Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

"Rosalie B." wrote:

OK, I'm trying to visualize this - originally I thought it would be
better to come in going upstream which would be the natural way to
approach the slip, against the current so you would have more control.

In this case the slip is oriented perpendicular to the current. My approach
to the slip takes me beam to the current.



How about leaving a spring line on the upstream piling,

There is no upstream piling, just the iron jetty protruding into the river.

and coming the
other way (going with the current), and putting the side of the boat
next to the pier/dock which has the spring line on it while still
parallel to the current. Have the non-engine person pick up this line
and cleat it down fairly short a bit aft of center and then warp
yourself around this piling into the slip, using the current and the
engine to help you get perpendicular to it.

There is no time to do all this. The current will have pushed me into the
next slip before I can make use of this spring line. We would have to
enter quickly and that puts us at more risk of hitting the wall at the end
of the slip. Going slowly allows the current time to push us over.



We have a problem with our boat being a modified full keel, with a lot
of windage and very heavy, so that I can't - by myself- hold the boat
against current or wind if there is any that is significant. Also,
our slip is longer than our boat, so if the boat is nicely in the
slip, we can't reach the last pilings - we have to do that on the way
into the slip. But it doesn't look like you have those problems - so
after you get the boat secured in the middle, you let the current put
the boat parallel to the slip. The stern won't be able to swing too
far because it is cleated down.

grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id1.html

Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

Al Thomason wrote:

I think Glen has the idea. Mount a line on the piling at the end of
your slip finger, then have your crew stand on the bow. Come in like
you do now but get the bow close enough that the crew member can reach
the line. If they miss the line, no problems as you have not
commited to docking yet. Just back out, and try again until the crew
has the spring line in hand before starting to end the slip.

Sorry, but this sounds too tricky, especially with a current pushing on the boat
all the time.



Once the have it, then you let the bow fall off a bit to line up with
your slip and proceed in. During this time the crew member walks the
line back to a mid-ship cleat and takes one wrap.

While the crew member is walking back, the current has already swept me into
the downstream piling, or worse yet, the boat in the next slip.

As you proceed in,
the boat will start to drift down stream. With your crew member
holding the spring line and taking up slack and you giving some
forward power, this will pull your boat back to your side of the
docks. Continue in slowly with the crew member slipping the spring
line through the cleat (this is why they took a turn as opposed to
made it fast) as you proceed in. When you get to where you want, the
crew member makes the spring fast. Leave the motor in forward, and
the action will pin your boat to your upstream finger. Then retrieve
the rest of the lines. After all is set you can cut the power.

If you dont have a piling at the end of your dock, you can tie the
spring line to the dock and affix some stand pipe which would hold the
free end of the spring line ready and at a height that is easy for the
crew member to reach.

This will also work at a visiting dock, but the crew member has to be
good at 'lassoing' a piling or dock cleat :-)

Hope this helps.

All these things would work if there were no strong current constantly
pushing the boat on the beam. You would then have lots of time and
a forgiveness factor if you mess up.

I think Rosalie might have an idea with these cross ropes to catch the
boat, as it enters the slip.


-al-

Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

otnmbrd wrote:

The problem is that there is no one right answer to your problem.

Correct. The few references I have seen to this in magazine articles
and books say this is one of the trickiest kinds of docking maneuvers.


The solution can involve any number of things such as line handling and
engine and rudder usage.
Best bet....... find someone around your dock area who seems to make
his/her approaches with little difficulty (takes some time and observation)
and ask them for advice.

Will definitely do that.


Because your situation involves an off the dock current, for the most part
you will need to use a combination of line handling and engine/rudder
maneuvers to come up with something that works well.

I am not sure about the line handling, as it is very error prone. The engine

and rudder might prove to minimize the problem.


Don't be afraid to use your line from different points on the dock as well
as the boat and be ready to "work" those lines to your advantage.
As for engine and rudder, try maximum rudder and minimum engine first and
then increase or decrease as experience teaches.
As a final thought..... don't forget your anchor...... there may be a
maneuver that could benefit from it's use.

Unless I set an anchor everytime I approach the dock, there is no practical
way to use it to advantage.

Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

Charlie Morgan wrote:



Does the motor mount allow the Yamaha to turn? If so, you may find it useful to
use the motor in reverse to pull the stern towards the dock. If you have a high
thrust model Yamaha, it will do this effectively.

Yes, I can turn the engine 45 degrees to either side of mid-ships. It is the high

thrust Yamaha, but most propellors do not work efficiently in reverse. Never
the less, I think I can overcome the current somewhat with the engine. The
current is not extremely fast (about 2 to 3 knots), but enough to get you into
trouble if you don't line things up properly. Some days the current is way down
and entering the slip is no problem. Somehow the engine has to stop the forward
momentum of the boat, and at the same time keep the stern from swinging down
stream. Maybe pointing the engine at 45 degrees upstream and giving it reverse
power of the right amount and at the right time, would do the trick. I have no
idea
how the power boats with fixed inboards can handle this problem. Most of them
appear too small to have double drive shafts that could be used to turn the boat.

I have searched many books like Chapman and none of them covers a stituation
where you have a forced narrow approach with a current or strong wind on the
beam.
If this were a situation of a dock which is open on one side, it would allow more
maneuvering
room to approach and/or recover.



I also find it useful, when short handed, to put the emphasis on securing the
boat from a midpoint, rather than the ends, initially. I simply have a dockline
with the loop over a cabintop winch, which is not quite the center of the boat,
but close enough. If someone can step off the boat with the other end in their
hand and simple hold their ground with that line,

This slip has a high pier that we access via a boarding ladder, so stepping off
is not that simple.

or tie it off, it will hold
the boat close enough that neither the bow nor stern can get too far away.

Again, I have to have a reasonable way on to enter this slip with the current
flowing. This makes it extremely difficult for someone to grab a piling on the
dock and manage to stop the momentum of the boat.

That
gives the other person time to take care of properly securing the other lines.

CWM



I know all you folks are trying hard to find a solution, and I appreciate the
efforts.
Any of us who have done extensive cruising have encountered docking problems
before. My biggest challenge was taking my boat down the Mississippi River,
which has currents over 6 knots, in places. Somehow I managed to keep from
damaging my boat. There was the time we couldn't tie up at Cape Girardeau, Mo.
on
that trip because when I turned the boat around against the current, my 6 hp Sea
Gull engine could not overcome the current, and we slowly drifted past the town.

Sherwin

Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

On Wed, 05 Jul 2006 00:57:07 -0500, sherwindu
wrote:


Once the have it, then you let the bow fall off a bit to line up with
your slip and proceed in. During this time the crew member walks the
line back to a mid-ship cleat and takes one wrap.

While the crew member is walking back, the current has already swept me into
the downstream piling, or worse yet, the boat in the next slip.

Get some of the heavy rubber strips that are designed for permanent
attachment to a piling. That way you can lay along side it without
damage to your boat. Run a permanent piece of line from the piling to
the seawall. You will then be able to enter the slip and lay against
the piling and rope as you secure your lines to the pier.

Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

sherwindu wrote:
"Rosalie B." wrote:

OK, I'm trying to visualize this - originally I thought it would be
better to come in going upstream which would be the natural way to
approach the slip, against the current so you would have more control.

In this case the slip is oriented perpendicular to the current. My approach
to the slip takes me beam to the current.

Why? If I am coming up a river, I am parallel to the current. If I
am going down the river, I'm parallel to the current. It is only when
I turn to go into the slip that I am beam to the current. I was
thinking of getting to the area of the slip as part of the approach -
not just the actual turn into the slip.

How about leaving a spring line on the upstream piling,

There is no upstream piling, just the iron jetty protruding into the river.

Are there no line attachments on the jetty? Like cleats or something
of that sort?

and coming the
other way (going with the current), and putting the side of the boat
next to the pier/dock which has the spring line on it while still
parallel to the current. Have the non-engine person pick up this line
and cleat it down fairly short a bit aft of center and then warp
yourself around this piling into the slip, using the current and the
engine to help you get perpendicular to it.

There is no time to do all this. The current will have pushed me into the
next slip before I can make use of this spring line. We would have to
enter quickly and that puts us at more risk of hitting the wall at the end
of the slip. Going slowly allows the current time to push us over.

There is time if you get the line before you do any turning beam to
the current while you are still going with (or against) the current.

We have a problem with our boat being a modified full keel, with a lot
of windage and very heavy, so that I can't - by myself- hold the boat
against current or wind if there is any that is significant. Also,
our slip is longer than our boat, so if the boat is nicely in the
slip, we can't reach the last pilings - we have to do that on the way
into the slip. But it doesn't look like you have those problems - so
after you get the boat secured in the middle, you let the current put
the boat parallel to the slip. The stern won't be able to swing too
far because it is cleated down.

Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

Why not figure that you are going to hit someplace in the slip no matter
what you do. So just put enough fenders and padding in the slip so no damage
is done. That is what ferry boats do.

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
sherwindu wrote:
"Rosalie B." wrote:

OK, I'm trying to visualize this - originally I thought it would be
better to come in going upstream which would be the natural way to
approach the slip, against the current so you would have more control.

In this case the slip is oriented perpendicular to the current. My
approach
to the slip takes me beam to the current.

Why? If I am coming up a river, I am parallel to the current. If I
am going down the river, I'm parallel to the current. It is only when
I turn to go into the slip that I am beam to the current. I was
thinking of getting to the area of the slip as part of the approach -
not just the actual turn into the slip.

How about leaving a spring line on the upstream piling,

There is no upstream piling, just the iron jetty protruding into the
river.

Are there no line attachments on the jetty? Like cleats or something
of that sort?

and coming the
other way (going with the current), and putting the side of the boat
next to the pier/dock which has the spring line on it while still
parallel to the current. Have the non-engine person pick up this line
and cleat it down fairly short a bit aft of center and then warp
yourself around this piling into the slip, using the current and the
engine to help you get perpendicular to it.

There is no time to do all this. The current will have pushed me into
the
next slip before I can make use of this spring line. We would have to
enter quickly and that puts us at more risk of hitting the wall at the
end
of the slip. Going slowly allows the current time to push us over.

There is time if you get the line before you do any turning beam to
the current while you are still going with (or against) the current.

We have a problem with our boat being a modified full keel, with a lot
of windage and very heavy, so that I can't - by myself- hold the boat
against current or wind if there is any that is significant. Also,
our slip is longer than our boat, so if the boat is nicely in the
slip, we can't reach the last pilings - we have to do that on the way
into the slip. But it doesn't look like you have those problems - so
after you get the boat secured in the middle, you let the current put
the boat parallel to the slip. The stern won't be able to swing too
far because it is cleated down.

Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

"Richard" wrote in message
...
Why not figure that you are going to hit someplace in the slip no matter
what you do. So just put enough fenders and padding in the slip so no
damage is done. That is what ferry boats do.

That's what I suggested and sherwind said I was a jerk. :-)

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

Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

sherwindu wrote in
:



otnmbrd wrote:


Because your situation involves an off the dock current, for the most
part you will need to use a combination of line handling and
engine/rudder maneuvers to come up with something that works well.

I am not sure about the line handling, as it is very error prone.
The engine

and rudder might prove to minimize the problem.

Actually both are very "error prone". If you are looking for a solely
engine/rudder solution, odds are you won't find one and if you do it will
require you to precisely mimic the same engine/helm commands every time.
Howerver, since we know that every docking is different.............
Like it or not, your best solution will involve linehandling which is just
as much an art as handling the engine rudder controls.
Sorry to say, there is no simple answer to your problem.



Don't be afraid to use your line from different points on the dock as
well as the boat and be ready to "work" those lines to your
advantage. As for engine and rudder, try maximum rudder and minimum
engine first and then increase or decrease as experience teaches.
As a final thought..... don't forget your anchor...... there may be a
maneuver that could benefit from it's use.

Unless I set an anchor everytime I approach the dock, there is no
practical way to use it to advantage.

The use of an anchor, like line handling, requires some good deal of
practice to realize it's advantage (In this case it may well be overkill,
but I mentioned it purely as a possibility).

At any rate, take it slow and easy and keep an open mind to possibilities,
trying different approaches and you might come up with the "one" which
works best for you.

otn

Approaching a slip with a strong current
 

"Wayne.B" wrote:



Get some of the heavy rubber strips that are designed for permanent
attachment to a piling. That way you can lay along side it without
damage to your boat. Run a permanent piece of line from the piling to
the seawall. You will then be able to enter the slip and lay against
the piling and rope as you secure your lines to the pier.

Your idea may work. Maybe I was looking for a more elegant solution than
crashing into a piling, padded or not. I have to check with the management of
the marina as to what modifications they will allow me to make.

Sherwin