Docking Technique

C

cadenza

New member
We picked up our new C-22 "Cadenza" a couple of weeks ago and have taken her out several times. The boat is wonderful and we are really enjoying her. Having had a variety of sailboats and lived and cruised aboard a trawler for four years I thought I knew how to dock a boat. However, it's become clear that I need to learn a lot more about how a C-Dory handles in the wind, especially near things like docks. Having always had boats with keels and rudders, I'm learning that you don't just put this boat in neutral and steer up to the dock.

My wife and I were out practicing around a post in the water yesterday to get a better idea of how she handles in a cross wind at slow speed. It seems that the bow tends to fall off with the wind pretty fast because of (1) weight in the back, (2) windage forward, and (3) flat bottom.

I was just wondering if there is any advice or tips anyone can give me regarding techniques you use for docking this boat. Thanks.

P.S. Just wanted to also mention that we bought our boat from Big Boys Play Toys in Palatka, FL. They are a new C-Dory dealer in Florida and Rodney and his crew were a pleasure to deal with and did a great job preparing the boat and installing the equipment. I would highly recommend them to anyone considering purchasing a C-Dory here in Florida.
 
Welcome! Your post has it pretty well pegged. Docking is part of the C-Dory adventure. I can't really add much except, put your bumpers out, make sure your mate can use a pole, and rig up your slip so you can lean out and grab a line and secure it to the cleat right under the helm window. Other than that, go to the C-Dory gatherings-there's always lots of help from dockside. Again, welcome. I like the name Cadenza.
 
One rule I learned several times the hard way is that, if the wind is going to be behind and off your quarter, don't try to back into a tight spot. There's no way to prevent the bow from falling off. With the wind behind, it's much safer to dock bow in rather than backing in. Twin engines help somewhat in countering the effects of wind on the bow, but not dramatically so. If you've discovered that the wind drastically affects the bow of the boat much more than the stern, and that it tends to pivot at the bow, you won half the battle. Took me a long time to realize that simple fact, but once you do, you can take it into account. With my twin engines, I've found it effective to "bump" the engines in and out of gear as I make my approach, and sometimes even use only one engine for my forward thrust, reserving the other for some directional control. But anyway you put it, the boat's a handful in the wind.
 
Steve and Carla,

Here's how I dock. This works best if you dock port side to the dock.

Approach the dock at an angle of 30 to 45 % with just enough speed that you will carry and not get blown off.

When the forward fender(port side) is almost at the dock, spin the helm to port and engage reverse. Give it enough throttle to stop the forward motion and pull the stern over to the dock. Then the crew in the cockpit can grab the dock or put the stern line around a cleat. Then someone jumps out and holds the boat at the dock until the bow line can be cleated.

This will also work docking starboard side to the dock. Due to the right hand turning prop, port side to is easier, but the ability to turn the motor makes it possible to dock either side to the dock.

As you found out, the lightweight, flat bottom, high windage changes the way you have to dock. The light weight however, allows the boat to Approach the dock faster and be stopped quicker than a heavy trawler or sailboat. Also the fact that the prop thrust can be 'aimed' helps.

My first boat was a 30 ft trimaran sailboat and landing was more like landing an airplane on a carrier than docking a boat. Many times I had to jump off the moving boat with stern line in hand to 'snub off ' on a dock cleat and stop the boat.

You are doing the best practice, approaching a float in the water. Try approaching the float with some boat speed and stopping the boat with reverse. This is also good practice for 'emergency stops' if you don't see a rock or something that you don't want to hit.
 
one thing that takes a little getting used to, you can't ease into the dock if it's very windy, go ahead a full ramming speed and then reverse thrust at the last moment. If you timing is right you make a nice landing, if not....well....I guess that gel coat is repairable. One handy addition is a short boat hook stored by the helm
 
I can't add much to the others comments. They are all techniques I've learned the hard way. The one little extra I can add is to get a tractor nob for your steering wheel. Shelley got one from the John Deere dealer for me last year. They make stainless ones for boats that do the same thing but are more expensive.

It was a revelation the first time I used the nob. Because changes in wind direction and wind speed have such a drastic impact on the C-Dory, you need to make fast corrections at low speed. With a nob and hydraulic steering I can go lock to lock in a split second. It's almost intuitive. I don't make small corrections now at slow speeds into the wind. I will come hard over and then back off as soon as the bow starts to move in the direction that I want to go. It also makes the trick that Larry discussed with reverse much easier. It took me three years to learn this, do yourself a favor and go get one as soon as possible.
Lyle
 
Hi Folks,

A few ideas. First, put three finders along side you are going to dock before approaching dock.

COMING UP TO DOCK ON WINDWARD SIDE.

I try to come parrel to the dock at about 1 to 2 feet from the dock. Just before I want to dock, turn boat slightly away from the dock. Stop boat. She should end up right at dock. If you are two far off, the bow will swing to fast.

Another idea. You can do this with a dock with a large cleat or post. Tie both ends of a 12 to 15 foot docking line to stern cleat of boat.. As you come along side, step out of cabin and loop sternline over dock cleat, running engine forward and close to dock. Boat should snug right up to dock.

COMING UP TO DOCK ON LEEWARD SIDE.

Before coming along dock, attach both stern and bow line to boat, and run free ends to the aft corner of the cabin. Come along side, and stop engine, jump ashore with both dock lines in hand. Secure docklines. Make sure dock lines are long enough so as you tie the stern line, you can hold the bow line in your hand. That means that on a 22' boat, the bow line should be from 25 to 30 feet long.

If people want to help, let them by passing lines to them and tell them to NOT pull on line, but HOLD line until you can secure boat yourself. If the dock has lots of cleats, pass the loop end to the person and ask them to put it on a cleat you designate. You control your lines at the boat.

My boat is in Nantucket, and at 3:00 PM (1500 Hrs) the wind pipes up out of the SW at 15 to 25 Knots. I get a lot of practice, and sometimes it does not work the way I want. If there are boats at the dock, and you have to fit yours between other boats, it gets a little more hairy.

Remember, as long as you have way on, the boat should not swing much. It is when you stop that the bow swings fast.

Good Luck,

Fred Heap
 
Yes, this is the Modified Inertia Method - and I have the repair bills to prove it!


B~C":yklpgjhb said:
one thing that takes a little getting used to, you can't ease into the dock if it's very windy, go ahead a full ramming speed and then reverse thrust at the last moment. If you timing is right you make a nice landing, if not....well....I guess that gel coat is repairable. One handy addition is a short boat hook stored by the helm
Click to expand...
 
You all may have forgotten this by now but this from an earlier post from B~C. Enjoy

PRACTICE DOCKING


Read the directions first. It'll still drive you nuts...

And what someone else said, Never approach a dock faster than you'd be willing to hit it!! :shock:

charlie
 
Fred,
Great instructions and if I ever find dock space on the windward side I will tie up and never leave it. You would think the law of averages would provide favorable docking conditions half the time but that has not been my experience. Like Pat, my boat shows a clear history of docking encounters.
 
Thanks to all for the very nice responses to my question, you've given given us a number of things to think about and to practice. My wife and I have been sitting here together reading and rereading the all the responses and talking about what we will try next.

So far the gel coat is still intact. I don't know why. These must be tough little boats.

I tried the online simulator. I'm glad you don't have to pay for damages on it. I'll keep trying.
 
some more thoughts, current makes docking a bit more difficult but it is consistant, wind makes thing a bit more tough as it varies, but, the one critical, key, variable that will most likely determine if your docking attemp is smooth or a controlled crash, is the number of spectators.

When approching the dock, have all the crew return their tray tables to the upright position and assume the docking position before hand. If you have folks running about on the boat it makes it kind of hard to control.

Joe, I revisited that docking simulator and the docks where all smashed on my screen :)
 
A couple of things..

The thing that has made the most difference in my ability to dock gracefully has been to put a 50' line that is centered on the bow with 1/2 running down the port side and 1/2 down the starboard. I also have a 25' line at each stern cleat. On both the port and starboard side, I arrange the lines so that a both a stern and a bow line hang over into the cockpit about 2' apart. Hence, once I get to the dock either I or someone else can hop out with BOTH lines in hand at the same time. If you approach with some speed, hit reverse and hop out with both lines in hand you are in control (provided you remember to put it in neutral prior to getting out.

The other technique that works well is to have a line from the midships cleat the terminates in a loop that can be placed over a cleat as you are moving down parallel to the dock. If you (or your mate) can get that line over a cleat, a little forward momentum and leaving it in gear will bring the boat into the dock and hold it there. Then you can get out and deal with the other lines and then shut down. I use this all the time at the locks or other places where the stay will be short (a few mins). This way I can keep the boat tight to the dock in a cross wind with only a single line.
 
After two aborts and a particularly rough docking in a breeze and very conscious of being closely watched by two much older sailors on a large sailboat we finally tied off.
He came over to us and gently suggested next time we try dead slow and into the wind. He said not to worry though and then briefly recounted that as a former KLM pilot his adage was that any landing is a good landing as long as you walk away from it.
 
I wanted to dock today at a small dock with a light breeze and about 1.5knt current coming across the dock. I made one attempt bow first but the current pushed me away. Next I tried to back in - same result.

You generally have more control when going into the current. So I came up to the end of the dock (bow into current) until I could get onto the dock from the cockpit. I grabbed bow and stern lines as the bow began to get pushed down by the wind and current. I got both lines on cleats and pulled in the bow.

You don't alway have to pull-up to the side of the dock (or into a slip) you want to be on. If it is easier, just pull up to the end and use the bow and stern lines to put the boat where you want it. Of course this can take significant strength if the current is over 5knts and the wind is blowing over 25!

Steve
 
Our first try docking in our slip was a disaster and much more frustrating because about six men stood by and watched the whole thing without ever offering a hand. We finally got it docked after bumping both stern corners and the bow. Not a good experience.

Our slip is on the Columbia River and we have both current and wind to contend with, not to mention that as we come into the slip we have to make a quick U turn that has us going with the current into the slip. That leaves us with little control at a critical time.

Now we come in make the turn and instead of aiming for the middle of our side of the slip, I aim for the boat in the slip next to ours (it's a double slip). By the time we reach the slip our momentum has pushed us right where I want to be and if it's not close enough to the dock, I just turn the wheel towards the dock and put it in reverse. It works like a charm.

Early on we went to an empty dock and practiced docking starboard, docking port, backing up, getting to the dock bow in and then moving the stern over. It was a really valuable experience and has made a huge difference in my understanding of how the boat handles. Now I dock the boat most of the time and Don gets off at the Dock. I had to learn because it was more scary for me to get off the boat in the wind than to learn how to dock it.

Dee
 
Good discussion,

Heres something I learned....

If you have to enter a tight docking situation like a slip inside a marina and it all goes wrong....

Go back out into open water and try it again. Think of the first attempt as 'scouting' and adjust what you are doing the second(or third!) time. Too much maneuvering(forward and reverse) stirs up the water and makes false currents and eddies.

I think it's better to try it over than to lose my cool and damage something.
 
Reading these post sure makes us feel better. With our lack of experience, thought we were among the very few who had problems around docks.

What saved us and those around us in our learning curve?

1. GOOD LUCK!!!

2. As Nancy H says- scouting.

3. Practice, Practice, Practice. Whenever we found a empty slip, or dock with few people or boats around we tried docking over and over, using different angles of approach. Did this in as many different water currents and wind directions as we could find.

After 3 yrs and 4600 boating miles, coming into a slip or to fuel is still our biggest boating challenge. Our 1st time back out after every long Wyoming winter it feels like we are beginning all over again.

We now have been at it just long enough to really admire anyone that can consistently maneuver a C-Dory or any other boat well around docks.
 
This information is dead on correct, just like we'd all like to be able to dock!

I thought I was doing a pretty good job of getting into my slip (usually), but blew it occasionally in strong cross winds. Some fellow told me about the method Knotty-C mentions in slightly different form:

Start the turn aiming at the dock finger between your slip and the boat next to, but beyond in the direction of your travel, as though you are going into the dock finger instead of the slip. After gliding forward in neutral and slowing down, shift into reverse after having turned the wheel in the opposite direction of the intended turn, and use just enough an amount of thrust to make the boat straighten up aligned right on the slip. Now gently go slowly into forward with the motor just enough to enter the slip until dropping back into reverse to fihish parking the boat.

Another thought: often people get into trouble because they're too timid to use enough thrust to make the boat go where they really want it and lose control to the wind or current. The solution is to practice until you get over the timidity.

We have 200+ houseboats at Bridge Bay on Lake Shasta along with 250 other smaller boats. Some of the houseboats with all their windage are as long as 65 feet with a 15 foot beam and have to go in slips that are less than 20 feet wide. Our C-Dorys ought to be a piece of cake by comparison!

Joe.
 
Joe,

You were able to express exactly what we learned to do through practice. Of course just when we think we have it down pat, we will blow it again. Sometimes not even knowing why, that can lead to timidy, which has to be overcome to become one of those whose skill we admire.

Like you, we observed much larger boats moving in and out of very difficult scenarios with wonder. Making us think we should be able to handle our little boat, with little difficulty. Actually we are improving. To watch other C-Dorys in action around docks would have helped. In our travels we have seen only one other C-Dory out on the water and none manevering around the docks. All our learning has been by trial and error and of course the information on this site.

The lack of watching other C=Dorys in action is just one of many reasons we are so much looking forward to the Lake Powel gathering.
 
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