray of WD-40 into your air intake can help get her started.
i sailed into the work dock at shelter island boatyard when i first bought my ericson 35. after we arrived perfectly with excellent skills and perfect landing, i was advised that NO ONE sails into the work dock..it isnt done....guess what. is do able. use the jib as it was designed to be used and go for it--practice in open areas with a mob exercise.....practice picking up moorings under sail. use jib and have fun. it works.
Done it about 10 times for practice and last year finally one time for real. We use the main sail to power the boat as it makes it easier to accelerate or allow the boat to decelarate by working the main sheet. We may drop sail or let it flog as we approach the dock at 1 knot bleeding speed for a soft landing. Had been toying around with a worn bleed screw on the secondary filter until the engine would not start. Having a favorable wind rather allowed us to go in rather than to have to anchor. What practice does is it takes away the anxiety of it being possible and having one chance to get it right.
While taking keelboat class a couple of years ago, the water pump seized soon after we left the dock.
We completed the lesson then the instructor weighed the choices. He was confident that his crew of 4 students would be able to dock under sail only. The staff was on the dock to lend a hand, but following the tactics we had been practicing, we entered the crowded dock area, turned 180 degrees and drifted right into our spot better than most of our dockings under power.
Practice is important. So is the knowledge that it can be done. We tend to rely on motors when sails and oars can do what is needed.
A few more months and I can start practicing again...
We completed the lesson then the instructor weighed the choices. He was confident that his crew of 4 students would be able to dock under sail only. The staff was on the dock to lend a hand, but following the tactics we had been practicing, we entered the crowded dock area, turned 180 degrees and drifted right into our spot better than most of our dockings under power.
Practice is important. So is the knowledge that it can be done. We tend to rely on motors when sails and oars can do what is needed.
A few more months and I can start practicing again...
I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really wish my mooring neighbor had asked for a bit of FREE HELP after sailing home with the broken motor and trying his to sail onto the mooring in 25 knots
Most Yanmar's have compression release. So you could activate them (one for each cylinder), see if the battery would spin the engine and flip one of the compression release levers and they usually fire up, then flip the other compression release levers.
We always leave our docklines at home. They are the correct length so we just put the eye splices on the cleats and there we are, secure to the slip. Also since we are exposed to quite a bit of surge, we have snubbers on the lines. Wouldn't want to be trying to get the length right every time we came back like we see our neighbors doing. Also, the first line back on the boat is the spring line. As we pull in my wife gets off and pops that eye over the cleat on the genoa track and the boat stops in the next 5 feet regardless of what I might be doing on the throttle or shifter. So there is some method to the madness.
We have plenty of other lines on board for guest docking and rafting.
Maybe my buddy has lines I'm not aware of. But I'm not aware of them.We always leave our docklines at home. They are the correct length so we just put the eye splices on the cleats and there we are, secure to the slip. Also since we are exposed to quite a bit of surge, we have snubbers on the lines. Wouldn't want to be trying to get the length right every time we came back like we see our neighbors doing. Also, the first line back on the boat is the spring line. As we pull in my wife gets off and pops that eye over the cleat on the genoa track and the boat stops in the next 5 feet regardless of what I might be doing on the throttle or shifter. So there is some method to the madness.
But, of course. I've never figured out why people bother to take theirs with them. It's also usually the guys who loop their docklines thru the middle of the cleat, too.
We always leave our docklines at home. They are the correct length so we just put the eye splices on the cleats and there we are, secure to the slip. Also since we are exposed to quite a bit of surge, we have snubbers on the lines. Wouldn't want to be trying to get the length right every time we came back like we see our neighbors doing. Also, the first line back on the boat is the spring line. As we pull in my wife gets off and pops that eye over the cleat on the genoa track and the boat stops in the next 5 feet regardless of what I might be doing on the throttle or shifter. So there is some method to the madness.
For daysailing and short trips, I leave mine at the dock, along with the shorepower cordset, makes the return much simpler........ I keep spare docklines including some longer ones in the rope locker to use if I have to tie up somewhere else. Longer trips, I take everything, including the shorepower cordset.
Practice.
Practice without sails. Put the engine in neutral and get a feeling for how the boat glides in a variety of situations (wind, current, waves) and speeds and turns. How much does it take to stop (or almost stop). Do this in the fairway (when it's lightly used) and also taking it into the slip.
Try it with the jib only, and the main only, and with both.
Practice without sails. Put the engine in neutral and get a feeling for how the boat glides in a variety of situations (wind, current, waves) and speeds and turns. How much does it take to stop (or almost stop). Do this in the fairway (when it's lightly used) and also taking it into the slip.
Try it with the jib only, and the main only, and with both.
Well, once again I'm not in agreement with the majority. Towing services are very cheap in opposition to the damage you could do to your boat or other boats!
If you are asking this question I would think you are not ready to attempt this, for practice or for real. When you know YOUR boat well enough, you will know which sail(s) to use and how she will handle. I have seen folks sail into their slip very successfully and many, many more for whom it was an expensive catastrophe.
If it should ever happen that you absolutely MUST sail into a marina or harbor, pick the first, easiest place you can put her alongside and fix the engine or get a few friends to tow you to your slip with their dinghies.
I'm sorry to be so blunt, but I really don't want to be the boat you smash into when you could have gotten a tow from the professionals for about $150.00 a year!
If you are asking this question I would think you are not ready to attempt this, for practice or for real. When you know YOUR boat well enough, you will know which sail(s) to use and how she will handle. I have seen folks sail into their slip very successfully and many, many more for whom it was an expensive catastrophe.
If it should ever happen that you absolutely MUST sail into a marina or harbor, pick the first, easiest place you can put her alongside and fix the engine or get a few friends to tow you to your slip with their dinghies.
I'm sorry to be so blunt, but I really don't want to be the boat you smash into when you could have gotten a tow from the professionals for about $150.00 a year!
I have use my jib when sailing into slip a few times do to engine failure on my old boat Cal 34. Had to use the jib it was the safest to lose the air in once in slip Nofurlering just let loose the lines. If I did this with the Main the boom would well hit the boat in the slip next to me. I enjoy sailing down the long straight to my marina to my slip at the end past the other 2 marinas and I normally get people clapping at seeing someone sail to there slip instead of motoring how ever I have had the engine running just incase other than 2 times when the engine was taking a Vacation from working. My new boat 1979 Hunter 37C has furling JIb will be sailing it hopefully in This march after i do some repairs on the hard. Cant wait,
I used to sail into slips and docks all the time, have done this countless times. With a GOOD helmsman, (and I used to have a wizard at the wheel), I would stand on the foredeck, loose the jib sheets, (the main was already tucked), and holding the jib halyard with one hand, the jib clew with the other, the sail was infinitely "adjustable". At the last second, would release the halyard, (bitter end secured naturally), and with the clew already in my hand could snatch the head sail to the deck instantly. And still have time to step off the bow with a dock line. From the dock I would usually get the "atta boys" from onlookers, but like I said, I did this many, many times.
This is not advisable on big wind days though.
And oh yeah, him banged dock a couple of times as well. Little too hot of an approach.
And it's another way to show the neighbors that you've been around the block a couple of times as well..
This is not advisable on big wind days though.
And oh yeah, him banged dock a couple of times as well. Little too hot of an approach.
And it's another way to show the neighbors that you've been around the block a couple of times as well..
NotCook
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- Dec 29, 2008
- 806
TLW's advice is good even when you are under power
Ray is right on the money in every respect.
T, this is good advice even when you are under power. That is our rule every time we enter the marina. Relying on throwing a line over a cleat to stop you, while a fairly common practice, is also risky. For us, it would be flat irresponsible. We also have the anchor uncovered, and ready to deploy, whenever leaving or entering the marina - just in case.
Ray is right on the money in every respect.
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