stage fright

Sea Wolf":344cnqx2 said:
Warren-

I'll let Jim explain his line system to you, but add this to the thread:

I find it extremely useful to always have two bow lines and stern lines attached to the boat on the ready.

A single line about 40 feet in length is tied to the bow cleat in the middle and led back both sides of the boat to the cockpit where two separate cleats right next to the bulkhead on the gunnel* allow the ends to be cleated.

From the bow cleat, I keep the bowlines inside the bow pulpit and laying inside the mid-gunnel cleats.

The line length on these bow lines is purposely short enough that if dropped overboard, they cannot get back to the prop.

The stern lines are attached to the stern cleats and simply dropped into buckets at the aft corners of the cockpit at the ready, no other cleats involved.

Having a bow line and stern line at the ready on both sides of the boat means that you don't have to think, then stop and rig the lines before you dock.

* On my older "87 Cruiser, there's a raised portion of the gunnel right along side the bulkhead that diverts water moving along the gunnel overboard. It's a perfect platform to mount a small cleat on. I'll add a photo momentarily.

Joe.
Click to expand...
confessing my unease at approaching my slip was my first time to join in the forum. i was almost as concerned to step into the world of much more experienced boaters than i am as i am of coming into my slip with a sro crowd. i have learned a lot and am greatly immpressed with the advice, help and friendliness of the cbrats crowd. i warn you though i will be back with other tenderfoot questions now that no one bit me. mj
 
mj hassell":xz8izwep said:
confessing my unease at approaching my slip was my first time to join in the forum. i was almost as concerned to step into the world of much more experienced boaters than i am as i am of coming into my slip with a sro crowd. i have learned a lot and am greatly immpressed with the advice, help and friendliness of the cbrats crowd. i warn you though i will be back with other tenderfoot questions now that no one bit me. mj
Click to expand...

Everyone was a beginner at some point in time. Well, maybe not Bob, but everyone else. :shock:

Warren
 
On C-Cakes I have a similar arrangement with two dock lines on the forward cleat. I run one of them down each side of the boat to about to the point where the extra cleat is shown in Sea Wolf's picture but instead of a cleat I have mounted a sailing cam cleat on each side of the cabin just forward of the bulkhead (stole this idea from Casey on NakNek). I pull the bow dock lines into that cleat and it holds them secure during cruising. When docking I remove the rest of the line from a small line hook where they are normally coiled, same with stern lines, and can step off the boat with both lines in hand as the cleated line just pulls free to the side
 
in that light, don't think i mentioned the time when the wind caught me approaching the dock fingers, got me so twisted up the boat was perpendicular to and resting against the dock fingers, now that was real attractive.
 
As a long time boater of freshwater only, with only minimal wind to deal with, I'm taking notes! But alot of this sounds more complicated than it should be in real life. I'd like to think that I can "feel" whatever the current and/or wind is doing to my boat before I ever get close to being the star attraction for the bench audience. This attitude may indeed make me a star!? :lol:
 
coasting in neutral + using the outboard as a rudder is your friend =) I'm amazed at how many folks I see who seem to think it's a requirement to be in gear the whole way into a dock
 
Don't know if this is germaine but- When leaving a dock use reverse as if it were the front of your car. The outboard will turn like your car's front wheels and you won't hit the dock with your bow. If you go forward the stern will swing toward the dock. It works every time.
 
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