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 I need Docking HELP!!		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3411 Posts
Response Posted - 06/28/2008 :  16:55:14  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage
I almost always back into my slip. I like being close to the approach when I get off to tie the ropes. About the only time I head in bow first is when I want to prepare to do a good scrub/wash on the side of the hull that is oftentimes not adjacent to the finger slip. Also, I picked a finger slip that most times has the wind blowing me toward the finger slip side instead of away from it. Sometimes the wind does tend to blow the boat away from the slip but that is rare. When it does, I tend to go into the slip a bit faster to ensure the wind does not effect the approach that much. If I suspect I will have a bit of a hard time, I keep the furling rig extra line bunched up near the winch closest to the slip. Then when I get off, I can always hold the boat to the slip with that line even if it is a small diameter line.
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Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts
Response Posted - 06/28/2008 :  18:15:48  Show Profile
The most difficult scenario is heavy wind blowing directly into your slip, so you have to spill off speed as you approach to keep from crashing into the dock. I got over my fear of this one when I kept my boat at an unsheltered marina where the prevailing winter wind hit my slip like this. For months I tried all kinds of goofy things like backing in, warping in etc. Backing didn't work because sailboats just don't steer well in reverse with a strong wind on the nose. Warping worked, but required other hands to help. I finally had to just say to hell with it and learned to approach at steerage speed, push the helm all the way over, then jump onto the dock and wrap a dockline around one of the winches and lean into it. The hard turn broke the speed enough that the only thing I had to deal with was the wind and wave force against the stern of the boat and the dockline around the winch gave me enough leverage to pull the boat against the side of the slip so it wouldn't pummel the dock. I still don't like down-wind landings into slips, but at least I can deal with them this way.
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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts
Response Posted - 06/29/2008 :  23:30:28  Show Profile  Visit Steve Blackburn's Homepage
Yesterday I docked like a champ and stepped off slowly walked to the bow and started tieing down. Didn't even need to reverse thrust. I was going against a headwind going up to my slip. At idle this slowed me down to 0.9 knots. When my bow was lined up with my dock I kept the engine forward (still at idle) and pushed the tiller completely. I believe the wind helped push the bow a little but I think I found my "technique". Basicaly my earlier problem was coming in too slow (about .5 knots) and trying to maneuver at idle.

So my "technique" is to bring the boat near 1 knot when the bow is at the dock level then keeping thrust push tiller all the way. Without a head wind I'll have to disengage thrust making sure I get about 1 knot when I get to be lined up at the dock level. Also instead of being in the middle of the channel, I noticed that this time I was just a bit off center closer to my port side (where my dock is) leaving way enough room for my aft to move.
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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.