Maybe my boat is too small...

[BobM]

Manny. Nobody has answered your question. Your boat is definitely too small ;-)

I think you need a nice Hunter 33 of the same vintage to fit that slip better. The additional beam will make your dock lines shorter and the heavier boat will not get blown around as much, which should raise your comfort level. Plus the cockpit is nicely laid out for single handing. I also like the way the winches are mounted right next to the wheel as well as the overall interior lay out. I really should have looked at one when I was boat shopping last spring, but I pretty much jumped right from Newport 30 shopping into S2 9.2A shopping.

 

[Manny]

Thanks Bobm!

So there we have it, I need a bigger boat :dance: Hopefully the admiral will understand. I can see the conversation now: "Honey, we need a bigger boat, our slip is too big!!!" How cool would it be if it were that easy...
I went back down today armed with ideas. I marked all lines so I can put them back exactly the same. I put loops on the end of the two bowlines and my port spring line so I can hang them from the hooks on the front pilings on my way out. I didn't notice before but there is a line between the pilings on my starboard side. I'll tie my starboard spring line to that on my way out. I'm going to head to home depot for some line and caribiners to make some DATs (docking assist tethers) that I can clip temporarily to line between the pilings as I come back in. I really don't like crossing the lines at my stern because of the outboard, I can already see some chafing on the cover from the lines. I have to figure something out...

Thanks,

Manny

BTW - I do like the Hunter 33 from the same vintage as mine

 

[smitroe]

Manny, Everyone has some real good ideas here. Your boat should be facing bow toward the water comming at you. also,if you think of being able to tie off with the spring lines to the finger dock as comming to a dock rather than getting into a slip it helps. I hate slips but thats how I do it alone. Once tied to the dock ( so to speak ) I then can relax and put the lines on from the poles and the stern.. find a way to be able to get your bow lines with your hook after you are tied to the dock . It helps. The yards also have people to help and if its rough especially that initial time down when I I dont have my lines on the pole yet I either take someone with me or arrange for them to help me. When my mooring is in (usually a month later) I am out of the slip. I think they're very stressful on boats...good luck smitroe

 

[thomas]

Classic med docking

What you have is a classic Mediterranean style docking. That is what I have, and I back in all the time with my 37' Irwin. Course I do have a full keel, but then again, EVERYONE at our marina, save a few, back into their slips. And we have no finger docks, except "C" dock.
What we have are 4" blocks on the end posts. Then you run a line from the bow cleat, through the block, and back to the dock?
Most of us have hand cranks on the docks. We loosen them 6 or 7 cranks, which allows the boat to be pulled back for stern boarding (we don't have finger docks.) You board, start the motor, disconnect the FIXED length aft lines, motor or pull yourself forward, disconnect the bow lines, and motor out.
Some people nicely wrap the lines on the top of the post at the bow. Some just drop them in the water and the weigft of the line pulls the loop end to the block, and some toss the lines over the the lines.
When we come back in, we back in. Robert on his 30'er simple grabs the line off the post opposiite his angle (in other words, if most of his boat is in front of his neighbors to the left as you look out from the dock, then he grabs the line on the right post). Then, he gently and easily pulls the boat into the slip. When he is about 1/3 in, he grabs the other line off the other post and using physics, pulls the boat back in. You cleat off the bow, when you get to the dock, you grab those lines and cleat off the aft end, then step off the boat and crank in the bow lines. Snug as a bug in a rug.
Now, I use 1/4" cable for most of my aft lines length and for most of the length from the dock to the block. I really should go through the block, and leave about 6 or 7 feet of 3 strand 3/4 nylon for the rest. The cable doesn't give, the nylon acts as a spring, and the cable DOES NOT CHAFE through the block, or onn the aft end on my boat. Several boats got tore up just two weeks ago when the winds and seas kicked up tossing the boats and chafing the lines through. See, as they rub, they get hot, and melt and wear through.
Oh yeah, my tub weighs 20,000 and we have no problem docking her.

 

[Skipper]

Levitation

I'm more interested in the boats in the background that are levitating. I need that for my boat. Not much of a winter here but would be great for keeping the bottom clean when I'm not sailing. Who is the magician?

 

[Bob Poff]

Re: Levitation

Levitating boats? Magicians never tell their tales...

Manny is one of the many who come to our fair marina for the winter.
Here's a Yahoo Maps shot that just happens to be last winter.
Tidewater HdG

 

[Deadline]

We're making this way too complicated.
Take your time, nothing dramatic will happen inside the slip.

Rule of thumb is to discard the slack lines first, tight lines last.
1. Start by removing both spring lines when you arrive.
2. After starting the engine, toss the stern lines up onto dock.
3. As the boat drifts out, remove the bow lines and cast them to dock/pole.

Upon backing in:
A. Proceed to the stern dock and pick up stern lines.
B. Use the pole to fetch the bowlines.
C. Attach spring lines at your leisure.

 

[sailingdog]

Spring lines are often a better choice for the first line to grab... stern lines aren't as useful in many cases.