Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Anybody regularly use a Dock-O-Matic? According to Randy, a long-time member from the Pacific NW, he created a gizmo to place a loop over the center dock cleat to secure the boat while coming back in to the dock. Once the Dock-O-Matic was in place and snugged up, he could then very leisurely secure all the other lines to the cleats forward and aft. I created a very primitive version when I used to be docked out on a tidal river (winds and currents), but since I've moved over to the quiet and sedate harbor, I don't really need it. Until the other day last week - we had gusty northwesterlies that, of course, piped up just as I was approaching the dock. Took me two, no, three turns to secure the dock lines. I was wishing I had a Dock-O-Matic then!
Well, no--that's a fantasy... Randy's Dock-o-Matic is simply a spring-line made to a midship cleat on the boat, with a loop on the other end that is held open by a piece of vinyl tubing around its loop. The idea is that loop can be easily dropped on a dock cleat with a boat-hook as you approach the dock or enter a slip. The basic principle of a spring-line takes over, pulling the boat into the dock as it is tensioned by the boat. (Don't make it too long--you want some angle from the cleat to the boat to pull the boat in as it stops. But make it out of twisted nylon for some shock-absorbance.) After it stops the boat, the motor can be left in gear at idle, holding the boat against the dock, while other dock-lines are secured.
Simple, but brilliant! (In particular, the tubing that holds the loop open so it is easily dropped on the dock cleat.)
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Well, no--that's a fantasy... Randy's Dock-o-Matic is simply a spring-line made to a midship cleat on the boat, with a loop on the other end that is held open by a piece of vinyl tubing around its loop. The idea is that loop can be easily dropped on a dock cleat with a boat-hook as you approach the dock or enter a slip. The basic principle of a spring-line takes over, pulling the boat into the dock as it is tensioned by the boat. (Don't make it too long--you want some angle from the cleat to the boat to pull the boat in as it stops. But make it out of twisted nylon for some shock-absorbance.) After it stops the boat, the motor can be left in gear at idle, holding the boat against the dock, while other dock-lines are secured.
Simple, but brilliant! (In particular, the tubing that holds the loop open so it is easily dropped on the dock cleat.)
If you know how to dock a boat you don't need no stinkin dock-o-matic!
You can hear and see the bow- and stern-thrusters in that video, plus he probably has twin screws. Many new boats have all of those things and the GPS integrated by computer to a joystick by the helm, so you can make them go sideways, spin on their axis, and hold their precise positions in wind and current--like on a Playstation... Hardly any talent required.
I have one screw, no keel (she slips and slides), no thruster... "Talent required."
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
If you know how to dock a boat you don't need no stinkin dock-o-matic!
You can hear and see the bow- and stern-thrusters in that video, plus he probably has twin screws. Many new boats have all of those things and the GPS integrated by computer to a joystick by the helm, so you can make them go sideways, spin on their axis, and hold their precise positions in wind and current--like on a Playstation... Hardly any talent required.
I have one screw, no keel (she slips and slides), no thruster... "Talent required."
I could make my single engine Sea Ray do that but it was a stern drive and the wind had to be in the right direction.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.