A question for the single handers
 

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!

"Rick" wrote in message
...

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

Thanks!

Practice, practice, practice. Only other tip is to come in slowly, put the
thing into neutral and coast up to the point where you're ready to put it
into reverse to stop the boat. Make sure your propulsion isn't prone to
stalling.

John Cairns

First off, what boat and motor/prop set up?
Prop walk? Which way? Use this to your advantage.
Ya can use the wind and or current to your advantage.
Practice in open water, away from other boats.
When backing, you need enough speed for steerage, but not too much
that you can't stop in time.
Once in the slip, in any cross wind, I quickly tie on a short spring
line and leave the motor idle in gear, rev. or forward depending on
the wind, to keep the bow off the forward piling.

--
Scott Vernon
Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_


"Rick" wrote in message
...
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 generally find that wildly swinging a half full bottle of rum and
screaming "She's Out of Control".. "Clear the Dock!"... works wonders to put
a run to the rubber neckers ashore!

At this point no matter how badly you screw up... it's way better than what
they were expecting!

Think out your approach...... Work the wind, know your momentum, have an
abort point and use it if the first approach isn't what you want. Everything
at dead slow with just enough movement to maintain rudder control.

Practice early in the morning or when nobody is around. Get it right and
repeat it. When you finally have opportunity do it in front of a crowd it
will go flawlessly.... if not grab the rum bottle and start yelling .....
:-)

CM


"Rick" wrote in message
...
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!

Rick wrote:

Just plan ahead Rick, I often bring RedCloud in and out single handed.

I have a spring line I drop by the end of the slip pier. Toss my
fenders.. bow in coasting.... pull the spring thru the proper chock and
put it on the cleat. Put the boat idle in forward and take my time
tying all the rest of the lines. You can do the same and leave the
spring on the boat an toss it to the proper dock cleat ect..

Easy as pie.

Joe



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!

Rick,

As John C said in his post, practice is what does it. But, if you don't want
to be the gawked, practice coming up to a mooring buoy or some other
floating object from the same direction and the same manner as how you would
dock your boat in the slip. There's really no difference, and it'll build
the confidence you'll need. When I'm teaching students aboard our Yamaha 30,
I force them to dock under sail (with the engine in neutral as a safety
precaution) into the wind (the preferred direction) and with the wind (to
give them a real-life example of the difference in the characteristics).
Previous to this part of the lesson, we've done a bunch of practicing
stopping at a mooring ball and anchoring also without the benefit of engine
(not even in neutral).

You sort of mentioned it, but I'll make it clearer... don't listen to the
"helpful" advice from the people at the dock, and don't toss someone a line
unless you know the person knows what they're doing. Many dock mavens don't
know anything about how to really do it. As an example, when I dock for
lunch at Angel Island during the summer months, I typically have a 30-45
foot boat. Also, I typically back into the slip (for practice and for fun).
I know the area... current, wind eccentricities well... so I don't need
help, but I'll invariably get someone yokel who just stepped off a
stinkpotter giving me advice. I usually just say thanks anyway, but one time
I really got a good laugh. As I was backing in, he came out to the end of
the dock, beer in hand, and told me to "gun it and I'll grab the line."

Jonathan

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Rick" wrote in message
...
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!

Rick, of course, this is also great advice!!! Thanks Mooron for making me
laugh!

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Overproof" wrote in message
news:oNCCd.44400$Y72.29642@edtnps91...
I generally find that wildly swinging a half full bottle of rum and
screaming "She's Out of Control".. "Clear the Dock!"... works wonders to
put a run to the rubber neckers ashore!

At this point no matter how badly you screw up... it's way better than
what they were expecting!

Yeah, I get that a lot with students unfamiliar with a larger boat. I've
typically cautioned them that they can do a lot of damage if they're going
too fast, so they tend to overcompensate and stop the boat short. As we
drift, I then as them "Ok, now what do we do? What was your backup plan
again? And, if the engine won't start, then what?"

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 14:52:40 -0500, Rick
wrote:

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!

The single biggest mistake I see in new sailors docking is that they
go TOO slow during the approach and as a result they lose steerage.

BB

"Dave" wrote

Also, unless you're sure you'll have some line handlers, be sure
you've put
your fenders on the proper side well in advance (establish whether
you'll be
tying port side or starboard side to by radio)

huh? Radio? Who you gonna call, he said he's singlhanding?

Scotty

It's not unheard of to ask for help from the harbor master, boat yard, or
fuel dock personnel. I've moved large boats into the cradle area for
hauling, for example, an area with relatively tricky currents and flukey
winds. It was nice for both of us that they knew I was coming in single
handed. They were happy to standby.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Scott Vernon" wrote in message
...

"Dave" wrote

Also, unless you're sure you'll have some line handlers, be sure
you've put
your fenders on the proper side well in advance (establish whether
you'll be
tying port side or starboard side to by radio)

huh? Radio? Who you gonna call, he said he's singlhanding?

Scotty