For the slip where I keep my C30, the summertime wind is normally about 45 degrees off the starboard bow. When I back out of the slip, I need to swing the stern to port and the bow to starboard. Unfortunately, the wind is pushing the bow in the opposite direction. Since it is often just my wife and myself, she is not strong enough to push the bow to starboard using a boat hook. If we get turned the wrong direction, there isn't room to turn the boat 180 degrees, so I find myself backing all the way out of the slip area. Maybe it's just me, but I have difficulty maneuvering the boat while going backwards, especially in a cross wind. Any suggestions for how to get the bow to starboard while backing out of the slip will be greatly appreciated. Bob Boller Benicia, CA
Safely exiting the slip
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Spring Line
Hi Bob, Something to try ... Since you have a Catalina like I do, I will assume that your prop walk is to port when backing up, which in your case is what you want. Attach a spring line from a port aft cleat around the end of your dock/piling and hang on to the bitter end. If the piling is rough have your wife keep a fender between the piling and your boat as you will be pivoting at that point. As you backout keep enough tension on the spring line so as to force the boat to backout to port. Don't hold the line tight too soon, because you need to get your bow past the starboard piling/dock/boat. But once you are sure you have enough bow swing room, you should be able to pivot on the port piling, by pulling the spring line tight, and using the prop walk to help you walk the stern over. Hope this helps.
Hi Bob, Something to try ... Since you have a Catalina like I do, I will assume that your prop walk is to port when backing up, which in your case is what you want. Attach a spring line from a port aft cleat around the end of your dock/piling and hang on to the bitter end. If the piling is rough have your wife keep a fender between the piling and your boat as you will be pivoting at that point. As you backout keep enough tension on the spring line so as to force the boat to backout to port. Don't hold the line tight too soon, because you need to get your bow past the starboard piling/dock/boat. But once you are sure you have enough bow swing room, you should be able to pivot on the port piling, by pulling the spring line tight, and using the prop walk to help you walk the stern over. Hope this helps.
Spring line is the way to go
Bob The spring line is the way to go. I too have a Catalina 30 and have experienced much difficulty backing out of my slip, which is on the Hudson River across from mid-town Manhattan. We have to deal with the very strong current as well as often large wake. While I have tried many tricks (including backing all the way). The using the spring line has been the simplest and solution. Good luck.
Bob The spring line is the way to go. I too have a Catalina 30 and have experienced much difficulty backing out of my slip, which is on the Hudson River across from mid-town Manhattan. We have to deal with the very strong current as well as often large wake. While I have tried many tricks (including backing all the way). The using the spring line has been the simplest and solution. Good luck.
Good advice, plus
1. make the line loooooong 2. don't forget to use the throttle - even with the wind, using enough to get you moving will start getting the rudder engaged, going too slow only makes the problem worse. 3. seems like we just had this discussion a few weeks ago...with someone from Benecia
1. make the line loooooong 2. don't forget to use the throttle - even with the wind, using enough to get you moving will start getting the rudder engaged, going too slow only makes the problem worse. 3. seems like we just had this discussion a few weeks ago...with someone from Benecia
Backing in
Using prop-walk to back into the slip might be an option, I did it with my C-27 for 4 years. Turns out that backing in is easier than backing out. Also start watching for a better slip. Rodger PS if you like backing in get 2 of those corner mount dock wheels. You can just roll into your slip.
Using prop-walk to back into the slip might be an option, I did it with my C-27 for 4 years. Turns out that backing in is easier than backing out. Also start watching for a better slip. Rodger PS if you like backing in get 2 of those corner mount dock wheels. You can just roll into your slip.
I'll try the sping line
Yes, that was me that posted the same question a couple of weeks ago. We went on vacation over Thanksgiving and I forgot all about it. Sorry to make you re-enter your suggestions. I tried to find the thread in the archives, but wasn't able to. I figured a spring line might work. Unfortunately, there isn't a piling on the port side of my slip, only a cleat. However, I think I will still give it a try. The only potential problem I can see is the line getting caught going around the cleat. Thanks to everyone for you input. Bob
Yes, that was me that posted the same question a couple of weeks ago. We went on vacation over Thanksgiving and I forgot all about it. Sorry to make you re-enter your suggestions. I tried to find the thread in the archives, but wasn't able to. I figured a spring line might work. Unfortunately, there isn't a piling on the port side of my slip, only a cleat. However, I think I will still give it a try. The only potential problem I can see is the line getting caught going around the cleat. Thanks to everyone for you input. Bob
Bob
Our neighbors have a Mason 33 which doesn't turn at all, they claim that's true in reverse as well as forward! They use the spring line trick and we have cleats on our docks. Works like a charm for them. Just don't use too big a line, 3/8 will do, 1/2 max since you're not tying up your boat, just "leveraging" it. When you're backed out and heading the right direction, don't try to whip it over the cleat, just let go of the lose end of the line, and pull on the end tied to your boat cleat - the line will get wet, but you've made the turn. In this case, smaller might be better. We just recently bought a long length of line that was a 50 or more foot surplus anchor line for less than $10 - we cut off the thimbled end, looped in a bowline and now have a great long spring line. That's just the kind of thing you need. Might want to practice on a calm day. FYI, do an archive search on "spring line" - lotsa hits, probably your old one, too.
Our neighbors have a Mason 33 which doesn't turn at all, they claim that's true in reverse as well as forward! They use the spring line trick and we have cleats on our docks. Works like a charm for them. Just don't use too big a line, 3/8 will do, 1/2 max since you're not tying up your boat, just "leveraging" it. When you're backed out and heading the right direction, don't try to whip it over the cleat, just let go of the lose end of the line, and pull on the end tied to your boat cleat - the line will get wet, but you've made the turn. In this case, smaller might be better. We just recently bought a long length of line that was a 50 or more foot surplus anchor line for less than $10 - we cut off the thimbled end, looped in a bowline and now have a great long spring line. That's just the kind of thing you need. Might want to practice on a calm day. FYI, do an archive search on "spring line" - lotsa hits, probably your old one, too.
Cheap stern thruster.
I have the same turning problem, in spades, every time the wind is out of the east, my C30 just flat will not make a reversing turn to port. Single handling can get pretty scary although I haven't bumped anybody else as yet. While my solution wont go down well with the purists it does wonders for my blood pressure. I found a cheap (fifty bucks ) 3HP electric trawling motor at a garage sale then made a simple frame out of 2" X 2" pieces of wood to hang it from the stern rail, this to get the prop' in to the water. I strap this to a vertical rail to stop the whole thing moving when the prop' turns. My lawn mower battery ( the mower is deceased ) provides the power. This all sounds kind of messy but I can have the whole thing set up in minutes. On those days when I KNOW I'm going to be in trouble I slip this rig over the stern and, when I need the hard thrust to port, on it goes. With leverage from the turning point of the boat you wouldn't believe what three horse-power can do for you. Around she comes,and very smartly. I don't need it often, but when I need it, boy am I glad of it. Jim G.
I have the same turning problem, in spades, every time the wind is out of the east, my C30 just flat will not make a reversing turn to port. Single handling can get pretty scary although I haven't bumped anybody else as yet. While my solution wont go down well with the purists it does wonders for my blood pressure. I found a cheap (fifty bucks ) 3HP electric trawling motor at a garage sale then made a simple frame out of 2" X 2" pieces of wood to hang it from the stern rail, this to get the prop' in to the water. I strap this to a vertical rail to stop the whole thing moving when the prop' turns. My lawn mower battery ( the mower is deceased ) provides the power. This all sounds kind of messy but I can have the whole thing set up in minutes. On those days when I KNOW I'm going to be in trouble I slip this rig over the stern and, when I need the hard thrust to port, on it goes. With leverage from the turning point of the boat you wouldn't believe what three horse-power can do for you. Around she comes,and very smartly. I don't need it often, but when I need it, boy am I glad of it. Jim G.
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