1. Speed - Keep your speed to a minimum to allow for more than one possible
maneuver.

2. Steering - At slow speeds, steering ahead is accomplish with high angles of
rudder and short, low rpm kicks of the engine. A kick astern will also give a
steering component due to prop walk - learn to use this.

3. If you can rig one line, ashore, that you can easily grab and make fast at
some point close to your maneuvering station, learn what effect various
maneuvers have on your boat at various angles of this line, to help you come
alongside and hold to the dock.

4. Wander around your Marina and watch others dock. Learn from their mistakes
and good ideas, and if you see someone who seems to make it look easy, ask them
to give you some help with your boat.

5. Always watch for wind and current advantages and/or disadvantages and learn
to use them.

6. Take your time, practice ..... boat handling is the art of correcting the
boats tendency to do what you don't want it to do, or not do what you do want
it to do.

Shen

Rick,

I NEED TO SAY; before I go any further. I have to say that I've learned
more about docking from my Female crew. With the simplest instruction
they became the best docking crew I've seen.

I have a up-wind slip and they learned to use the wind on the nose as a
brake. They have the knack and patience to really slow the boat
down,while maintaining control. That Rick is the secret. Slow!! If
you're going slow enough, hitting the dock looks like a good landing.

My girls got so good at it they preferred docking without the engine.

When I single hand, I make good use of the boat hook. If I'm going to
dock up-wind, I douse the Jib ( Love my roller furling). When I make my
final tack into my slip and have my bow well into the slip and away from
my neighbors boat, I drop the main into the Lazy Jacks , hook the stern
line from my permanent docking lines. Go forward to about mid-ship and
hook the cleat for my spring lines with the boat hook and pull the boat
into docking position. (I said I drop the main but if I'm making to much
headway, I leave it up on a loose sheet to use the wind to kill any
headway

If the wind is from the stern, I furl the main in the Jacks and enter
the slip with the jib, furl it, grab the stern docking line with the
boat hook and set it on the stern cleat. The wind on the hull will
complete the docking.

AND; now the story!! My girls were bringing "Pneuma" in and a bunch of
Dock Jockeys were gathering on the finger pier. It worried me and a
mentioned it to Wendy. She said; "Not to worry, I'll take care of it."
As she got the bow in the slip, a smart ass called out; "Can I help?"
Wendy said Sure and threw him a line. He caught it with a **** eating
grin. Wendy hooked the stern line while the knuckle head haul on the
line she threw him. It wasn't connected. He soon had the loose end in
his hand with a very puzzled look on his face. About this time Wendy
hopped to the dock saying; "Gemme that damn rope! If you don't know what
the hell you're doing, don't offer." While his two buddy's were laughing
at him, Wendy tied a bowline in the end and threw it to one of the crew
with instruction to loop it over the main sail wench and she pull the
boat into position to set the rest of the docking lines. We've never
used that wench like that before or since, We also have never been
bother again by Laughing Boy and his friends

Rick, docking is easy. Take your time, have a good boat hook and
remember "Ole Thom's Girl" Pussy footing is the way to go'

Ole Thom

On the flip side, when I'm on the dock and see a boat coming in, I
usually ask if they need a hand. About half accept and are grateful.

Scotty

"Thom Stewart" wrote in message
...
Rick,

I NEED TO SAY; before I go any further. I have to say that I've
learned
more about docking from my Female crew. With the simplest
instruction
they became the best docking crew I've seen.

I have a up-wind slip and they learned to use the wind on the nose
as a
brake. They have the knack and patience to really slow the boat
down,while maintaining control. That Rick is the secret. Slow!! If
you're going slow enough, hitting the dock looks like a good
landing.

My girls got so good at it they preferred docking without the
engine.

When I single hand, I make good use of the boat hook. If I'm going
to
dock up-wind, I douse the Jib ( Love my roller furling). When I make
my
final tack into my slip and have my bow well into the slip and away
from
my neighbors boat, I drop the main into the Lazy Jacks , hook the
stern
line from my permanent docking lines. Go forward to about mid-ship
and
hook the cleat for my spring lines with the boat hook and pull the
boat
into docking position. (I said I drop the main but if I'm making to
much
headway, I leave it up on a loose sheet to use the wind to kill any
headway

If the wind is from the stern, I furl the main in the Jacks and
enter
the slip with the jib, furl it, grab the stern docking line with the
boat hook and set it on the stern cleat. The wind on the hull will
complete the docking.

AND; now the story!! My girls were bringing "Pneuma" in and a bunch
of
Dock Jockeys were gathering on the finger pier. It worried me and a
mentioned it to Wendy. She said; "Not to worry, I'll take care of
it."
As she got the bow in the slip, a smart ass called out; "Can I
help?"
Wendy said Sure and threw him a line. He caught it with a ****
eating
grin. Wendy hooked the stern line while the knuckle head haul on the
line she threw him. It wasn't connected. He soon had the loose end
in
his hand with a very puzzled look on his face. About this time Wendy
hopped to the dock saying; "Gemme that damn rope! If you don't know
what
the hell you're doing, don't offer." While his two buddy's were
laughing
at him, Wendy tied a bowline in the end and threw it to one of the
crew
with instruction to loop it over the main sail wench and she pull
the
boat into position to set the rest of the docking lines. We've never
used that wench like that before or since, We also have never been
bother again by Laughing Boy and his friends

Rick, docking is easy. Take your time, have a good boat hook and
remember "Ole Thom's Girl" Pussy footing is the way to go'

Ole Thom

What a peabrain!

The best way to avoid dock gawkers is to avoid the dock.

Real sailor anchor or moor out.

CN


"Rick" wrote in message news
Would those of you who single handedly sail your boat give a new
sailor some tips on bringing the boat into the slip without attracting
a crowd of gawkers? The dock angels I don't mind, but the sauced vocal
contributions only add to the already high tension level. I don't mind
being the local entertainment occasionally, but it would be nice to
know how to do this better.

I realize practice makes perfect, but a few tips can speed up the
learning curve significantly.

Thanks!

Install a midship cleat...that way if you have to jump off on the dock you
have the boat on its' fulcrum and you won't lose it...also, if it's a
permanent dock you can run a grab line from piling to piling and if you have
a piling in the middle of the slipway you can rig a v-shaped net that will
not only keep you from nosing the dock, but will also help keep the boat in
position...

"Rick" wrote in message
news
Would those of you who single handedly sail your boat give a new
sailor some tips on bringing the boat into the slip without attracting
a crowd of gawkers? The dock angels I don't mind, but the sauced vocal
contributions only add to the already high tension level. I don't mind
being the local entertainment occasionally, but it would be nice to
know how to do this better.

I realize practice makes perfect, but a few tips can speed up the
learning curve significantly.

Thanks!

What makes you think even a rank novice would appreciate
advice from a Toxic Granny?

CN

"katysails" wrote in message ...
Install a midship cleat...that way if you have to jump off on the dock you
have the boat on its' fulcrum and you won't lose it...also, if it's a
permanent dock you can run a grab line from piling to piling and if you have
a piling in the middle of the slipway you can rig a v-shaped net that will
not only keep you from nosing the dock, but will also help keep the boat in
position...

"Rick" wrote in message
news
Would those of you who single handedly sail your boat give a new
sailor some tips on bringing the boat into the slip without attracting
a crowd of gawkers? The dock angels I don't mind, but the sauced vocal
contributions only add to the already high tension level. I don't mind
being the local entertainment occasionally, but it would be nice to
know how to do this better.

I realize practice makes perfect, but a few tips can speed up the
learning curve significantly.

Thanks!

Because I know what I'm talking about...

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...
What makes you think even a rank novice would appreciate
advice from a Toxic Granny?

CN

"katysails" wrote in message
...
Install a midship cleat...that way if you have to jump off on the dock
you
have the boat on its' fulcrum and you won't lose it...also, if it's a
permanent dock you can run a grab line from piling to piling and if you
have
a piling in the middle of the slipway you can rig a v-shaped net that
will
not only keep you from nosing the dock, but will also help keep the boat
in
position...

"Rick" wrote in message
news
Would those of you who single handedly sail your boat give a new
sailor some tips on bringing the boat into the slip without attracting
a crowd of gawkers? The dock angels I don't mind, but the sauced vocal
contributions only add to the already high tension level. I don't mind
being the local entertainment occasionally, but it would be nice to
know how to do this better.

I realize practice makes perfect, but a few tips can speed up the
learning curve significantly.

Thanks!

I will admit you know more about docks than I do . . .

I have as little to do with docks as possible.

CN


"katysails" wrote in message ...
Because I know what I'm talking about...

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...
What makes you think even a rank novice would appreciate
advice from a Toxic Granny?

CN

"katysails" wrote in message
...
Install a midship cleat...that way if you have to jump off on the dock
you
have the boat on its' fulcrum and you won't lose it...also, if it's a
permanent dock you can run a grab line from piling to piling and if you
have
a piling in the middle of the slipway you can rig a v-shaped net that
will
not only keep you from nosing the dock, but will also help keep the boat
in
position...

"Rick" wrote in message
news Would those of you who single handedly sail your boat give a new
sailor some tips on bringing the boat into the slip without attracting
a crowd of gawkers? The dock angels I don't mind, but the sauced vocal
contributions only add to the already high tension level. I don't mind
being the local entertainment occasionally, but it would be nice to
know how to do this better.

I realize practice makes perfect, but a few tips can speed up the
learning curve significantly.

Thanks!

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...
I will admit you know more about boats than I do . . .

I have as little to do with boats as possible.

CN

Take a bath once in awhile and maybe they'll let you near one...

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...
I will admit you know more about docks than I do . . .

I have as little to do with docks as possible.

CN


"katysails" wrote in message
...
Because I know what I'm talking about...

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...
What makes you think even a rank novice would appreciate
advice from a Toxic Granny?

CN

"katysails" wrote in message
...
Install a midship cleat...that way if you have to jump off on the dock
you
have the boat on its' fulcrum and you won't lose it...also, if it's a
permanent dock you can run a grab line from piling to piling and if
you
have
a piling in the middle of the slipway you can rig a v-shaped net that
will
not only keep you from nosing the dock, but will also help keep the
boat
in
position...

"Rick" wrote in message
news Would those of you who single handedly sail your boat give a new
sailor some tips on bringing the boat into the slip without
attracting
a crowd of gawkers? The dock angels I don't mind, but the sauced
vocal
contributions only add to the already high tension level. I don't
mind
being the local entertainment occasionally, but it would be nice to
know how to do this better.

I realize practice makes perfect, but a few tips can speed up the
learning curve significantly.

Thanks!