My wife and I are looking at buying a Hunter Passage 420. The sailing is easy, it is docking that concerns me. There are just the two of us and many times there is a cross wind that might blow us toward the next boat. It seems to be a very heavy boat and might be hard for us to pull toward the dock with the cross wind. Any other couples out there that can give me a hint on this?
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Add river current!
And a tight slip to the equation. Mine is only 37 but I know the fear of coming in with the wind up and no one on the docks. I prepare two lines of exactly the right length before departing. One is secure on the forward sampson post but long enough to reach the second piling(post, cleat) as we approach. This line reaches behind the shrouds about 25 feet back. The second line is long enough to reach about ten foot from the bow but is secured to an aft cleat. Both have about a two-foot splice(loop). My wife holds both lines at a point about ten feet from bow. I come in very slowly, at an angle so that her point of the boat will approach the first(end) piling. There she throws the aft line over. I also have that line in my hand. With a little port rudder(dock is starboard) I snake her up to the second piling where she throws over the bow-mounted line. Now straighten her out. The forward line acts as a spring line(and a brake) and with the aft line I can control the stern. Now they don't all run down to the docks when they see me coming. Never sure whether that was to help or for comic relief.
Good luck.
And a tight slip to the equation. Mine is only 37 but I know the fear of coming in with the wind up and no one on the docks. I prepare two lines of exactly the right length before departing. One is secure on the forward sampson post but long enough to reach the second piling(post, cleat) as we approach. This line reaches behind the shrouds about 25 feet back. The second line is long enough to reach about ten foot from the bow but is secured to an aft cleat. Both have about a two-foot splice(loop). My wife holds both lines at a point about ten feet from bow. I come in very slowly, at an angle so that her point of the boat will approach the first(end) piling. There she throws the aft line over. I also have that line in my hand. With a little port rudder(dock is starboard) I snake her up to the second piling where she throws over the bow-mounted line. Now straighten her out. The forward line acts as a spring line(and a brake) and with the aft line I can control the stern. Now they don't all run down to the docks when they see me coming. Never sure whether that was to help or for comic relief.
Good luck.
give up the wheel
First thing I did after taking delivery of my 410 was hire a captain for a day to take the wife from the slip to the pump-out dock to the yacht club courtesy dock back to the slip and then back over to med-tie, et cetera. I stand a full foot taller than Wonderblond, and so when it's time to leap to the dock with a springline in hand, it makes more sense for her to, ahem, "man" the helm. (By the way, when the captain was giving the docking lessons, I elected to be away from the boat. Far away. And when the boat came back that afternoon with a dozen scuffs on the hull, I just bit my tongue and got out the acetone. It all pays off in the long run, because now I've got a sailing partner who loves to take the boat out.)
First thing I did after taking delivery of my 410 was hire a captain for a day to take the wife from the slip to the pump-out dock to the yacht club courtesy dock back to the slip and then back over to med-tie, et cetera. I stand a full foot taller than Wonderblond, and so when it's time to leap to the dock with a springline in hand, it makes more sense for her to, ahem, "man" the helm. (By the way, when the captain was giving the docking lessons, I elected to be away from the boat. Far away. And when the boat came back that afternoon with a dozen scuffs on the hull, I just bit my tongue and got out the acetone. It all pays off in the long run, because now I've got a sailing partner who loves to take the boat out.)
We have Passage 450 and typically sail with just my wife and I. If you are talking about getting into your own home slip there are many aids you can utilize such as a pre-sized bow spring line attached to cleat on walkway side of slip. If you really are worried you could utilize V-shaped guide lines in your slip to center your boat as you enter automatically. There are modified boat hooks which can be used to easily drop a dock line exactly where you want it on cleat or piling, etc. We find we worry the most when we need to get into an unfamiliar marina under conditions of strong cross wind or current. Marina charts help. Help on the dock is almost indispensible in some situations. Get a good book on docking technics under adverse conditions and PRACTICE. My biggest problem initially was coming into the slip too timidly and slowly so that we got out of desired position almost invariably with adverse conditions before we could get any lines in place. On the other hand, you need to know your boat well before you come in too crisply. STUDY & PRACTICE!
Just took delivery of a new 420 a few months ago. Although I've had 2 previous >40 sailboats, and years of docking practice, its always a bit of a tense time..... but... Don't let fear of bringing the boat in or out of a slip keep you from getting (and enjoying) a truly great boat. The previous postings are excellent.... especially John's (hiring a professional capt to teach each of you the how-to's). Reading the books is great, but hands-on experience is really the only thing that will give you the confidence and skill to make maneurvering the boat comfortable. PS... don't be TOO concerned with cross-winds, or currents. Like parallel parking a car on a hill, once someone shows you how and you practice, prepare, and "keep your cool", its not all that hard.
Two Words Meant All The Difference
The one thing in which we invested and got immediate and continuing payback in terms of peace of mind and confidence in tight places was a BOW THRUSTER. It doesn't seem to have affected sailing performance on our 450 and it makes us look really, really good when we are coming into a tight place and all I have to do is press the correct arrow button on the console. Repeat after me - BOW THRUSTER. Just something to think about. Mike Pilolla s/v Carolina
The one thing in which we invested and got immediate and continuing payback in terms of peace of mind and confidence in tight places was a BOW THRUSTER. It doesn't seem to have affected sailing performance on our 450 and it makes us look really, really good when we are coming into a tight place and all I have to do is press the correct arrow button on the console. Repeat after me - BOW THRUSTER. Just something to think about. Mike Pilolla s/v Carolina
Backing in is really quite simple
We just took delivery on a 410 which is basically similar to the 420. I was told to do the following: 1. Stand facing to the stern. This way, when you want to go left, turn the wheel to the left. 2. Go as slowly as possible, often times you only need to shift in and out of reverse to accomplish the moves. 3. Begin at about a 45 degree approach, then turn sharply toward the dock. Be sure to have someone fend the port beam to bow area to avoid the dock corner. 4. As you enter, you will need to turn the wheel sharply to the boat's other side to correct the circular movement into the dock. 5. Buy yourself two to three flat bumpers and place them at the end of your slip. As you reach them, leave the boat in idle reverse. This "parks" the stern and will allow you to adjust the bow, stern and spring lines so that the boat is centered in the slip. This parking thing is also done when you prepare to head out. It really holds the boat in place while the lines are untied from the dock cletes. And, the flat fenders prevents any marks on to the boat. 6. The key to this is to go slowly, adjust for wind and current, and use the gear lever to take you in and out of reverse as you back into the dock. 7. Backing a Hunter into a slip makes boarding easier with the scoop transome. Good luck, John Richard s/v Jack's Place
We just took delivery on a 410 which is basically similar to the 420. I was told to do the following: 1. Stand facing to the stern. This way, when you want to go left, turn the wheel to the left. 2. Go as slowly as possible, often times you only need to shift in and out of reverse to accomplish the moves. 3. Begin at about a 45 degree approach, then turn sharply toward the dock. Be sure to have someone fend the port beam to bow area to avoid the dock corner. 4. As you enter, you will need to turn the wheel sharply to the boat's other side to correct the circular movement into the dock. 5. Buy yourself two to three flat bumpers and place them at the end of your slip. As you reach them, leave the boat in idle reverse. This "parks" the stern and will allow you to adjust the bow, stern and spring lines so that the boat is centered in the slip. This parking thing is also done when you prepare to head out. It really holds the boat in place while the lines are untied from the dock cletes. And, the flat fenders prevents any marks on to the boat. 6. The key to this is to go slowly, adjust for wind and current, and use the gear lever to take you in and out of reverse as you back into the dock. 7. Backing a Hunter into a slip makes boarding easier with the scoop transome. Good luck, John Richard s/v Jack's Place
420 docking
I sail a 410 with just two of us on board. I come in with my dock to starboard and a usual crosswind blowing me away from the dock. I have tried many techniques but this one has given us the confidence to be able to come in under any condition. I come in as slow as possible in forward gear, bleeding off as much speed as possible. I maintain just enough speed to get me along side of the dock. I have a premeasured line off of the MIDSHIP cleat. One person jumps off as soon as the bow gets comfortably alongside of the dock. and places the end loop of the premeasured line over a cleat close to end of the dock. I leave the boat in FORWARD gear and turn the wheel to move the bow AWAY from the dock. I NEVER put the boat in reverse. The boat will then come up against the premeasured line off the midship cleat and will bring the stern up against the dock. Since the stern may bounce out a bit when the line becomes tight, I have a stern line hanging on the lifeline for the person on the dock to simply hold lightly to keep the stern from momentarily bouncing too much. You then leave the boat in forward with wheel cocked to move the bow away from the dock, and you can walk to the bow to hand the person on the dock the bow line. THE BOAT WILL STAY THERE! The biggest problem with this method is psychological! As you stand behind the wheel with the boat in forward gear and the dock approaches there is a tendency to want to reverse the engine to stop it. If you do that it creates problems that we don't need to discuss other than to say your stern will back away from the dock quite rapidly! I gained confidence by hooking up the line off of the midship cleat while in the dock, putting the boat in forward gear and turning the wheel out, to see what the boat does. You will see that it will sit there against the dock forever regardless of the wind or current. JUST DON'T PUT IN REVERSE! MAke certain your cleat is at the balance midship point---I use the stock one on a 410 and it works beautifully. Make certain your line is stout enough and measured properly.
I sail a 410 with just two of us on board. I come in with my dock to starboard and a usual crosswind blowing me away from the dock. I have tried many techniques but this one has given us the confidence to be able to come in under any condition. I come in as slow as possible in forward gear, bleeding off as much speed as possible. I maintain just enough speed to get me along side of the dock. I have a premeasured line off of the MIDSHIP cleat. One person jumps off as soon as the bow gets comfortably alongside of the dock. and places the end loop of the premeasured line over a cleat close to end of the dock. I leave the boat in FORWARD gear and turn the wheel to move the bow AWAY from the dock. I NEVER put the boat in reverse. The boat will then come up against the premeasured line off the midship cleat and will bring the stern up against the dock. Since the stern may bounce out a bit when the line becomes tight, I have a stern line hanging on the lifeline for the person on the dock to simply hold lightly to keep the stern from momentarily bouncing too much. You then leave the boat in forward with wheel cocked to move the bow away from the dock, and you can walk to the bow to hand the person on the dock the bow line. THE BOAT WILL STAY THERE! The biggest problem with this method is psychological! As you stand behind the wheel with the boat in forward gear and the dock approaches there is a tendency to want to reverse the engine to stop it. If you do that it creates problems that we don't need to discuss other than to say your stern will back away from the dock quite rapidly! I gained confidence by hooking up the line off of the midship cleat while in the dock, putting the boat in forward gear and turning the wheel out, to see what the boat does. You will see that it will sit there against the dock forever regardless of the wind or current. JUST DON'T PUT IN REVERSE! MAke certain your cleat is at the balance midship point---I use the stock one on a 410 and it works beautifully. Make certain your line is stout enough and measured properly.
Ref: short handed
We have a H42 and have never had a problem - bottom line: plan ahead and always have a escape route just in case. Bill
We have a H42 and have never had a problem - bottom line: plan ahead and always have a escape route just in case. Bill
Tender Fenders
Buy lots of fenders...on my 40.5 Legend I have 4 large long style and 3 A20 round style...the long ones are for me and the round style for my neighboring vessel...and yes I almost forgot...practise...practise...practise....go in the calm and pretend its blowing 22...which is usual in my area of the world...yes! - Squamish is native for mother of all winds!!! Practise picking up a spring line from the dock with a reach poll... If allowed at your dock install a front bumper pad that you can nudge the bow into to hold while you tie up... Look into the arched over the bow style tie ups that hold a line for you over the bow...from the company that makes the plastic dock bumpers and fittings... And this is not made up-I have an elderly couple as neighbors with the same concern as you...when things go South they have a small grapply anchor on a line to hook the dock bull rail(if you have one)... Hope these ramblings help your situation and keep your confidence up... Cheers Mike D MV Orion Hunter 40.5 Legend
Buy lots of fenders...on my 40.5 Legend I have 4 large long style and 3 A20 round style...the long ones are for me and the round style for my neighboring vessel...and yes I almost forgot...practise...practise...practise....go in the calm and pretend its blowing 22...which is usual in my area of the world...yes! - Squamish is native for mother of all winds!!! Practise picking up a spring line from the dock with a reach poll... If allowed at your dock install a front bumper pad that you can nudge the bow into to hold while you tie up... Look into the arched over the bow style tie ups that hold a line for you over the bow...from the company that makes the plastic dock bumpers and fittings... And this is not made up-I have an elderly couple as neighbors with the same concern as you...when things go South they have a small grapply anchor on a line to hook the dock bull rail(if you have one)... Hope these ramblings help your situation and keep your confidence up... Cheers Mike D MV Orion Hunter 40.5 Legend
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