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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Mooring to a Floating Dock?

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handeman58
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/04/2009 : 12:10:30

Hello All,
I am a new member here who recently aquired a Catalina 25. This is not my first sailboat but the largest so far.

My delemma is the I will be mooring it at a "floating dock" and I have know real knowledge of what all I need to be concerned with.

My dock is on a lake with no real tide issues (not that there would be with a floating dock). The main dock is situated North/South, my slip is East/West. The prevailing wind and other boat traffic is out of the west. My slip's width is 12' and length only 20'. The slip is equiped with 6 cletes, two at each end and two in the center.

So here is my questions: 1) Bow to the west or stern to the west?
2) How many bumpers and where should they be located? 3)Best overall dock line configuration and how taught should they be? 4) Should I line the edges of the slip with cushioning material such as folded old firehose of would this be overkill?

If you are thinking; Why not ask another nearby owner....I thought of that already....all the other craft are powerboats!

Anyone's opinion and assistance ia very appreciated.

Tony

Tony Anderson
KARYNAII SR/FK 2024
Sailing Lake Wallenpaupak PA

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2009 : 12:52:16

Welcome, Tony!

Well, you're fortunate not to have side-winds (most of the time). If you don't have too much wave action, I'll suggest you go bow-in to the slip for starters. It's a little easier to maneuver that way, and if you make a mistake, your bow can take more punishment than your outboard and rudder can! You can also tuck the boat a little tighter into your short slip, with the bow practically overhanging the main dock.

There are a couple of issues related to dock lines... One is using a "spring-line" to stop and hold you as you enter the slip, and then there's the overall dock line configuration. If you use the Search function looking for the "exact phrase" dock line in the General Sailing Forum, you'll get quite a list of threads on this and related subjects. I also recommend a copy of Chapman Piloting for any skipper--you'll see how to run bow, stern, and spring lines (as well as a gazillion other topics of importance to skippers).

Many of us have added a "midship cleat" on each genoa track for spring-lines. They're worthwhile additions. Here's an example from Defender.

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I recommend two 8" fenders per side, not too far forward or aft of amidships--the widest part of the boat. You can use the stanchion bases for hanging the fenders--never hang them from the lifelines because that can put too much leverage on the stanchions (creating leaks). Depending on your dock, you might be able to mount some fenders there so you don't have to deploy and hoist fenders each time you enter and leave. I have a Taylor "dock wheel" on the corner of my single finger dock--it has turned out to be very helpful! With that, I only hang one fender amidships before I enter.

Finally, remember the first rule of docking a "big boat": Never approach a dock any faster than you're willing to hit it.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 05/04/2009 12:58:57

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2009 : 13:00:16

Tony, Welcome!

I'm in a similar circumstance. The convention in my marina is to enter the slip bow first. I think that's probably easier than trying to come about and back into the slip. I use what has been described elsewhere on this site as a "Dock-o-matic" It's a spring line that is attached to a midship cleat (mine's on the jib track) and slips over a cleat as you enter the dock so as to stop the boat short of hitting anything. This will be different for all circumstances but, once you've calulated the proper length for your boat and slip, it won't change. Once you've mastered the technique, the stinkpotters in your marina will be in awe of your docking abilities. As to securing the boat once stopped, I use a single stern line (mine happens to be starboard) attached to the finger slip. I have both starboard and port bow lines. My slip is designed to have 2 boats in it so, there is no place to attach a port stern line. So, all tolled, I have 3 dock lines and a spring line. The spring line is left in place to prevent the boat from T-boning into the main dock in the event of wind/wake from astern. The dock lines should be tight enough to keep the boat from banging into the dock. As far as fenders are concerned, I have fenders attached to the pilings of the slip. I don't use them hanging from the boat unless docking away from my home slip. In that event, more is better. How many? At least 3 or 4 on the appropriate side.

Where are you?

The convention here is to list your boat type(e.g. SR/SK for standard rig/swing keel), hull number, name, location in your signature.

Again, welcome to the association.

Man, Bristle's fast!

Edited by - John Russell on 05/04/2009 13:03:54

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2009 : 13:21:38

3)Best overall dock line configuration and how taught should they be?

Balanced Lines. Tighten the spring lines first and then try to get the other lines at a length such that each will tighten equally.

ie... If the boat swings the front to the right ( and aft to the left ) and the left forward bow line is tighter than the aft right spring line and the aft right stern line; then it will break that port bow line or tear out the port bow cleat in a storm.

IMHO

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2009 : 07:56:02

Tony,

Welcome!!!

With a floating dock you have the simplest situation, compared to tying up to a fixed dock or a wall or a tree or a rock on the shore, because in those other cases the lines shift with changes in water level. Rivers and lakes go up and down at times, and ocean water always has tides.

So with my boat at a fixed dock on a saltwater bay, I have to leave extra dock line length to account for the tide, and I cross the stern lines to add some of that length.

In your case, you only need to prevent the boat from hitting other objects nearby, so you can tie up pretty close to the dock, or let the boat swing a bit away from the dock in the wind, depending on how you want the boat to ride in the wind and the chop when you are not there.

In Chapman's comprehensive book on boat handling you will see pictures and read about bow lines, stern lines, spring lines, and other lines to shore, including tying up with dock lines and 1 or 2 anchors. All this is simple, once you understand the basic patterns for the different situations.

Here's a simple diagram of one way to use dock lines:

You will need at least 1 spring line, and 2 spring lines makes the boat more stable, but the 4 spring lines shown may be excessive in most sitations.

Here's another diagram showing 4 different cases of using dock lines.

And my personal preference is to back in to my slip, since departing is easier with strong winds when I head forward with the outboard to make an immediate left turn down the marina fairway. I only dock bow first when I come in under sail, either by design or when there's trouble with the motor.

Happy sailing!

Edited by - on

handeman58
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2009 : 11:07:35

A very big thanks to all who responded!!!!

Your input and advice is appreciated. I have and will always tend to rely on fellow sailors advice vs boaters....(:.

As you probably have guessed, I am relatively new at sailing and stepping up to my 25' Catalina has been somewhat overwhelming.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2009 : 11:18:48

It's true that there are more systems with a keel boat.

I sailed years ago on a Sunfish and had lots of fun and family adventures, but I think the C-25 is big enough to relax while sailing, but small enough that the boat's systems and the running rigging do not require a lot of work.

And if you add your boat info to your signature file and your location to your Forum page file, then some of us would have more info about you and then might recommend sailors located near you who could help you get your boat set up to your liking. You know, there just happen to be hundreds of C-25/C-250/Capri-25 skippers all over the country!

Happy sailing!

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2009 : 06:21:23

I'm also on a floating dock, 2 boats per 1 wide slip, and the slip finger is on my starboard side when I come in bow first. So I can tie off on only the starboard side of the boat and both sides of the bow. My spring line is just like in the second boat in JohnP's second drawing above using a cleat in the middle of the dock finger: running a single line from your bow cleat to the mid-slip cleat but from there to my jib sheet winch. At both ends I have a loop and just lay them over the winch and the bow cleat, keeping the boat from drifting in either direction more than a few inches. In particular, the spring line going to the bow cleat keeps the boat from hitting the front of the slip. I also have a bow line on each side, and a stern line. The stern line loop goes through and over a cleat just behind jib winch, secures to the cleat at the end of the slip and the free end goes up to the stern cleat on the boat where it is tied off. Sometimes I'll also run a second 3-strand spring line from the port bow dock cleat to the port stern cleat on the boat. I use 2 bumpers on each side of the boat. The ones on the port side are there in case the boat next to me breaks loose.
Also, my dock lines stay at the dock. I run the loop ends of the bow lines through and around the cleats on the boat. I keep extra dock lines in the shallow starboard seat locker for raft-ups and tying up at docks.
BTW, mid-ship cleats for the genoa track are very expensive, which is why I don't use them.

Edited by - dmpilc on 05/06/2009 06:48:07

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