We moor our 376 along a narrow channel tied fore and aft between two pilings. We typically moor with the bow to the west, and our normal south westerly wind will quickly push us our into the channel. If the wind is from the north we have a problem getting out and end up trying to man-handle the boat with lots of yelling. Other than moving to another harbor or getting a bow thruster does anyone have a suggestion to make this season more enjoyable? Russell Allie Kat
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Physics experiment?
Russell, I’ve no experience with this situation but that usually doesn't slow me down much. You could try using long mooring lines. By moving both lines through the opposite end mooring chocks and back to your sheet winches, you should be able to pull the bow around to the east with the east moored line while keeping the west line taught to hold position. It would probably take 2 at the winches but maybe not. Like I said, no experience. Greg
Russell, I’ve no experience with this situation but that usually doesn't slow me down much. You could try using long mooring lines. By moving both lines through the opposite end mooring chocks and back to your sheet winches, you should be able to pull the bow around to the east with the east moored line while keeping the west line taught to hold position. It would probably take 2 at the winches but maybe not. Like I said, no experience. Greg
Try This
Russell, This might work as long as the wind isn't too strong. Attach a double-length spring line from the starboard side amidships to the stern piling and back again. I don't recall if the 376 has a deck cleat amidships, so you might have to improvise/add. After releasing your mooring lines, power forward with the starboard sping line still attached. With the wheel turned full to starboard, the tension on the starboard spring line should help to nose the bow into the channel. Once you're pointing where you want to be, release one end of the sping line and pull it back into the boat. By the way, this also works well to bring a boat alongside a dock with the wind blowing the boat away from the dock. Good luck. Robert Pancza
Russell, This might work as long as the wind isn't too strong. Attach a double-length spring line from the starboard side amidships to the stern piling and back again. I don't recall if the 376 has a deck cleat amidships, so you might have to improvise/add. After releasing your mooring lines, power forward with the starboard sping line still attached. With the wheel turned full to starboard, the tension on the starboard spring line should help to nose the bow into the channel. Once you're pointing where you want to be, release one end of the sping line and pull it back into the boat. By the way, this also works well to bring a boat alongside a dock with the wind blowing the boat away from the dock. Good luck. Robert Pancza
Point her butt into the wind first
This is a tough problem and if someone has a really simple answer I would like to hear that too. Assuming that I understand the situation correctly, Robert's suggestion to try and use a mid-cleat springline makes good sense to me. However, rather than fighting the wind by trying to power your bow through (which will be difficult as long as the angle between the aft running spring line and the vessel centerline is only small) my inclination would be to let the wind turn the boat for you by letting the bow blow off a bit while sticking her butt into the wind (and the channel). To prepare for this, make sure that both the bow and the stern line are led back to the vessel through smooth eyes or rings on the respective pilings and that her stern line is tied off to your port stern cleat. Now move the tail of the bow line over to the starboard midcleat (i.e. the forward dockline now runs from her bow cleat through the piling eye back to the starboard midcleat). Her bow will blow off towards the shore a bit and her stern should start pointing more towards the channel. If she does not rotate far enough to clear the stern piling when powering in reverse, then also move the tail end of the stern line over to her port mid-cleat. This should rotate your vessel further and get her stern to point into the channel. Perhaps you may have to adjust the tension and length on both sides. However, there is no hurry; you are still securely tied up between the two pilings and have only been rotating your vessel while going with -- not against-- the force of the wind. Up to this point, one person can do the job. As soon as you like the way the stern points, call the crew and post them at the midcleats. Go into reverse with the rudder amidships (no need for any attempt to steer until you have developed sufficient speed) while letting the aft line slip through the stern piling eye as the vessel starts rotating counterclockwise around the bridled bowline. As soon as you have rotated her far enough into the channel you can let her bow line slip through as well while asking the crew to retrieve both dock lines before switching into forward gear. If your vessel does not develop sufficient power in reverse and/or steers poorly, perhaps you may have to consider a Maxprop or Autoprop. Success! Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II"
This is a tough problem and if someone has a really simple answer I would like to hear that too. Assuming that I understand the situation correctly, Robert's suggestion to try and use a mid-cleat springline makes good sense to me. However, rather than fighting the wind by trying to power your bow through (which will be difficult as long as the angle between the aft running spring line and the vessel centerline is only small) my inclination would be to let the wind turn the boat for you by letting the bow blow off a bit while sticking her butt into the wind (and the channel). To prepare for this, make sure that both the bow and the stern line are led back to the vessel through smooth eyes or rings on the respective pilings and that her stern line is tied off to your port stern cleat. Now move the tail of the bow line over to the starboard midcleat (i.e. the forward dockline now runs from her bow cleat through the piling eye back to the starboard midcleat). Her bow will blow off towards the shore a bit and her stern should start pointing more towards the channel. If she does not rotate far enough to clear the stern piling when powering in reverse, then also move the tail end of the stern line over to her port mid-cleat. This should rotate your vessel further and get her stern to point into the channel. Perhaps you may have to adjust the tension and length on both sides. However, there is no hurry; you are still securely tied up between the two pilings and have only been rotating your vessel while going with -- not against-- the force of the wind. Up to this point, one person can do the job. As soon as you like the way the stern points, call the crew and post them at the midcleats. Go into reverse with the rudder amidships (no need for any attempt to steer until you have developed sufficient speed) while letting the aft line slip through the stern piling eye as the vessel starts rotating counterclockwise around the bridled bowline. As soon as you have rotated her far enough into the channel you can let her bow line slip through as well while asking the crew to retrieve both dock lines before switching into forward gear. If your vessel does not develop sufficient power in reverse and/or steers poorly, perhaps you may have to consider a Maxprop or Autoprop. Success! Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II"
Rope Tricks
Russell, You didn't say how much room you had on either side or the distance to the pilings but for my two cents worth Hank, Greg and Robert all have good answers. There are a couple of other options. If you motor forward against a tight line between the aft piling and the starboard forward cleat, the boat will swing to the right and into the wind and channel. If you motor in reverse against a tight line between the forward piling and the port aft cleat the boat stern will move towards the shore but the bow will swing into the wind. If the wind is not so strong that you can get the port stern against the aft piling, then backing against a tight line from the aft piling to the port aft cleat will allow you to control the stern and swing the bow where ever you want and against very storng winds. If you can get the port bow against the forward piling you can go forward against a tight line between the forward piling and the port forward cleat (the piling will be aft of the cleat). This will control the bow and allow the stern to swing out into the wind and channel against some pretty strong winds. My choice would be to get my port stern against the aft piling. You should be able to do this by placing the aft line between the piling and port stern cleat. Gradually easing the forward line and taking up the slack on the stern line will gradually get you against the aft piling. When you start backing you want to get the piling forward of the aft cleat with the line wrapped around the piling in a clockwise direction. As you back you can ease the line and allow the boat to slide away from the piling and help you control the turn but it is not really necessary. The boat should snug against the piling and the bow will wind out into the channel. When you get it turned as far as you want ease the throttle a little, release the line, increase the throttle and you are on your way. Either way have your bumpers ready to protect the glass. Once you get the rubrail against the piling you'll be fine but until then be careful. Les Andersen s/v Mutual Fun
Russell, You didn't say how much room you had on either side or the distance to the pilings but for my two cents worth Hank, Greg and Robert all have good answers. There are a couple of other options. If you motor forward against a tight line between the aft piling and the starboard forward cleat, the boat will swing to the right and into the wind and channel. If you motor in reverse against a tight line between the forward piling and the port aft cleat the boat stern will move towards the shore but the bow will swing into the wind. If the wind is not so strong that you can get the port stern against the aft piling, then backing against a tight line from the aft piling to the port aft cleat will allow you to control the stern and swing the bow where ever you want and against very storng winds. If you can get the port bow against the forward piling you can go forward against a tight line between the forward piling and the port forward cleat (the piling will be aft of the cleat). This will control the bow and allow the stern to swing out into the wind and channel against some pretty strong winds. My choice would be to get my port stern against the aft piling. You should be able to do this by placing the aft line between the piling and port stern cleat. Gradually easing the forward line and taking up the slack on the stern line will gradually get you against the aft piling. When you start backing you want to get the piling forward of the aft cleat with the line wrapped around the piling in a clockwise direction. As you back you can ease the line and allow the boat to slide away from the piling and help you control the turn but it is not really necessary. The boat should snug against the piling and the bow will wind out into the channel. When you get it turned as far as you want ease the throttle a little, release the line, increase the throttle and you are on your way. Either way have your bumpers ready to protect the glass. Once you get the rubrail against the piling you'll be fine but until then be careful. Les Andersen s/v Mutual Fun
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