Spring Line

[dlewis812]

1. Size the cleats for the size of line you use. Bigger if you need to use two dock lines once you're in. Bigger is definitely better.

2. I used the jib sheet winches on our C25. It worked, I just draped the dockline over the winch as I came into the dock.

3. I'd install midship cleats on a C30, because the boat's longer. Like this:

Single Handing 101.1 Midship Cleats Pictures http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4921.0.html

Good point earlier about learning how the boat sits when using the spring line. I have found that a midships spring back to the aft dock cleat and back to the winch works fine and best when the dock cleat is abeam the aft boat cleat.

realized i have a very long outside rail (see attached) which i think would be good for the mid ship cleats. only saw a few in stainless, doesn't look as though yours are. any suggestions where to look for a bit less $$ than the stainless?

 

[Stu Jackson]

I bought mine at Nautical Engineering, 2 for $47 each, back in Sept. 1998. Don't know if they're still in business.

 

[fox islander]

"--- as Zee said, bow lines given to stupid idiots on the dock who pull them in hard

--- Please, stay away from me when I'm docking, even singlehanded and it's VERY windy, 'cuz most of the time, if not ALL the time, you mess up a simple situation --- help is, and should be unecessary; it's the skippers role to dock the boat, not the dummies on shore"

..."stupid"...really? Quite often people walking around on docks are simply looking at the boats, not experienced sailors/ boaters...hand them a dock line and they are very likely to pull in hard, not because they are stupid, or dummies...just not experienced boaters. Occasionally you'll find a person on a dock that realizes if he yanks in on the front, the back is going out...Although I'm quite capable of docking my boat by myself, I never turn down help at a dock...it's rude.

 

[zeehag]

"--- as Zee said, bow lines given to stupid idiots on the dock who pull them in hard

--- Please, stay away from me when I'm docking, even singlehanded and it's VERY windy, 'cuz most of the time, if not ALL the time, you mess up a simple situation --- help is, and should be unecessary; it's the skippers role to dock the boat, not the dummies on shore"

..."stupid"...really? Quite often people walking around on docks are simply looking at the boats, not experienced sailors/ boaters...hand them a dock line and they are very likely to pull in hard, not because they are stupid, or dummies...just not experienced boaters. Occasionally you'll find a person on a dock that realizes if he yanks in on the front, the back is going out...Although I'm quite capable of docking my boat by myself, I never turn down help at a dock...it's rude.

first of all..i do not engage mere tourists to assist my docking. i request assistance from alleged professional souls working in the place in which i am docking.
second..i am able to dock my formosa 41 without a bow thruster, in a semi tight situation without help, as i found out while doing that exact thing in la cruz de huanacaxtle during afternoon winds. i use a midships line to stabilize the boat then go from there. i usually send the dock worker a bow line after i make sure the midships line is done well. if i havent trust and faith in the dock personnel, i will toss an unsecured line for them to ponder as i finish my mission.

by the way, when quoting, it is less rude to include the entire sentence so context is not befouled, as has been in the quotes above.

btw..most areas in which alleged yachts are berthed are gated and secure without dock walkers who will be found at public docks. lol. i have yet to find a public dock here in mexico.