Was your worst docking this bad?

Plan C · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: Was your worst docking this bad?

Check out http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/incident-picture-of-the-week-mv-tampa-maersk/

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject:

Thats hard to beat. kind of like comparing scars with guy on a peg leg. He wins everytime.

BrentB · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject:

ouch Good demo on mass in motion.

rogerbum · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:14 am Post subject:

I don't see the problem. As long as the boat's still afloat, I consider it a good docking.

As John Candy said in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" - "That'll buff right out".

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:37 am Post subject:

As Airplane Pilots say, "any landing you can walk away from" is a good one.

Even the NAVY has this problem and, although this wasn't their fault, this collision at sea killed one sailor. I was the Program Manager in DC who got the call in the middle of the night and who had to arrange/plan to fix KINKAID. This is a "true sea story!". We got lots more! Maybe I should start a Sea Story thread? At least it has to do with boats/boating/ships/stuff like that...

Charlie

matt_unique · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:55 am Post subject: FULL REVERSE!

Fortunately none that bad for me, ha ha!

I had an interesting experience last year though. I dropped my final passengers for the night at Long Wharf and heading back to the marina I picked up a plastic bag around the shaft. (I did not know it at the time). There were no signs of any problems and I was cruising at regular speed across the harbor. There was no drop in RPM or vibration or anything. I approached the slip as I normally do, had the perfect angle, dropped intro neutral, then finally into reverse to prop walk parallel with the dock. Except this time reverse had no affect. The rear of the slip was approaching so I poured on more throttle. I finally had full reverse with no affect. Fortunately I was not going that fast but I hit the rear of the dock with a jolt.

The bag had wrapped in a way that it did not affect the shaft in forward but she bound up snug in reverse. A diver looked at the prop and shaft the following morning to discover the bag. It served as a good reminder to approach a dock as fast as you are willing to crash into it!

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:00 am Post subject:

Good story Matt. It reinforces my thinking and reminds me that I always come to a complete stop (by using reverse) some distance away from the dock and then proceed slowly. Never crunched one that way but anything is possible! Rolling Eyes

Charlie

Pat Anderson · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:16 am Post subject:

I have some horror stories of docking - mostly involving being on the wrong side of the float with the wind blowing me away. Worst one was at Shilshole, by the time I was done I got turned around facing back out, between the floats where there were other boats. Not my proudest moment. But no, nothing like your picture!