Launching single handed how to do it

[blackfish]

Hello folks
Seeking some collective wisdom from the group
I'd like to start taking out our 22ft single handed
This is something I've never done, although I have gone out in my 16ft aluminum may times .
The launching doesn't give me much fear, I think it will be much like the 16 ft just bigger but the retrieving is a little different.
When we come into the dock now my wife drives the boat and I use the pole to grab the dock then tie off. I'm not sure how I will do this by myself (being in two places at the same time)

Thanks Dave

 

[ssobol]

Depends on the current. wind, and such, but you can have a line on the side cleat and then just lean out of the side window next to the helm. Either grab the dock or flip the line over a post or cleat. It's easy to do when things are calm, a bit more difficult if there is a current or good wind.

I've done this a number of times.

If there are other people on the dock, ask them to catch the line you can throw by leaning out the window.

 

[thataway]

I have launched both the 22 and 25 solo. I will back the trailer down to the water, aft strap off, bow strap on. I have a line over the bow I can get from standing on the trailer tongue. I unhitch the bow eye from the winch strap, step onto the boat--and then back the boat off. Tie the boat up at the dock, walk up and pull the trailer out and park the rig.

Coming in. boat to dock. Get the rig, back down. Power on the trailer until almost to bow eye. Over the bow, snap winch strap to the bow eye, Crank tight, and pull the boat out.

If in cold water, may need either boots, or waders (I keep waders in the truck all of the time--in case).

 

[bridma]

When I bring my boat back to the dock solo, I have the fenders over the side in place, dock line secured to middle cleat, and the boat hook extended and ready for use in the cockpit. I come along side as slow as the wind and current will allow me. A touch of reverse to stop the boat and back into neutral. Go to cockpit, grab boat hook and it all works out.

Then grab a beer with a big smile on my face hoping that I had plenty of witness's :lol:

Martin.

 

[rogerbum]

If the issue is simply docking by yourself, proper setup makes huge difference. There's three issues, 1) deploying the fenders alone, 2) getting the boat close to the dock and stopped and 3) tying the boat off. 1 and 3 can greatly helped with prior setup

On my previous 22, I had the fenders rigged so that the one near the midships cleat was attached by a line to the hand rail and had a 1/4 nylon line attached at the bottom. With this setup, I could flip the fender onto the roof and tie it in place by tying off the 1/4 line to the hold hold by the door. The aft fender was tied to the aft end of the hand rail and was simply flipped in and out of the cockpit (when not in use it hung in place inside the cockpit). This made deploying the fenders as easy as walking back to the cockpit, untying the forward fender and letting it swing into place and lifting the aft fender out. The took maybe 3-5s. Then I could return to the helm and approach the dock.

The thing that made single handed docking easy was to buy 2 25' lines and a 50' bow line. The bow line was tied to the bow cleat at the midpoint of the line and half ran down each side. Those ends terminated in the cockpit and were tied off to the hand holds on the bulkhead. If done properly, the line on either side will reach all the way to the end of the cockpit but will be short enough so that if it is dropped in the water, it can't foul the props. The other 25' lines were attached to each stern cleat and when coiled were placed under the the gunnels on each side. When I put out the fenders, I made sure I put them out under the bow line and I untied the bow line from the handhold and left it dangle in the cockpit. The stern line was prepared at the same time. That way when I got to the dock, I could step out with both a bow and a stern line in my hands and I had complete control over the boat. With a 25' line in either hand, I could tie off either end without letting go of the other. With short dock lines, it's way harder since this isn't possible.

 

[thataway]

I find that at most docks, I can reach out of the window by the helm, and get a line on a bull rail or cleat on the dock--then use the motor to hold the boat against the dock. Then the stern line.

 

[blackfish]

Thank you for all the help
I will setup my bow line as suggested
Dave

 

[hardee]

I find that at most docks, I can reach out of the window by the helm, and get a line on a bull rail or cleat on the dock--then use the motor to hold the boat against the dock. Then the stern line.

As Bob suggests, all you need is one line secured and then the engine will hold the boat against the dock until all lines are secured. I find it much easier to ease to the dock, and walk to the cockpit, secure a line from the aft cleat to the dock, then slip the engine, (I use the out board - as in the one on the side away from the dock since I have twins--) into idle forward, and then secure the bow line and midship if needed. Obviously, the fenders are in place prior to easing up to the dock. I use 3 fenders, all set from the cockpit via a line forward through the bow rail for the forward one, and the others are flipped from the cockpit all already tied in place.

Single handing seems daunting, but you can do it. Stop, and think through each step. Take your time and go through each step slowly. It will become easier and then easy. You can do it. :thup

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[Casey]

We keep bow and stern lines in place all the time both port and starboard.
To keep the lines in place we mounted four mid-size "cam cleats" on the gunnel in a convenient place, and now when we reach a dock it's a simple matter to simply pop the lines loose and step onto the dock with both the bow and stern line in hand.

For launching, tie a longish bow line to the bow cleat, then tie the bitter end to the winch post on the trailer. Back the trailer into the water and let the boat free-float off. Pull the trailer a few feet back up the ramp, retrieve the line off the winch post, and walk over to the courtesy dock and pull-in your boat. (NOTE: I once watched a fellow do this procedure, but evidently forgot that his boat was still tied to the winch post. He pulled about three or four feet of his boat back onto dry ground! OUCH.)

Best,
Casey&Mary

 

[starcrafttom]

I single handed my 22 and now my 27. Its all about 1) planning and 2) working smarter and not harder.

It still amazes me that people wait until they are with in 10 ft of the dock to put out your fenders. I stop somewhere out side of the Marina area. If its everret I stop out in the river. I STOP in the river, I don't slow down and try to run around like a headless chicken putting on fender and drive at the same time. Just stop the boat. It sound simple but so few people do it. You have all the time in the world to get ready so why not use it. Once I have gotten the boat and me ready I enter the marina. I try to get the wind on my out side beam that way it pushes me into the dock. Same with current. Its not always possible but at least try. i have seen THOUSANDS of people over the years try to power to the dock against the wind or current over and over instead of using the other side of the dock?????? why???

Tying the stern first and powering forward is great when you are by your self or fighting the wind. You can also run a line from the mid cleat to the cockpit for tying off on. After you get it tied just reverse in idle to pull the boat tight to the dock.

I still see people every week pulling to the dock to fast and jumping out with a fender in one hand trying to stop the 9000 lbs boat with the other hand instead of using reverse. You should be able to pull up to and stop your boat with in 2 ft of the dock or less or you should stay home.

Susan and I practice every spring on docking and boat handling. Just take a day and do it 20 times and you will be a lot better then the guy that only does it 20 times over the year, and badly every time. Plan, practice, and execute.

Oh and I have taught people to drive and dock there boats a lot over the last few year. I am always available to train people if they like. cost you dinner.

 

[colobear]

We have 4 25ft dock lines always attached. We have two cam cleats one on each side just forward of the cabin bulkhead, the bow lines are secured there. If I am single-hand launching I get everything ready in the prep lane, fenders, antennas, lights, engines down bulbs pumped, take the transom tiedown and bow towing eye chain off. I back down until the stern lifts, walk up on the dock, tie bow and stern lines to the dock...with lots of slack. Loosen the bow eye strap and remove it from the eye; back down until the boat floats free, park and walk back to the dock. Quick and easy. If someone is waiting I walk the boat out to the end of the dock before parking. To retrieve, as Tom says, get ready well before you get to the dock, and pay careful attention to wind and current. I put two additional cleats on, one on each side on the walkaround just forward of the cabin bulkhead. If the dock has cleats, not a bullrail, I tie a short dockline to that cleat, pull up to the dock, verrrry slowly, hit reverse to stop the boat, flip that line over the dock cleat and pull the boat in. If there are bullrails I have three options: get both docklines ready and where I can reach them, pull up to the dock, stop, step off with both lines, and tie off; pull up to the dock, stop, use the boathook to pull the boat to the dock and run the midships cleat line around the bullrail, and more rarely, pull up to the dock, toss my custom made small grapnel over the bullrail, etc. etc.
Like most docking you will embarass yourself sometimes but just practice, and practice.

 

[Sunbeam]

Casey: I like the bow line to the winch post idea (although yeah, don't forget it's there.... ouch indeed :cry)

It still amazes me that people wait until they are with in 10 ft of the dock to put out your fenders. I stop somewhere out side of the Marina area. If its everret I stop out in the river.

It must be something in human nature (?!) Up till now I've often been on other people's boats, so it's their call, but....many people like to do this and I always get tense waiting. Like you say... why?

I have seen THOUSANDS of people over the years try to power to the dock against the wind or current over and over instead of using the other side of the dock?????? why???

Well, I've now docked the C-Dory at public docks a grand total of about 20 times, so I'm still figuring it all out (previously, with other boats, I usually anchored or docked in a place where the dock placement was permanent so I just accepted whatever wind existed -- and that was long ago anyway), but I actually did purposely choose the downwind side (this was on the Porta Potti islands on Powell - they are free-floating squares with a wind sock and you can choose your side).

My reasoning was that I was going to be tied up for awhile, and, given the choice, I like to have the boat pulling slightly away from the dock vs. rubbing/bouncing on the fenders (I know, that's what they are for, but I still prefer it the other way). It definitely made it more of a challenge, but then too, I was using it to gain experience (and I sure did that.... try it, miss, go around, try it, miss, go around... etc. :roll

I still see people every week pulling to the dock to fast and jumping out with a fender in one hand trying to stop the 9000 lbs boat with the other hand instead of using reverse.

The way you describe it makes a great visual, LOL

Oh and I have taught people to drive and dock there boats a lot over the last few year. I am always available to train people if they like. cost you dinner.

If I'm in the PNW next summer.... you may get a call :lol:

 

[starcrafttom]

My I also add that one of the best pieces of equipment for docking anywhere is ... drum roll please.... binoculars.

Thats right simple par of bino. What way is the wind or current moving?? My eyes are not that good these days, so I take a look with the bino's at the water rolling past the dock/piling. No honey I am not looking at the hot red head on the dock with the nice 38 d's , I am looking at which way her hair is blowing so i can judge the wind and make YOUR day better with a easy landing :wink:

Stop and take a look at your planned landing area before you just go up and whack the dock. I have my bino's in my hand most of the day on the water. You would be amazed what you notice or see with them that you would other wise miss. Boats, fishing gear the other guy is using, red heads, wildlife. its all out there to see.

This summer I saw two horned puffins in the san juans because I was scanning with the bino's while fishing.

 

[hardee]

And How many redheads :wink:

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[Casey]

I fully agree that a pair of binocular's is a useful/NEEDED item on a boat.

We always keep each of our bino's on the map shelf above the helm, so they're easily retrieved on the spur of the moment. You never know when you'll want to get a closer view of that bird, verify the number on that distant day marker, or read those tiny signs marina operator's put on their docks. It also helps in pre-planning where you'll dock, and set up for port or starboard "tie."

One item I've started to use is a lanyard for my glasses. Yea, it makes me look a bit like a seagoing 'nerd, but the lanyard is handy. When I want to use the binocular's, I just drop my lanyarded-glasses and take a quick look through the bino's ... when done, my glasses are right in the same place (around my neck). I find the arrangement very handy.

Best,
Casey&Mary

 

[Ray]

Also, nobody says that the first time you approach and get close to the docking area, you have to actually STOP.

Touch-and-go.

I have often pulled in very close to facilities to observe, live, all of the things mentioned viewing through binoculars - signs, people, boats, current, etc. Feeling what the wind and current right at the dock do to the boat, looking things over....all the time knowing that I'll be leaving and coming back for real in a few minutes. A lot easier than finding out something really important on your final approach!

Then - go back out and make arrangements on the boat and take the approach that best fits.

 

[Sunbeam]

One item I've started to use is a lanyard for my glasses. Yea, it makes me look a bit like a seagoing 'nerd...

Actually, that'd be a seagoing librarian :wink

I agree though - very handy. I don't wear glasses but do just about always have a good pair of sunglasses on one of those lanyards. Only problem is having to clean crumbs off them (maybe I need a feed bag, too :lol.

 

[Pat Anderson]

Interesting! I have never single-handed, and I am the guy who docks less than half a dozen times a year so far - that is about to change with retirement! I will get lots of practice at Birch Bay with the 16. I will come back to this thread for sure.