Interesting docking procedures/maneuvers

[rogerbum]

My favorite is the guys with a very short bow line (or no bow line) and a long stern line that like to back into the dock in a cross wind that blows them off the dock or a wind coming into the bow. Invariably, their buddy (who has never been properly instructed) hops off with the stern line in hand and ties it off while the bow blows off the dock (and sometimes into the adjacent boat). A guy who operates that way came into a slip a couple down from me several times at Neah last week. The first time the slip adjacent to him was empty and by the time they were done docking, the boat had done a full 180 in the slip. The second time he came in, he was on a trajectory to do the same thing, but the slip next to him was occupied. I ran over to provide assistance and grabbed both the short bow line and the long stern line before he rotated too far to lose the bow in the wind.

I tried to suggest that if he had a decent length bow line with the tag end hanging into the cockpit, his docking would be MUCH easier. E.g. his buddy could jump off with BOTH lines in hand and control both ends of the boat. He indicated his buddy always jumps with the stern line in hand and felt this was good enough. I tried to explain that the stern was the only end of the boat he had control over from the helm and that the bow was what needed control the most with lines while docking, but he clearly wasn't hearing any of it. Just another guy who learned by doing without reading or instruction from someone with better skills. I think the same applies to those Tom describes above. They've probably always docked that way and it "works" often enough that they never thought about doing it differently.

 

[DuckDogTitus]

I dont know how you guys catch all this. I think one day i'm going to just grab a chair in the cockpit and relax and wait for the circus to show. I apparently don't hang out at the dock enough! lol :beer

. his buddy could jump off with BOTH lines in hand and control both ends of the boat.

thats how we do it.

 

[starcrafttom]

Roger I have always learned by doing and not reading, but both of the examples we have given lack common sense. Its as though they have stopped teaching basic physics in middle schools, oh yeah that's right they have.

Another similar problem that I see is captains not using the motor in conjunction with the ropes. What I mean is that if your guy at the dock would just tie off the stern and then power forward on the motor the bow would suck right up to the dock and you could take you time tying off. People just do not use their motor to their advantage with docking.

And for good sake, can we get the fenders on before approaching the dock??? It's like the captain can't stop forward movement of the boat for any reason and the crew has to race to get the fenders and lines ready before they hit the dock. Its a sad sadistic game of panic and time. Just spot and get your shit together before you enter the ramp or marina.

 

[DuckDogTitus]

Tom, you go solo a bit don't you? what is your solo method of docking? I keep meaning to practice from the rear helm in the cockpit and always forget.

 

[rogerbum]

I dont know how you guys catch all this. I think one day i'm going to just grab a chair in the cockpit and relax and wait for the circus to show. I apparently don't hang out at the dock enough! lol :beer

. his buddy could jump off with BOTH lines in hand and control both ends of the boat.

thats how we do it.

That how we do it now but I must admit that when I first started, our docking procedures were more complicated and more "interesting". However, once I figured out that a long bow line and stern line were my friends, docking became WAY easier. My bow line is just short enough so it can't reach the prop if it falls in, the stern line is 25'. I can tie off one while holding the other.

 

[Jake B]

the docks can be an interesting place. I usually either use long bow line or depending on space to dock will coast into dock parallel jump out and just grab the cabin roof then the wife will come out and tie off the boat. I wish I had a rear helm station that is in the works for next year, but still very do able from the helm solo.

Had not heard of letting motor run after docking to cool the block, makes sense as we always kill power once in line with dock. may let it idle for a bit from now on.

also I have never used the motor to assist in docking but could see how that could help as well.

one thing I need to force myself to do is practice stern in docking backing into a spot i have maybe done 1-2 times, if room allows it well dock and spin it but almost always bow in for us. don't have a problem backing out just backing in.....

 

[DuckDogTitus]

yeah we have backed in a couple times. Narrows marina comes to mind. the only thing I didn't like about it was it was a short slip and I was afraid of going too far back and hitting the motor. we didn't, but it was on my mind.

if I can I just like to drift straight in to the starboard side. super easy.

 

[Chester]

As far as letting the motor cool, idling in to the dock will suffice. What you don't want to do with any internal combustion engine is to kill it immediately after pulling a load.

 

[DuckDogTitus]

my rule of thumb is to do everything slow when on a boat. or towing a boat. or launching, retrieving, hitching, dehitching, cleaning, moving, maintaining, shopping, etc. :lol:

 

[starcrafttom]

How do I dock solo? same as I dock with Susan. I dock like I park a car. Unless there is wind I park the boat next to the dock right were I want to tie up. Then I get out and tie it up.

Now if there is wind that is pushing me around I plan ahead and try to dock so the wind is holding me to the dock. Again just park the boat and get out. If the wind is pushing me away from the dock I use the motor against the rope to hold the boat to the dock. If you have to back up to the dock and tie a line around a cleat at the stern and then put the motor in forward. Physics will do the rest and bring the bow around. Works just as well with a line from the side cleat to the dock and then reverse the motor. You have a wheel and a motor. Make a plan and do it. No one should ever have to jump out of a boat and try to stop it with their hands.

 

[Sunbeam]

Invariably, their buddy (who has never been properly instructed) hops off with the stern line in hand and ties it off while the bow blows off the dock (and sometimes into the adjacent boat).

This reminded me of an "opposite" one that seems to happen so often: Boat comes into a dock and people on the dock literally *beg* for the bow line (and only the bow line). Sometimes they manage to get ahold of it (or someone on the vessel gives it to them), and they immediately cleat it in super tight, pulling the bow in and thus the stern (irrevocably) out :cry