While you hold the helm most of the time, do you reverse roles with your significant other when it's time to dock the boat? Is the switch something you do regularly, or just in certain conditions? Could your SO dock if he/she had to? Were the new roles hard to learn, or was it easier than you suspected? Share your partner swapping stories here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
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S.O. never takes the helm when docking...
says the stress level is too much and responsibility too much....However, we rarely take the boat to a dock. we're at a mooring and the S.O ALWAYS takes the boat up to a mooring.. BTW... It's a Legend 37..
says the stress level is too much and responsibility too much....However, we rarely take the boat to a dock. we're at a mooring and the S.O ALWAYS takes the boat up to a mooring.. BTW... It's a Legend 37..
Always
Always takes boat in and out. Good thing to know and I'm stronger so I can do the dock lines easer.
Always takes boat in and out. Good thing to know and I'm stronger so I can do the dock lines easer.
We are with Jack
The wife always drives the boat for docking, mooring and anchoring. Like Jack, I can handle the lines, anchor and mooring better then she. Also she has more lessions on how to.
The wife always drives the boat for docking, mooring and anchoring. Like Jack, I can handle the lines, anchor and mooring better then she. Also she has more lessions on how to.
Dock Wheels are good!
After I put a couple of scuff marks on our H26, I started looking for protection. The answer was a pair of those infatable dock wheels. Now all four of the family members feel comfortable with being at the wheel during docking. I have recommended them to others with nice unscuffed hulls, but all too often they ignore the advice and let the scuffing begin.
After I put a couple of scuff marks on our H26, I started looking for protection. The answer was a pair of those infatable dock wheels. Now all four of the family members feel comfortable with being at the wheel during docking. I have recommended them to others with nice unscuffed hulls, but all too often they ignore the advice and let the scuffing begin.
She's good at it!
The question was: "While you hold the helm most of the time, do you reverse roles with your significant other when it's time to dock the boat?" Ruth and I share the helm while sailing, she loves to drive. Taking Liberty out of her slip, and bringing her back in is Ruth's job however. It is easier for me to grab and secure the dock lines. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
The question was: "While you hold the helm most of the time, do you reverse roles with your significant other when it's time to dock the boat?" Ruth and I share the helm while sailing, she loves to drive. Taking Liberty out of her slip, and bringing her back in is Ruth's job however. It is easier for me to grab and secure the dock lines. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
Kissing the dock
In the beginning, I used to handle the lines and let my First Mate handle the helm. However, on about our third or fourth weekend she kissed the dock. As she approached the dock, I was at the bow with the hook. It is customery to enter the dock in neutral and then shift into reverse and add a burst of power to stop the boat before we reach the rubber fender streched across the front of the dock. As she reached the fender I yelled "give it some power" and she did. However, she was still in forward. I have never seen a fender stretch as much as that one did before the ring on one end separated. At that point,the boat closed the remaining three feet to the dock in a hurry. All I could do is watch and hang on. I am glad that Hunters have a flat area at the bow. As it was, we sort of climbed up the boards on the dock and then slid back.
In the beginning, I used to handle the lines and let my First Mate handle the helm. However, on about our third or fourth weekend she kissed the dock. As she approached the dock, I was at the bow with the hook. It is customery to enter the dock in neutral and then shift into reverse and add a burst of power to stop the boat before we reach the rubber fender streched across the front of the dock. As she reached the fender I yelled "give it some power" and she did. However, she was still in forward. I have never seen a fender stretch as much as that one did before the ring on one end separated. At that point,the boat closed the remaining three feet to the dock in a hurry. All I could do is watch and hang on. I am glad that Hunters have a flat area at the bow. As it was, we sort of climbed up the boards on the dock and then slid back.
Susie Doesn't Want to Dock
I don't know if Susie has ever been at the wheel when we docked. When we were slip dwellers the docking and undocking conditions were pretty predictable, but traveling 1200 miles down the ICW we faced some really scary situations. In the Bahamas ther was usually a wicked current and a couple of turns to get in/out of a slip. So far (6 years) we have come into docks slow enough that strength has not been an issue. Susie gets a bow line over and I (the driver) get a stern line over. Then we both finish the tie-up job. I would like for Susie to become "docking literate", but she likes our roles now, so my guess is that's how it's going to stay.
I don't know if Susie has ever been at the wheel when we docked. When we were slip dwellers the docking and undocking conditions were pretty predictable, but traveling 1200 miles down the ICW we faced some really scary situations. In the Bahamas ther was usually a wicked current and a couple of turns to get in/out of a slip. So far (6 years) we have come into docks slow enough that strength has not been an issue. Susie gets a bow line over and I (the driver) get a stern line over. Then we both finish the tie-up job. I would like for Susie to become "docking literate", but she likes our roles now, so my guess is that's how it's going to stay.
lessons
When we first got the 410, the SO, Wonderblond, was a bit intimidated by the 14-foot beam, so I hired a sailing instructor to spend an afternoon taking her through the routine in strong winds. While I went to the library to pray for my gelcoat, they took the boat over to the pumpout station, down to the guest dock, over to the yacht club and back into the slip for about four hours. When I got back, I was a good enough husband not to comment on the numerous scuffs along the bootstripe, which come off easily enough with acetone. Anyway, she and I now share the docking duties, although I tend to get stuck with the more extraordinary situations, like squeezing 41 feet of boat into the 42-foot gap between fishing trawlers at a fuel dock.
When we first got the 410, the SO, Wonderblond, was a bit intimidated by the 14-foot beam, so I hired a sailing instructor to spend an afternoon taking her through the routine in strong winds. While I went to the library to pray for my gelcoat, they took the boat over to the pumpout station, down to the guest dock, over to the yacht club and back into the slip for about four hours. When I got back, I was a good enough husband not to comment on the numerous scuffs along the bootstripe, which come off easily enough with acetone. Anyway, she and I now share the docking duties, although I tend to get stuck with the more extraordinary situations, like squeezing 41 feet of boat into the 42-foot gap between fishing trawlers at a fuel dock.
My SO
My Significant Other rarely goes out on the boat (highly prone to mal de mer) even though she joins my daughter and I in various ports if we go on a cruise. However, even though my daughter often spells me at the helm, she will not dock the boat. Whenever, I have others on board, I encourage them to take the helm. This gives me a break and allows me to the luxury of sitting with my back against the mast (I mostly singlehand so this is really appreciated). I know this is digressing from the basic question posed; however, I feel one of the best ways to interest others in the art and science of sailing is to actively involve them and probably the easiest way (and perhaps the most rewarding way) to involve them is to let them take the helm. As far as letting them dock the boat, I offer but most often they will refuse. After they have gained some experience, they will often ask to try with me standing by to bail them out of trouble should this occur.
My Significant Other rarely goes out on the boat (highly prone to mal de mer) even though she joins my daughter and I in various ports if we go on a cruise. However, even though my daughter often spells me at the helm, she will not dock the boat. Whenever, I have others on board, I encourage them to take the helm. This gives me a break and allows me to the luxury of sitting with my back against the mast (I mostly singlehand so this is really appreciated). I know this is digressing from the basic question posed; however, I feel one of the best ways to interest others in the art and science of sailing is to actively involve them and probably the easiest way (and perhaps the most rewarding way) to involve them is to let them take the helm. As far as letting them dock the boat, I offer but most often they will refuse. After they have gained some experience, they will often ask to try with me standing by to bail them out of trouble should this occur.
Learning
My S.O. tends the lines at the bow of the boat. I am currently encouraging her to take the helm. At this point she is VERY reluctant to do so. I like the suggestion of hiring a professional to teach her rather than me...although I think I would spend my time at the bar rather than the library anticipating the condition of our craft after the experience. For now, we are happy with our current roles.
My S.O. tends the lines at the bow of the boat. I am currently encouraging her to take the helm. At this point she is VERY reluctant to do so. I like the suggestion of hiring a professional to teach her rather than me...although I think I would spend my time at the bar rather than the library anticipating the condition of our craft after the experience. For now, we are happy with our current roles.
Equal means equal
SO (what is that? She's my best friend, partner, lover and wife -geez!) shares equally. If I take Faster- out, Kristen brings her in and vise-versa. I do tend to try to unload the tiller ASAP as the view from back there sorta sucks. Now, if I can just figure a way to beat my daughter to the bow! Greg H23 Faster-
SO (what is that? She's my best friend, partner, lover and wife -geez!) shares equally. If I take Faster- out, Kristen brings her in and vise-versa. I do tend to try to unload the tiller ASAP as the view from back there sorta sucks. Now, if I can just figure a way to beat my daughter to the bow! Greg H23 Faster-
I'm working on it!!
She doesn't mind steering the boat while sailing in 10 to 15 knots of wind, but when the wind pipes up she likes to give up the helm. She's afraid that she might do something wrong and hurt the boat. We are making some progress though, she will stay at the wheel now as long as I am near by..and after a while she does get used to it and does enjoy it. Docking the boat..well, she will get there evenually.
She doesn't mind steering the boat while sailing in 10 to 15 knots of wind, but when the wind pipes up she likes to give up the helm. She's afraid that she might do something wrong and hurt the boat. We are making some progress though, she will stay at the wheel now as long as I am near by..and after a while she does get used to it and does enjoy it. Docking the boat..well, she will get there evenually.
Never!
My wife has never taken the helm while docking, leaving a slip or going under a bridge, and never will (at least, so she says). I've tried to get her to do this and have gone so far as to offer to hire an instructor to take her out and teach her, but she refuses. She says she prefers handling the dock lines and bridges make her nervous.
My wife has never taken the helm while docking, leaving a slip or going under a bridge, and never will (at least, so she says). I've tried to get her to do this and have gone so far as to offer to hire an instructor to take her out and teach her, but she refuses. She says she prefers handling the dock lines and bridges make her nervous.
We work as a team
My wife and I found the best team work was for me to handle the lines and her the helm. We've never had a problem other than during a bareboating course when the instructor was demonstrating the idea of a slip line. Unfortunately, it got stuck. My wife took his "whoa" for "go". The end result was that we reversed a 37' boat in a 40' space (width wise). And we didn't hit or touch anything! During extended sails we work out a watch schedule.
My wife and I found the best team work was for me to handle the lines and her the helm. We've never had a problem other than during a bareboating course when the instructor was demonstrating the idea of a slip line. Unfortunately, it got stuck. My wife took his "whoa" for "go". The end result was that we reversed a 37' boat in a 40' space (width wise). And we didn't hit or touch anything! During extended sails we work out a watch schedule.
As a matter of fact we practiced this weekend.
We had a little practice session this weekend. My wife and my daughter just completed sailing lessons at Tradewinds Sailing School in Point Richmond, CA in the past few weeks. We (I) decided that it would be a good weekend for them to practice their new found skills. My wife took the boat into the harbor like a pro. She had the boat all lined up for the slip when a gust of wind drove the bow towards the Catalina 34 docked next to us. Never saw ol' Wally (owner of the Catalina) move so fast. She made a quick correction to avert the impending collision and all ended well. Regardless if OUR S.O.'s want to do this or not, they should really be able to get a feel for it in case of an emergency.
We had a little practice session this weekend. My wife and my daughter just completed sailing lessons at Tradewinds Sailing School in Point Richmond, CA in the past few weeks. We (I) decided that it would be a good weekend for them to practice their new found skills. My wife took the boat into the harbor like a pro. She had the boat all lined up for the slip when a gust of wind drove the bow towards the Catalina 34 docked next to us. Never saw ol' Wally (owner of the Catalina) move so fast. She made a quick correction to avert the impending collision and all ended well. Regardless if OUR S.O.'s want to do this or not, they should really be able to get a feel for it in case of an emergency.
Always
Yes, Deb always brings the boat in and out of the slip. She does a fine job of it, too! Ours is a H37 cutter and it is just too much for her to handle on the dock sooooo, she does the drivin'... Ron
Yes, Deb always brings the boat in and out of the slip. She does a fine job of it, too! Ours is a H37 cutter and it is just too much for her to handle on the dock sooooo, she does the drivin'... Ron
You Betcha!!!
We have been sailing together since 1975, and although I have always tended to sail our various boats (a total of 7 - from 24 ft. to our current H460) more agressively, my wife can and does sail the boat as well as I do. 2 years ago she took our 40.5 (without me) on a week-long cruise with 3 friends. So - yes, she can get it safely to a dock, and do any other required manoeuver. When we are sailing together, we share the helm, but I think she steers more than I do because I often find that I have something else to do - like a repair or a sail adjustment, etc. I can't help but attend to the sails - it's a leftover from our racing days. When we raced, I would steer at the start (that agression thing again) and then hand her the helm for the bulk of the legs so that I could concentrate on tactics and sail trim. She was much better at the helm after the start because I would get distracted watching the wind, the other boats, the sails, etc. Val concentrated on steering. It worked and still works for us - we won a lot of races together. I have the utmost confidence in her ability and I believe it makes our boat safer in emergencies - if something ever happened to me, she would be able to get us through it. ROwen
We have been sailing together since 1975, and although I have always tended to sail our various boats (a total of 7 - from 24 ft. to our current H460) more agressively, my wife can and does sail the boat as well as I do. 2 years ago she took our 40.5 (without me) on a week-long cruise with 3 friends. So - yes, she can get it safely to a dock, and do any other required manoeuver. When we are sailing together, we share the helm, but I think she steers more than I do because I often find that I have something else to do - like a repair or a sail adjustment, etc. I can't help but attend to the sails - it's a leftover from our racing days. When we raced, I would steer at the start (that agression thing again) and then hand her the helm for the bulk of the legs so that I could concentrate on tactics and sail trim. She was much better at the helm after the start because I would get distracted watching the wind, the other boats, the sails, etc. Val concentrated on steering. It worked and still works for us - we won a lot of races together. I have the utmost confidence in her ability and I believe it makes our boat safer in emergencies - if something ever happened to me, she would be able to get us through it. ROwen
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