Docking by myself

quote:
Originally posted by Pa Mikee

The key is to get a line fastened...

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Bingo! While some lines are better than others it really doesn't make a lot of difference. Get almost any line on the dock and you can work against it with the engine (and the boat won't get away).

I sometimes even use my anchor when docking, and when leaving the dock we've determined that a stern spring works best (for us).
 
"I think it's just that an aft spring leads aft from the boat, and a forward spring leads forward from the boat. Don't think the naming of it takes into account which boat cleat you've attached it to."

Uh, doesn't a stern line lead aft? And a bow line forward? Is everything now a spring?

A lot of it is simply differences in terminology. What we always called an after spring (from the stern, which leads forward), Chapmans calls a "forward quarter spring". ANYTHING leading aft from the stern was simply a stern line. Anything leading forward from the bow was a bow line. The "springs" led the other way (KISS). But then, we merchies were pretty stupid, so we HAD to keep it simple.
 
quote:
Originally posted by stmbtwle

"I think it's just that an aft spring leads aft from the boat, and a forward spring leads forward from the boat. Don't think the naming of it takes into account which boat cleat you've attached it to."

Uh, doesn't a stern line lead aft? And a bow line forward? Is everything now a spring?

A lot of it is simply differences in terminology. What we always called an after spring (from the stern, which leads forward), Chapmans calls a "forward quarter spring". ANYTHING leading aft from the stern was simply a stern line. Anything leading forward from the bow was a bow line. The "springs" led the other way (KISS). But then, we merchies were pretty stupid, so we HAD to keep it simple.

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Yep, it's often useful to 'splain, since folks may interpret the labels differently. And I'm neither defending nor debating the various names. :)

FWIW. our bow lines at our home slip actually don't lead forward... since our pulpit sticks out the end of the slip a bit.

And yes, our stern lines do lead aft sorta-kinda. I think about 3 ft aft at our home slip, but of course they're crossed so they're at an abrupt angle from the boat. Unlike that other line, whatever it's called, which leads aft from our aft midship's cleat (i.e., not from the stern).

:)

-Chris
 
Well if your front ropes don't lead frontward, then you're going to need another rope to keep the boat from floating back and bumping the dock. Some people might call it a spring. Otherwise you'll need a big bumper.
 
You often don't have a choice when it comes to which way your bow lines angle as boats often sticks outl. In our case the bow lines angle back at a 60 degree angle.

Springs prevent boat from backing into the pier, not bow lines, regardless of angle. Ideally bow lines should be at a 90 deg angle so they are the most efficient to do their job
 
quote:
Originally posted by stmbtwle

Well if your front ropes don't lead frontward, then you're going to need another rope to keep the boat from floating back and bumping the dock. Some people might call it a spring. Otherwise you'll need a big bumper.

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Ref lines, exactly. In fact, our forward and aft spring lines are all white, bow and stern are black... so more often at our home slip I find myself telling inexperienced foredeck crew "put the white lines on the side cleats first, then put the black lines on the bow cleats." They almost always get that right.

Bumpers and fenders.... yeah, not goin' there just now. :)

-Chris
 
Well, it worked fine. I got very close to the dock, I stepped to the swim platform and holding the bitter end threw the line cleated to midship over the big cleat on the dock and then quickly fastened the line to the cleat on the stern. I figured that now the boat would not go anywhere. Using the stb engine I moved the stern very close to the dock. I stepped off and tied the stern line and then quickly grabbed the spring line and tied it the dock.
I must have looked like a fool to an expert but it worked for me at least with no wind or strong current.
Thanks again for the advise.
 
There ya go... Get it hooked up, then worry about making it pretty. When you are the only one aboard, that is really the only way to do it.

Glad you had a good day!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Radioactive

There ya go... Get it hooked up, then worry about making it pretty. When you are the only one aboard, that is really the only way to do it.

Glad you had a good day!

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+1
 
quote:
Originally posted by Arnold

Well, it worked fine. I got very close to the dock, I stepped to the swim platform and holding the bitter end threw the line cleated to midship over the big cleat on the dock and then quickly fastened the line to the cleat on the stern. I figured that now the boat would not go anywhere. Using the stb engine I moved the stern very close to the dock. I stepped off and tied the stern line and then quickly grabbed the spring line and tied it the dock.
I must have looked like a fool to an expert but it worked for me at least with no wind or strong current.
Thanks again for the advise.

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If you look like you know what you're doing and it works, you don't look like a fool to anyone.

When possible, I like to have all the lines in my hand when I step off the boat rather than trying to reach them from the dock. Not "all" the lines, but at least two that will keep the boat in place so I can reach the rest without the boat drifting away to where I can't reach them.

I often help people dock at my marina, especially if they are coming in to the slip next to mine (it's double wide) and it amazes me how many people will back into a slip with no dock lines ready. I'll say "toss me a line" and they start rummaging around on the boat looking for one while their boat drifts towards mine or another. I just wonder what their plan was? Or if they even had a plan?
 
They had a plan Ron, it was that you would be there to help them!
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll

They had a plan Ron, it was that you would be there to help them!
Bill

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They have to get right up to the dock for me to help and I'm still left with grabbing a rail or bimini frame.

With a line (two lines), five feet or so from the dock will do it.
 
It's amazing the number of folks who can't seem to get it into their heads that sooner or later, someone is going to have to tie the boat up. Some seem to think they can just put it in "park" and walk away.
 
Hells bells why would you expect them to plan in advance when same people seem surprised that after standing in line for a few minutes that they actually have to find their checkbook or wallet to pay for stuff in a market.
 
You're right... I've noticed that several times lately. Admittedly they may have been distracted with their thoughts, but that's no excuse.

More years ago than I care to remember I worked for a high & dry marina. Folks would call ahead and say they wanted their boat ready at say 7am. The people would show up, start up, and go; I'm sure if the dock boy weren't there to throw their lines off they'd probably tear out the cleats.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Hells bells why would you expect them to plan in advance when same people seem surprised that after standing in line for a few minutes that they actually have to find their checkbook or wallet to pay for stuff in a market.

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They have to quit talking on their phones first.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Hells bells why would you expect them to plan in advance when same people seem surprised that after standing in line for a few minutes that they actually have to find their checkbook or wallet to pay for stuff in a market.

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There are many people who can't think ahead. Why in the world would 'dock lines' be needed until you are at the dock!
Any good boater will be prepared for docking way before the docks. The captain will be looking at the flags of other moored/docked boats to get an idea of wind direction and also get an idea of the current as he is approaching. Plans on how to dock the boat are now made. In weather conditions that are not great, plans on how to abort the docking are also made.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pa Mikee

[here are many people who can't think ahead. Why in the world would 'dock lines' be needed until you are at the dock! .........
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Sure the first time you drive the boat. The second time, anyone with just a bit of sense should remember the problems he or she had the first time.

We really need boater education and licensing.
 
Ask any good trailer boater about thinking ahead and being ready. Everyone hates that's guy at a ramp or dock but there sure seem to be a lot of those guys at docks, ramps, anchorages... Anywhere really. The ability to pay for a boat sure doesn't grant the ability to handle it.

Back in my previous life, I had a guy once pass me in the shelter of an island. Nice new 40' boat. About 30 minutes later while still on watch he called frantic when he left the shelter of the pass for the big lake. Scared to death of the waves. I tried to calm him down and asked him where he was. He didn't know, couldn't get to the chart plotter. I asked him to grab his life jacket, couldn't get to it. I asked him to slow down and he said it was too rough. Turns out he was skimming the tops of the waves cruising along (I knew this from seeing him pass) and if he pulled back the throttle alittle the boat stared jumping the waves. Didn't trust me if he slowed down all the way he'd be fine. We sent a small boat from the station out to get him and lead him to the harbor (at flank speed!) Where only then would he slow down and have a 'courtesy' boarding. I could hear his dog in the background on the radio, wanted to ask him to put the dog on. You can't fix stupid and you can't buy knowledge.
 
For sure!!! It's amazing how many folks can't figure out that SLOW is the way to go when the weather kicks up.

"...anyone with just a bit of sense should remember..."

Now why in the world would anyone want to do THAT??? It takes away all the FUN (for the spectators at least).
 
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