DOCKING HELP

[Cindy]

Hey BOYS...First of all..Please no lady driver jokes...At 55 years old and driving a 76 Tricabin I feel I am doing pretty good...BUT...moving up from a 26 foot single to a 36 foot tricabin is a big move....

Here is my situation...When I dock my slip is such that I put my port side against the dock..Prevailing winds are pretty much always pushing me off the dock...I approach on a slight angle with my stern slightly out further off the dock than my bow...The dockhands cleat my bow leaving me to pull my stern in with the shifters..Keep in mind the wind is trying to blow my stern off the dock.........What I have been doing is once the bow is cleated I put my port in neutral and my starboard in reverse but the stern doesn't seem to want to pull in...Also I turn my helm towards the dock...Do you think maybe I am not giving the starboard enough of a shot on the throttle to pull it in or is there a smarter way to pull it in...Please go slow with the responses...You guys might have been doing this for years but as I said it is a huge jump for me...Thanks Cindy

[Stripermann2]

Hello Cindy,

We had a thread on this subject a couple of weeks ago. And if you have some time, take a look here for a simulator to practice.

I wrecked a couple of times into the dock on this one!

http://mltsoftware.home.comcast.net/~ml ... cksim.html

[Safari]

Sounds like you're doing it right -- I have a similar situation and have found that I have to use a lot of throttle. Make sure you're tied up with heavy rope at the bow; you can put the port trans in fwd if you're pulling too hard on the cleat.

[captainmaniac]

When I have a situation like this I will have my wife take a wrap with the bow line, and then split the engines (port ahead, stbd in reverse). Make sure there is enough length in the bow line so you can work it a bit -- watch how the boat behaves and shift either engine out of gear and back in as needed to hold position (foward and back) while keeping the swing going.
In essence, you are spinning the boat as usual, but with the bow tied that becomes your pivot point.

[TADTOOMUCH]

I would leave a line at the dock at mid cleat (known as a spring line) and hook that first then do exactly as you have been. Other than that, you seem to have a good working knowledge of the use of the helm.

[00GTP]

..The dockhands cleat my bow leaving me to pull my stern in with the shifters..

Sounds like you are doing it correctly. The only thing may be that the front line is too tight, which won't allow the boat to pivot. There should be enough slack to allow the stern to come in as you power it. Then it can be tightened to suit.

Or, as mentioned, use the spring line instead.

[james264]

I would leave a line at the dock at mid cleat (known as a spring line) and hook that first then do exactly as you have been. Other than that, you seem to have a good working knowledge of the use of the helm.

Ditto !!! ease your bow in get a spring line on then gently come ahead .If needed turn the wheel away from the dock to bring your stern into the dock or put the port engine ahead instead.

[AndyF32]

What I do in this case is hook my line to the mid cleat and run in up forward outboard of the railings and drape it over the rail near the forward cleat. Then when the dock hand grabs it and ties it off you are pivoting mid ship which is where the boat naturally pivots. Put the engine opposite the dock in reverse and she should slide right in. If you feel you are putting too much pressure on the line put the engine next to the dock in forward but with much less throttle applied then on the reversed engine.

KUDOS for ALL ladies taking the controls on a boat, my ex would have no part of it and made it tougher on me, luckily I had a 12 year old daughter who would take the helm.

[Goatherder]

Use a springline. Approach the dock at a shallow angle. Get a line from your midship cleat running aft onto a dock cleat thats back by where you want your stern to end up. Now turn the wheel away from the dock, and twist the boat away from the dock with the engines. You want the engine closest to the dock (inside) going ahead, outside engine going astern. Idling should be enough. Shouldn't need any throttle.

As you twist the boat away from the dock and move slightly ahead, the springline will pull the boat towards the dock even against the wind.
Clutch the engines in and out as needed to make the boat pull against the springline and land flat againt the dock.

After you've landed, you can leave the inside engine in gear (ahead) and pulling on the springline. This will hold you pinned to the dock. Then you can wander liesurely around and and secure your other lines. After you've got the boat all tied up, go back on board, take it out of gear and you're there.

[David Kane]

Hey, Cindy, congratulations on taking that big leap! I went from 'driving' a canoe & a kyack to 'driving' a 36' tri-cabin, so I know what you are going through.

A different slant on docking procedures than what's been posted already. Have you considered/are you able to back stern into your slip? The wind will definitely want to push your stern more than the bow, especially if you have canvas up. When maneuvering forward, the pivot point of the boat tends to be somewhere in the mushy middle. When maneuvering backwards, the boat tends to follow the props, like a flag on a flagpole-the pole being the props and the boat the flag. it may be easier for you to back in to get your stern docked 1st, then spring off the slip-side stern cleat (I'm assuming it will be the starboard side cleat) to bring the bow in. You can either put the port engine in fwd leaving the starboard in neutral, or fwd port, rev starboard to use more power to bring in the bow.

It's great to see a female grab hold of the brass ring like you are doing. I don't see anything favoring one gender over the other in handling a powerboat-only a paradigm that says it is a more male oriented thing to do. Thanks for doing your part to shift the paradigm!!!

[Goatherder]

Yeah, you have to be a bit careful springing off that stern cleat when the wind is trying to shove you off the dock. Its cool when it's calm, but when its windy you'll put alot of strain on your cleats and lines.

I once popped a 2 inch line trying to spring my bow in on a sternline...a line leading aft from a near side stern cleat. Damn near twapped a guy on the dock. Would've killed him.

I made a mental note to never do that again.

It might be ok on a yacht...but if you try too hard you might pull a cleat out. The boats only made of tupperware.

[jakevr]

idk if this is too old but you could also crank your wheel to the starboard side and put the port engine in fwd.

[Lookout]

Id like to know what goatherder is running for power because I dont think my twin 454s could pop a 2 inch line. I dont think I even have a cleat on my F-36 that could take a 2 inch line. I think you will find the rudders rather useless for docking. You have a twin screw now, set the rudders streight and use the tranys. you may need a little more throttle, but go slow with it. most docking disasters are encountered when attempting to go too fast, slow down, observe the wind and any currents, have a plan in your mind, and let the wind and current work for you whenever possible.For instance, my slip faces north/south. When I have a strong west wind, I back into the slip close to the boat on my starboard and let the wind slide me into my dock. With a strong east wind I slide the stern in tight to the dock, power back, and when the springer is on go port reverse to pull my bow in against the springer. I think the midship springer is the easiest way to go as you can move the boat around the springer in either direction. The most important advice I would give anyone is take your time, and think ahead. good luck!

[rickalan35]

Anybody else but me ever notice that Cindy has never re-appeared on here? Back in July, I sent her a lengthy private reply to her original query and received no response. I think she's doing okay without us or perhaps she's drowned.

In regard to snapping a 2 inch line.....yikes.

Finally, I am on inland lakes and fresh water here on the Rideau in Canada, so it may be different for you salt water guys but up here I know of no one who actually has the need to use springs for arriving or leaving a dock. We just power those twins into wherever the hell we want, right?? Comments.