What's up, dock?

[Paul Morin]

I back in and have a sling rope set catch me

I have rigged a catch slind (old halyards) with an old bumper so as I back in, the transom catched the bumper, and the line springs me just before I get a foot away with the outboard.Then I put spring lines on the mid-ship cleats and tie off lightly (I've never had to buy an outboard engine cover or propeller, nor do any glass work as a result of docking).Someone told me long ago, the dock comes to you twice as fast as you're moving, so either go slow, or become friends with a boat repair specialist. (fenders do help, as well as old inner tubes tied to spring lines)(like a sling-shot)

 

[Lee]

How fast?

Once, when returning to port on a chartered boat, the helmsman asked how fast we should be going into the slip. Another crew member replied "only as fast as you want to hit it."

 

[Paul Harmina]

Determione at what spped you wish to hit the dock!

Years ago I learned that the secret to successful docking was to determine at what speed you wish to hit the dock. To control this I always hook up the spring line first so that my boat stops just before it would have made contact. This sure saves a lot of fiberglass repairs, and it allows me to secure the remaining lines without worrying what the boat will be doing.

 

[Ros]

Sissy lines

Sissy Lines! One or two lines between front and back pilings. Grab the windward one with the boat hook in high wind or current conditions and you or your crew are then in a position to pick up windward lines and secure then in any conditions! If tight enough they also prevent you from intrusions into you neighbors slip. Slow and steady approach is the way to go but will not work in high wind and current conditions.

 

[Mike Wiseman]

The turtle wins

Slow and steady is a sure bet.

 

[Mark Wieber]

Slowly and Majestically

But we have rollers on the outer corners, and a line tied catch (with one fender horizontal) accross the front of our slip. This set up allows me to single hand our Catalina 36 with reasonable success. Plus, as some have mentioned, I might have to sail in some day, or one of the crew might have to drive. Buffing out rub marks is a pain!A solid, perfect docking under power beats a chinese fire drill under sail any day. Part of a sail boats job is to enhance the scenery. slow and majestic is the ticket. Precise and smooth for the bonus round points.

 

[Carlos]

Lots of Practice

The first few times I docked my new 393, I almost had heart failure. Fighting wind and opposing current can be very tricky and you feel all eyes are on you. A few things I learned are: keep it slow so if you do hit something there is minimal damage, the more you take your boat out the more practice you get, practice makes perfect. Don't worry about other people watching you, tune everyone not on your boat out. If all seems to be going wrong and you don't think you are going to make it, don't be scared to back off and try it again. Relax, what's the worst that can happen?

 

[Greig C]

Preset Docklines

When coming in no matter what the wind or tide I always move slowly. I'd rather hit at 1/2 a knot than 5. I also have all my dock lines preset. I leave them on the dock cleats when I leave. When I come in I always use the stern line to first help stop the bow touching forward then put on the bowline. The springs go on and the boat is secure. I know the boat is in the right position everytime. Even in high winds I know the boat won't rub or bounce on the dock and my step is always in the same place making it easy to get on and off.

 

[Peter Allen]

Use a breast line

Question: What's the difference between a good docking and a bad one?Answer: Witnesses.Suggestion: Have a breast line rigged and ready to drop on the dock's outboard cleat or piling. A breast line is secured to a cleat on the rail, genoa track, or deck amidships.

 

[Pat Perkins]

True sailor

Since I gave up on motors for my boat years ago, I have to be patient. Reading the wind, waves and currents allows me to sail right in to most any dock. I usually drop the jib as I am entering the harbor and sail in using only the mainsail.

 

[Don Wilson]

Docking no proplem

I am in a well protected marina and have had no problem docking my Hunter 290. Of course this is after quite a bit of practice. I usually back the boat into the slip but depending on tide and wind direction the crew might use the grap a dock line and pull method, both have worked well for me. I find the going slow when comeing into the marina and slip is the real secret at least for me.Good DockingDon Wilson

 

[Ellen]

reduce variables

Reducing as many variables as possible that are predicatable, has made docking much less stressful for me. Set up a cable between you and the boat next door. Then set up a "harness" at the dock like a big X, that will hold you in place as you enter and exit. This won't allow you to hit the dock or other boat while you get the lines, and guides you in and out. Set your dock lines and leave them at the dock. The front ones drape over the harness for easy pick up later, back ones throw over cable and dock. Pick up and secure back ones first, harness holds you in place with geer in forward until front is secured. No one jumps off. Determine lowest speed to still allow steering control and leave it alone, only adjust geer as needed forward, reverse and neutral, thus eliminating another variable of changing speed too. Plan ahead, clear cockpit of mess and lines, remain calm, and practice, practice, practice.

 

[Marv Stein]

giving the slip

I put fenders attached to the dock in my home port.The 26 x at very slow speed is a cork therefore I always am aware of the wind. I have fun with docking by remembering a set process and not allowing those helping hands to get into the process. My wife and I do it better when left alone.

 

[Ben]

Getting better

"Relax, what's the worst that can happen?"Carlos, never ask questions like that. Life has a way of answering them for you at the worst possible time. Docking used to be a challenge for me because my slip is so short. If I pulled into the slip instead of backing in, I had to very carefully tie my stern lines so that they were short enough to keep my nav. lights from smashing on a piling, but long enough to allow for the rising and falling tides. I have no mid-ships cleats, so I couldn't do spring lines.Now that I've gotten better at maneuvering, I back into my slip. This allows the bow to ride a little way out of the slip, so the short length is no longer an issue. As I back in, I grab spring lines from the forward pilings and put them over my stern cleats. This prevents me from ramming the outboard into the dock. Then I tie off the stern lines as my wife or crew secures the bow lines. Works like a charm.Now if I could just get better at tying up at unfamiliar places. The audience factor never helps me, and I'm not good at tying knots quickly. I'm not even good at tying knots slowly. Time for more practice, I guess.

 

[funset]

human fenders

I OFTEN SAIL WITH DIFFERENT CREW, EVERYBODY IS INSTRUCTED ON HIS OR HER JOB PRIOR TO THE FORTH COMING DISASTER. AND ARE INSTRUCTED ON THE BEST WAYS TO THROW THEIR BODIES BETWEEN THE DOCK AND THE BOAT, TO PROTECT THE BOAT. THANK GOD, IT HASN'T BEEN NESASARY SO FAR. BUT I LEARNED NEVER COME INTO THE DOCK FASTER THAN YOU WAN'T TO HIT IT. SO SLOWER IS BETTER. THE LINES ARE ALWAYS LEFT ON THE DOCK AND ARE IN DIFFERENT COLOR. EVERY ONE IS INSTRUCTED ON WHICH LINE AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT. WITH A THIRTY EIGHT FOOT BOAT AND A FIFTY FIVE FOOT SLIP I HAVE ROOM FOR ERROR. BUT I COME IN SLOW ENOUGH TO SELDOM HAVE TO USE IT.

 

[Ron]

Docking tip

I got a great tip from an old sailor that helps every time. I run the bow lines ouboard of the life lines and the shrouds along the toe rail. Then anyone who gets off can grab the lines from the closest part of the boat and you don't need someone on the bow. Works great when singlehanding too.

 

[VINCE]

MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HAVE A VARIETY OF DENOMINATIONS ON MY PERSON,DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES, I HOLD OUT THE APPROPIATE AMOUNT AND WAIT FOR THE DOCK BOYS{PERSONS) TO HELP WITH THE DOCKING PRCEEDURE.  SINCERLY  VINCE

 

[Derek Rowell]

My dock is so small & my boat is so big...

... and there is a "hurricane pole" between me and the next boat so that I have to do a very sharp turn in with at most 3 inch clearance as the maximum beam passes between the pole and the dock. At the dock my stern sticks out about 3 ft beyond the pole. Makes life interesting with any cross wind blowing. If it's blowing from the west I have to get the stern line on real fast or I'm blown on to the pole.Backing out is also "interesting". On my old H34 I used to back out, swing the wheel over and she would come around nicely and I could throw it into forward and away we'd go. With the Pearson 422 it's a complete toss-up as to which way the stern will turn as I back out! The wind is by far the most important factor, and will push the bow either way. Several times in an easterly the stern has gone the wrong way, and I had to keep backing out of the marina all the way (much to the amusement of my neighbors). Even in the best conditions I have to do a "dance" in the channel to get the bow to come around.

 

[Lee Morton]

What UP ,dock

I read the wind&current before docking&bring the boat in slow as to not to bang the side of the dock or boat,the wind brings the boat into the dock slow.

 

[Al]

Valet Parking at our marina

Not really, but an idea whose time has come.