What's up, dock?

[Tom Monroe]

strong wind across dock

I do fine with my O'Day 22/outboard at both my home slip and elsewhere, EXCEPT when there is a strong (20 mph +) blowing me off the dock. I don't seem to have any prop walk to work with, and can get the bow in and controlled, but the stern is always getting away from us. Note ... like a previous post, I try to use the "ship approach", where I place the boat where it needs to be, not the "small boat approach" where you use lines and muscle. I like my wife with all the arms, fingers, back muscles, etc. that she has. All I want her to do is nail down a slack line.Suggestions?Tom MonroeCarlyle Lake

 

[Tom Monroe]

correct

Absolutely, Pirate!"Crew are not allowed to jump off our boat, if I have missjudged it, they may point, giggle, and make snide comments while I make a second attempt .. they may not jump."

 

[Jim B]

plowing over a dinghy in reverse

I watched a 40' hunter plow over its dinghy in revease. First he approaches the dock fast, then slams in Reverse, then accelarates into reverse, while the dinghy runs up the stern and turns over. At which time he then slams into foward and then notices how slow the boat is going. He still doesn't notice the overturned dinghy till a crew member scambles up from below and points out the motor is hanging upside down. Slow and steady does it...no points for speed.

 

[Pirate]

Try this ..?

When the wind is blowing off the dock, try this...Have your Crew belay a spring off the bow and walk it back to the shrouds. The line must be long enough to reach the stern of the boat.Have the stern line ready as you approach. Your crew stands outboard the lifelines at the shrouds and steps off onto the dock close to the cleat for the spring line. As the boat is coming alongside the crew walks back to the stern cleat on the dock while paying out the spring line.Hand the crew the stern line, the stern line gets belayed (drop the eye over the cleat). The crew takes a strain on the spring line (just enough to keep the bow from blowing off the dock) and walks back up the dock belays the spring. The skipper, having belayed the stern line, goes foward and hands the crew the bow line. In very strong winds the crew uses the spring to control the bow until the bow line is secured, then belay the spring.Takes a bit more effort than just belaying a slack line and the timing has to be practiced, but it won't leave you swinging off the bow in the wind.Randy

 

[frank arndorfer]

read the wind

To me being able to read the wind and understand what it will be trying to do to the boat is crucial. I try to visualize the slip and it's orientation to the existing wind and then plan accordingly.But it's the last 24 inches that are crucial, because that's when the boat is dead stopped and most apt to be moved by the wind. Our procedure is:Get off the boat with a line tied to the center cleat. This way there's a line to "pin" the boat to the slip regardless of which way the boat is moving. Once you know the boat is secure to the dock you can then collect your thoughts and determine which line(s) to connect next. This seems to work for us whether single-handing or working as a team.And practice practice practice. In flying we called them "touch and goes". Did them until we were blue in the face. But taught you that even in the same conditions, no two landings (or dockings) are ever the same. No substitute for experience and no other way to get the experience other than doing and doing.

 

[dan]

slow and practice

go slow and practice, read, listen and watch others, THEN FIND OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU! there is no ONE right way to dock a boat, but there are lots wrong ways.

 

[Jerry]

Identifying my slip

We have a single slip (two fingers) so at least my neighbors are safe. Our channel is long, boats are in and out and the slip numbers can't be seen until you're right there. So, I put some reflective tape to the aft of the slip so I can concentrate on docking; not just finding the right slip.Our slip is fairly wide.Unless there's a significant wind, there isn't much problem. We go to port to get into the slip. I go in fairly easy then put it into reverse. I turn the engine to starboard so it pulls the stern up to the finger so we can easily step off the boat.Getting out is sometimes harder than getting in. We had high winds pushing against the stern and making headway (or is it tailway) and maintaining maneuverability was difficult.The big thing we newbies have learned is not to panic and just take it easy.

 

[Walter]

Line Caddy

Fine, I've read most of the responses.My challenge: Catalina 36MkII, on a low dock (less than 1 foot), barely 26 feet long, and wobbly, prevailing wind on the beam, blowing off the dock.In these and any conditions it is folly to have any crew member jump off a large boat on the dock. You MUST come in with all docking work done from the boat - and in our private marina, there is never anyone around to help with docking or leaving...My solution, after my wife almost took a tumble in frigid water (and acquiring a fine bruise for it)?I bought a "Line Caddy" off the web from a fellow in Port Huron, mounted it on a 2X6 board about 5 feet high, attached to the dock, and installed "dedicated" mooring lines for the bow, amidship cleat, and stern, which now hang over the deck on departure. The post is mounted just ahead of the shrouds. As I slowly motor into the dock, my wife/crew, standing by the bow, picks up the forward line draped on the caddy and drops it over the bow cleat. The boat can go no further forward than the line permits and I cannot bump into the dock. I still have about 6-10ft of forward room at that moment. She then picks up the mid-ship line and brings it to the midship cleat. I can motor forward (idle, very slow), but when the boat is stopped she and I can bring the beam of the boat close to the dock. The boat is now for all practical purposes secure and I can still attach the stern line to the stern cleat. The boat does move depending on the wind, but is no menace to anyone, anything or itself. I then disembark and start installing the permanent mooring lines.No one jumped anywhere, no one was in danger of falling off and/or getting crushed by a 20,000 lbs vessel.We've never had easier arrivals unless the dock was high and long.

 

[Conrad Vanino]

Storm docking can be tough

Reading the wind and current is the most important items to allow you to "time them" in a fashion that will allow for a gentle docking. The stronger the wind, current or both, the more your past experience will help you do it. To be safe, I always put plenty of fenders out to protect the side of the vessel as I am reading the wind and current and preparing the dock lines. I then apply as much power is needed to do the job. Never too much. If there is a concern, practice till you are comfortable.

 

[Lee]

Timing is Everything

I like to go in with enough power to control the boat in the event of a gust of wind. This can't be done on a slow coasting idle in neutral. Then when I know when I need to stop, I hit reverse and let the engine stop the boat and the port side prop walk bring my stern in. Just a more controlled version of what Capt. Ron(Kurt Russell)does in the movie.

 

[Sandy]

practice while you are still OUT

If the wind is coming from the dock, we sail up close hauledthen turn towards the dock, going into irons and inertia takes us in. How tojudge the distance you need to be from dock when trning windward? Try a practice run while still out on the lake! If the wind is blowing any other direction, there are different plans for each one. But if you are worried it won't work, practice while still out. If it's really windy and you can't get it right, put sails down and motor in.

 

[Kurt]

Docking

I back my boat into the slip and was told that boat speed is the key. I start far out to gain total control before I even get close to the dock. Once the boat speed is up your control is much better.

 

[Brenda M]

Dito, woman at the helm, plus line caddy.

It is my job to bring the boat in and my husband does the tying up. We have two line caddies the one midway our dock holds a bow line and the spring line which prevents us from going forward, this one goes on first. Then while my husband takes the bow line forward and fastens off I reach out grabbing the stern line from the caddy furthest out on the dock and fasten it off. Engine is in neutral. Hubby then gets the aft spring line fastened and voila time for a last drink.

 

[heidi]

one of us is sure of themselves....

My husband is sure of himself and always seems to make it all work out despite often being in very tight spots or coping with lots and lots of wind.... I on the other hand just want to duck for cover! We really don't have the option of sailing in to the dock and have to motor in. Which is a relief to me.

 

[David Clonts]

Rock & Roll

My philosophy is, Commit to docking & do it. In moderate breeze ( I hope anyway ) don't be shy point and shoot, if you have crew. Point and scramble if you don't. there is nothing harder to steer than a boat adrift, blowing away in the breeze. Commit to dock & use those fenders. PS It always helps to have a little rubbing compound and wax on hand. If those can't fix the damage, maybe you might want to adopt some other strategy. Live Dangerously, nobody dies at the dock

 

[Scott]

High stress and no room!

Leaving and mooring to the dock at my marina is always high stress for me! I'm not that experienced and the current and wind near our marina make it even more troublesome. I've never left or moored alone and can't figure out how anyone does that! Any pointers sure would be helpful! A freind tells me to take it slow, but how can you go slow when the wind and current are making you go in directions you don't want to go!!?

 

[Steve Day]

Tugboat "School"

I learned a lot conning a Fleet Tug in the Navy! Most of the time, the techniques I learned maneuvering the 205 Ft tug play very well on "Day's Dream." The principal difference is the boat maneuvers MUCH better than the tug.The biggest single docking technique I learned is the use of a spring line. With proper use, the spring and prop thrust help in most situations. The other thing I learned is "don't get in a hurry!" Speed is not your friend when maneuvering near the dock. Take it easy, because it takes a LOT of thrust to slow that boat down. We displace nearly 20,000 pounds of water and that is brought home every time we get near a dock or slip.

 

[Joe Springer]

A 2-stroke 40 hp Outboard Makes it Hard

Our biggest problem is that it is difficult to run our 2-stroke 40-hp outboard motor at a slow speed. It wants to stall. (We are looking forward to getting a 4-stroke motor some day -- quieter, less oil in the water, and can be run at slower speeds.)But to approach our slip, we have to go slowly. We back in, starting about 20 feet away from our slip with the motor in reverse at pretty high RPMs until we actually start moving toward the slip. At that point, I hand off the steering to my wife while I stand on the transom.She almost always pops the motor into neutral right away, and we coast up to the slip. I step off, and immediately attach the spring line to the rear cleat so that regardless of momentum the boat will not hit the dock. I then hold the nearest post (that holds the lifelines) keeping the port side of the boat up close to -- but not touching -- the slip.After we figured out this method, our only problem has been dealing with a variable water currents and wind. Our slip is on the reservoir outlet, and depending on irrigation demands, the current can be zero to 4 mph.If the wind and current are in the same direction, there is always a risk of our boat swinging so quickly that our bow hits the bow of the boat in the downstream slip. It is also a MacGregor 26x, so the hulls would presumably meet at the rubberized rims of the decks. So far, no problem.

 

[Ray]

Docking singlehanded

I often go out alone and believe it or not I find leaving the dock more difficult than coming in. In both situations current, wind direction and strength, and traffic come into play. At least with leaving a dock you can use spring lines to get you pointed in the right direction. To help dock, I run a "grab" line from a bow cleat to the stern rail to hold onto when I step off the boat. In docking I keep just enough speed to provide steerage and ease up to the dock on a slow, parallel course. As the beam approaches the beginning of the dock I simply go forward, reach for the "grab" line, step off at the shrouds, and settle her in.

 

[dennis kelleher]

Extra Lines Attached to Pilings

I trained with a captain when i first purchased my 311 last year. i thought it would be difficult to get in and out of my slip, but the captain rigged two extremely taut lines across the front and back pilings, each at different heights on both the port and starboard side of my boat(i can reach either one no matter what the tide is).as i back into the slip, i simply cut the engine and walk the boat in (with or without help). I have had many of my fellow sailboat owners set up a similar system.