Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

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"John Smith" wrote:

I have a small single engine inboard/outboard cruiser which is normally kept
on a mooring. I have just spent a few days at a berth and would like some
references for articles on berthing under a range of conditions, to improve
my skills and knowledge of the subject.

Any suggestions on the best source of articles etc?

Thanks in advance

I think Cruising World had some articles on this - at least I remember
reading about things like using a spring line to warp yourself into a
slip.

If you are going to be going in and out of the same slip frequently,
you can refine your technique. If it is going to be your home slip,
you can leave lines on the pilings to be retrieved as you come in -
this helps a lot.

Otherwise you have to carefully assess the wind and current to
determine the best course of action.

Our experience is with a heavy modified full keel sailboat, which is
very much affected by both wind and current. Without a lot of either
of those she can spin on her mast. With a lot of either, it's a crap
shoot. There are some slips/places that we just can't get into. Fin
keel spade rudder boats handle very differently.

When we first got our boat, I went out and practiced backing around a
'no wake' buoy in fairly calm conditions.


grandma Rosalie

Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

Jere Lull wrote in message ...
In article ,
"John Smith" wrote:

I have a small single engine inboard/outboard cruiser which is normally kept
on a mooring. I have just spent a few days at a berth and would like some
references for articles on berthing under a range of conditions, to improve
my skills and knowledge of the subject.

Any suggestions on the best source of articles etc?

I tried to send this earlier but it did not take so here goes my 2
cents

1-Pratice
2-Understand wind and current and use that
3-Understand which way you can steer in reverse becuase of paddlewheel
effect and use that.
4-Gain confidence and don't get rattled by onlookers
5-Go Slow and if (when) you hit something, there will be no damage
6-Pratice some more
there is a video on single engine I/O doccking that I bought at West
Marine, Maybe it could help

good luck

Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

Jere Lull wrote in message ...
In article ,
"John Smith" wrote:

I have a small single engine inboard/outboard cruiser which is normally kept
on a mooring. I have just spent a few days at a berth and would like some
references for articles on berthing under a range of conditions, to improve
my skills and knowledge of the subject.

Any suggestions on the best source of articles etc?

I tried to send this earlier but it did not take so here goes my 2
cents

1-Pratice
2-Understand wind and current and use that
3-Understand which way you can steer in reverse becuase of paddlewheel
effect and use that.
4-Gain confidence and don't get rattled by onlookers
5-Go Slow and if (when) you hit something, there will be no damage
6-Pratice some more
there is a video on single engine I/O doccking that I bought at West
Marine, Maybe it could help

good luck

Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

In article , Richard Malcolm
says...

5-Go Slow and if (when) you hit something, there will be no damage

This is one that I have occasionally had trouble with.

I have a Bayfield 29 - which is a full keel sailboat with a 'barn door' rudder.
I have some maneuvering problems, and the trouble is that speed is sometimes a
problem. If I go slowly enough to not cause damage, then I barely have
steerage.

Then once I am clear my slip, I can (usually) turn hard, gun the engine and
swing the bow around with authority. Unless the wind is from the wrong
direction, then it counteracts my swing, and I am now moving TOO quickly towards
the dock and my neighbour!

grump - darn laws of physics!
sdg B29 "Discovery"

Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

In article , Richard Malcolm
says...

5-Go Slow and if (when) you hit something, there will be no damage

This is one that I have occasionally had trouble with.

I have a Bayfield 29 - which is a full keel sailboat with a 'barn door' rudder.
I have some maneuvering problems, and the trouble is that speed is sometimes a
problem. If I go slowly enough to not cause damage, then I barely have
steerage.

Then once I am clear my slip, I can (usually) turn hard, gun the engine and
swing the bow around with authority. Unless the wind is from the wrong
direction, then it counteracts my swing, and I am now moving TOO quickly towards
the dock and my neighbour!

grump - darn laws of physics!
sdg B29 "Discovery"

Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

x-no-archive:yes


wrote:


In article , Richard Malcolm
says...

5-Go Slow and if (when) you hit something, there will be no damage

This is one that I have occasionally had trouble with.

I have a Bayfield 29 - which is a full keel sailboat with a 'barn door' rudder.
I have some maneuvering problems, and the trouble is that speed is sometimes a
problem. If I go slowly enough to not cause damage, then I barely have
steerage.

Plus if there is wind or current, you sometimes CAN'T go slow. We've
been instructed to come into a face dock between two other boats, with
the wind blowing us toward the dock. Bob lined us up opposite the
space and stopped. Then the wind blew us sideways into the space with
considerable force (good thing he did an accurate job of lining it up,
because we couldn't get off the dock for a couple of days - anything
in the way would have been smashed).

Then once I am clear my slip, I can (usually) turn hard, gun the engine and
swing the bow around with authority. Unless the wind is from the wrong
direction, then it counteracts my swing, and I am now moving TOO quickly towards
the dock and my neighbour!

grump - darn laws of physics!
sdg B29 "Discovery"

We've got more or less the same configuration except it's a 44 and a
modified full keel. If we have to back out (we are usually bow in
because of dinghy davits) and swing through the wind (or current -
current is sometimes worse), we often walk the boat out of the slip (I
take the line from the stern piling and walk forward holding us to
that side) and physically push (or pull) the bow around. In the case
of current, we will wait until slack if we have to, but wind isn't as
predictable.

grandma Rosalie

Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

x-no-archive:yes


wrote:


In article , Richard Malcolm
says...

5-Go Slow and if (when) you hit something, there will be no damage

This is one that I have occasionally had trouble with.

I have a Bayfield 29 - which is a full keel sailboat with a 'barn door' rudder.
I have some maneuvering problems, and the trouble is that speed is sometimes a
problem. If I go slowly enough to not cause damage, then I barely have
steerage.

Plus if there is wind or current, you sometimes CAN'T go slow. We've
been instructed to come into a face dock between two other boats, with
the wind blowing us toward the dock. Bob lined us up opposite the
space and stopped. Then the wind blew us sideways into the space with
considerable force (good thing he did an accurate job of lining it up,
because we couldn't get off the dock for a couple of days - anything
in the way would have been smashed).

Then once I am clear my slip, I can (usually) turn hard, gun the engine and
swing the bow around with authority. Unless the wind is from the wrong
direction, then it counteracts my swing, and I am now moving TOO quickly towards
the dock and my neighbour!

grump - darn laws of physics!
sdg B29 "Discovery"

We've got more or less the same configuration except it's a 44 and a
modified full keel. If we have to back out (we are usually bow in
because of dinghy davits) and swing through the wind (or current -
current is sometimes worse), we often walk the boat out of the slip (I
take the line from the stern piling and walk forward holding us to
that side) and physically push (or pull) the bow around. In the case
of current, we will wait until slack if we have to, but wind isn't as
predictable.

grandma Rosalie

Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

wrote:
In article , Richard Malcolm
says...

5-Go Slow and if (when) you hit something, there will be no damage


This is one that I have occasionally had trouble with.

I have a Bayfield 29 - which is a full keel sailboat with a 'barn door' rudder.
I have some maneuvering problems, and the trouble is that speed is sometimes a
problem. If I go slowly enough to not cause damage, then I barely have
steerage.

"Steerage way" and the ability to steer your boat, can be and frequently
are, two different things.... i.e., you don't need steerage way, to
steer. What most need to learn, is to use the rudder with a quick kick,
without losing all sternway or picking up any degree of headway, or the
opposite, a quick kick astern to take advantage of prop walk.

Then once I am clear my slip, I can (usually) turn hard, gun the engine and
swing the bow around with authority. Unless the wind is from the wrong
direction, then it counteracts my swing, and I am now moving TOO quickly towards
the dock and my neighbour!

If you have a right hand prop and are turning to the right, try a "back
and fill" (pivot in place) with easy kicks .... speed through the water,
in this case, is your enemy.
Same prop, turning left, still try the back and fill, but know that your
backing will be limited, as you will want to maintain the left hand swing.

If the wind is coming from the direction you need to go, did you ever
give any thought to backing out of slip area?
Most boats like to back into the wind, and many single screw boats can
be made to back a fairly straight course when backing into the wind,
over a considerable distance. (lotsa practice needed here).
It's real hard to give good solid advice on how to maneuver a particular
boat in a particular area, so consider the above, as some "food for
thought", more than specific advice.

otn

grump - darn laws of physics!
sdg B29 "Discovery"

Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

wrote:
In article , Richard Malcolm
says...

5-Go Slow and if (when) you hit something, there will be no damage


This is one that I have occasionally had trouble with.

I have a Bayfield 29 - which is a full keel sailboat with a 'barn door' rudder.
I have some maneuvering problems, and the trouble is that speed is sometimes a
problem. If I go slowly enough to not cause damage, then I barely have
steerage.

"Steerage way" and the ability to steer your boat, can be and frequently
are, two different things.... i.e., you don't need steerage way, to
steer. What most need to learn, is to use the rudder with a quick kick,
without losing all sternway or picking up any degree of headway, or the
opposite, a quick kick astern to take advantage of prop walk.

Then once I am clear my slip, I can (usually) turn hard, gun the engine and
swing the bow around with authority. Unless the wind is from the wrong
direction, then it counteracts my swing, and I am now moving TOO quickly towards
the dock and my neighbour!

If you have a right hand prop and are turning to the right, try a "back
and fill" (pivot in place) with easy kicks .... speed through the water,
in this case, is your enemy.
Same prop, turning left, still try the back and fill, but know that your
backing will be limited, as you will want to maintain the left hand swing.

If the wind is coming from the direction you need to go, did you ever
give any thought to backing out of slip area?
Most boats like to back into the wind, and many single screw boats can
be made to back a fairly straight course when backing into the wind,
over a considerable distance. (lotsa practice needed here).
It's real hard to give good solid advice on how to maneuver a particular
boat in a particular area, so consider the above, as some "food for
thought", more than specific advice.

otn

grump - darn laws of physics!
sdg B29 "Discovery"

Berthing a single engine cruiser in reverse
 

On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 18:06:01 GMT, otnmbrd
wrote:


"Steerage way" and the ability to steer your boat, can be and frequently
are, two different things.... i.e., you don't need steerage way, to
steer. What most need to learn, is to use the rudder with a quick kick,
without losing all sternway or picking up any degree of headway, or the
opposite, a quick kick astern to take advantage of prop walk.


That is very boat-dependent. Our boat has the prop 12 feet from the
rudder. Steerage depends on boat motion 100%. Also, the prop doesn't
walk. It is too close to the pivot axis to have any leverage.

So, we need steerage way to steer, but that is very slow. In practice,
I have been able to dock without assistance in a wide range of
conditions. But, I was pretty anxious when I first started doing that.



Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a


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