docking problems continue
 

I just started boating this season(18 ft bowrider) . Never driven a boat
before. Not ever. I've been out maybe 10 times on a large lake in upstate
NY. The lake often is rough even on a sunny day. We rent a slip on the end
of a dock which extends straight out into the lake at a right angle to the
shore. The space that I have is the one on the very end, on the lakeside of
the cutout that I share with another boat. The other boat is on the shore
side and generally has the waves pushing him into the dock as he pulls in.
I, on the other hand, am usually being pushed away from the dock toward the
other boat by the waves and the wind. Today was unbelievably difficult. My
docking is really ugly. I have this brand new boat that I keep hitting the
edge of the dock with. I also realized today that by being on the end of the
dock I have less protection than any other boat. This seems like a very
difficult challenge for such a newbie as me.......does anyone agree with
this assessment. When I go to dock anywhere else it's much easier, the open
dock where I buy gas or enclosed spaces where the water is not as rough. I
thought about asking for another dock space but I hate to give up on the
challenge of the space that I have.....I just dont want to do anymore damage
to the boat than I've done already.

docking problems continue
 

1. Get some boat fenders to protect your boat.
2. Get a better slip (no easy way to dock when the wind is pushing you
away).
3. If you must keep this slip, you really need someone to catch for you.
Nearly impossible to pull up to the slip (assuming the dock is on the
passenger side) and jump over to the dock and hold on when the wind is
pushing you away.

You could try backing in to get you on the dock side to help but still a
problem. Best advice, don't be afraid to use reverse and power to move the
boat quickly. Come in upwind pushing the boat into the dock (w/ the fender)
and then grab the dock.

Tony


"Jesse Dinkin" wrote in message
...
I just started boating this season(18 ft bowrider) . Never driven a boat
before. Not ever. I've been out maybe 10 times on a large lake in upstate
NY. The lake often is rough even on a sunny day. We rent a slip on the end
of a dock which extends straight out into the lake at a right angle to the
shore. The space that I have is the one on the very end, on the lakeside
of
the cutout that I share with another boat. The other boat is on the shore
side and generally has the waves pushing him into the dock as he pulls in.
I, on the other hand, am usually being pushed away from the dock toward
the
other boat by the waves and the wind. Today was unbelievably difficult. My
docking is really ugly. I have this brand new boat that I keep hitting the
edge of the dock with. I also realized today that by being on the end of
the
dock I have less protection than any other boat. This seems like a very
difficult challenge for such a newbie as me.......does anyone agree with
this assessment. When I go to dock anywhere else it's much easier, the
open
dock where I buy gas or enclosed spaces where the water is not as rough. I
thought about asking for another dock space but I hate to give up on the
challenge of the space that I have.....I just dont want to do anymore
damage
to the boat than I've done already.

docking problems continue
 

How about rigging a spring line from the bow side cleat, hook the dock and
slowly feed it out as you come in with the engine turned to push the stern to
the dock.
Not as elegant, nose into the end of the dock, drop your mate with lines and
pull yourself in.

I would suggest practicing your docking while the other boat is gone. You may
just figure out a way to do it with no special rigging.

Can you sink another piling between the slips? That and a line to the end of
the slip could keep you lined up.

docking problems continue
 

Hmm...sounds like Keuka Lake or Seneca Lake on an interesting day! :-)

I don't know your boat, so I don't know if it's an outboard or an I/O, but
when my father bought his first boat (32 t Luhrs, single screw) and was
having a devil of a time docking it, neighbors on the dock told him to find
a calm cove, and pay attention to what happened if he put the thing in
neutral and varied the RPMs. The rotation of the motor has a significant
effect on which way the boat drifts. Sometimes it's just enough to help,
although I realize a big wind may negate the effect sometimes. Another thing
that helped was having a boat hook aboard. My sister became a real whiz with
putting lines around cleats & bollards with that thing, when there was
nobody on the dock to help. I think she saw it as just another version of
knitting or something, with a bigger needle.

He finally figured it out one night. He woke up and said he had a dream
about docking. We went out that day and he docked the boat like he'd been
doing it for years. He went struttin' down the dock like he was reeeeeeal
gone. :-)

-Doug

"Jesse Dinkin" wrote in message
...
I just started boating this season(18 ft bowrider) . Never driven a boat
before. Not ever. I've been out maybe 10 times on a large lake in upstate
NY. The lake often is rough even on a sunny day. We rent a slip on the end
of a dock which extends straight out into the lake at a right angle to the
shore. The space that I have is the one on the very end, on the lakeside
of
the cutout that I share with another boat. The other boat is on the shore
side and generally has the waves pushing him into the dock as he pulls in.
I, on the other hand, am usually being pushed away from the dock toward
the
other boat by the waves and the wind. Today was unbelievably difficult. My
docking is really ugly. I have this brand new boat that I keep hitting the
edge of the dock with. I also realized today that by being on the end of
the
dock I have less protection than any other boat. This seems like a very
difficult challenge for such a newbie as me.......does anyone agree with
this assessment. When I go to dock anywhere else it's much easier, the
open
dock where I buy gas or enclosed spaces where the water is not as rough. I
thought about asking for another dock space but I hate to give up on the
challenge of the space that I have.....I just dont want to do anymore
damage
to the boat than I've done already.

docking problems continue
 

The rotation of the motor has a significant
effect on which way the boat drifts.

???????????????????????


Don't you mean the rotation of the motor (and therefore a LH or RH prop)has a
significant effect on the way the boat backs?

90% of the time a "drifitng" boat will be idling. Never heard that there's
enough torque transmistted through the stringers to "significantly" effect a
drifitng boat.

docking problems continue
 

I'm probably remembering it incorrectly. If so, the prop rotation thing is
still worth knowing, and I don't see it mentioned much here.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
The rotation of the motor has a significant
effect on which way the boat drifts.

???????????????????????


Don't you mean the rotation of the motor (and therefore a LH or RH
prop)has a
significant effect on the way the boat backs?

90% of the time a "drifitng" boat will be idling. Never heard that there's
enough torque transmistted through the stringers to "significantly" effect
a
drifitng boat.

docking problems continue
 

In article , Gene Kearns
writes:

If it
isn't going to work.... go back out and try again.

I have to second this. There is no shame in realizing that you are on the
wrong angle or didn't allow enough for the current or wind, then backing up (or
turning around) and trying again.

In fact, IMO, it's a sign of maturity.

Frank Bell

docking problems continue
 

If it makes you feel any better, last year was my first w/ 20' I/O. I
thought docking backwards into my slip would be cake. The first time I
pulled out I hit the boats opposite me. Backing in was a nightmare. But
after a full season and a half I no longer have a problem. Sometimes when
I miss I can even make the corrections look pretty easy. Never thought I
would get the hang of it back then. There is light at the end of the
tunnel..

In article ,
says...
I just started boating this season(18 ft bowrider) . Never driven a boat
before. Not ever. I've been out maybe 10 times on a large lake in upstate
NY. The lake often is rough even on a sunny day. We rent a slip on the end
of a dock which extends straight out into the lake at a right angle to the
shore. The space that I have is the one on the very end, on the lakeside of
the cutout that I share with another boat. The other boat is on the shore
side and generally has the waves pushing him into the dock as he pulls in.
I, on the other hand, am usually being pushed away from the dock toward the
other boat by the waves and the wind. Today was unbelievably difficult. My
docking is really ugly. I have this brand new boat that I keep hitting the
edge of the dock with. I also realized today that by being on the end of the
dock I have less protection than any other boat. This seems like a very
difficult challenge for such a newbie as me.......does anyone agree with
this assessment. When I go to dock anywhere else it's much easier, the open
dock where I buy gas or enclosed spaces where the water is not as rough. I
thought about asking for another dock space but I hate to give up on the
challenge of the space that I have.....I just dont want to do anymore damage
to the boat than I've done already.

docking problems continue
 

"Gould 0738" wrote in message

Good rule of thumb is to dock *into* the wind or the current (whichever is
the
prevailing force at a given landing) and use it to brake the boat.

That's standard practice, isn't it? I mean, you see people doing it
ass-backwards all the time but it's kind of like flying a plane; you take
off and land into the wind so that your ground speed and the amount of space
you use up is as little as possible.

-c

docking problems continue
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 05:57:23 GMT, "gatt" wrote:


"Gould 0738" wrote in message

Good rule of thumb is to dock *into* the wind or the current (whichever
is
the
prevailing force at a given landing) and use it to brake the boat.

That's standard practice, isn't it? I mean, you see people doing it
ass-backwards all the time but it's kind of like flying a plane; you take
off and land into the wind so that your ground speed and the amount of
space
you use up is as little as possible.

-c


That isn't the best analogy in all respects.

One frequently lands according to the topography of the landing area
and gives second consideration to the wind. Wind is inconvenient at
times, but trees and rocks are somewhat immovable objects.

Given a 10 knot wind away from the dock and a 10 knot current heading
toward the dock, I'm going with the current. The heck with the
wind....


.....and sometimes the wind helps keep your boat from tapping other boats
while docking, even while it makes the docking a bit harder. It all depends
on the place, your mood, the skill level of your helpers, if any, and about
a dozen other unknowable factors which vary from day to day.

docking problems continue
 

....and sometimes the wind helps keep your boat from tapping other boats
while docking, even while it makes the docking a bit harder. It all depends
on the place, your mood, the skill level of your helpers, if any, and about
a dozen other unknowable factors which vary from day to day.

Sometimes it is necessary to dock downwind or down stream, but general rule of
thumb would be to avoid it if you have a choice.

Consider a landing in neutral conditions:
Every move the boat makes is effected only by the helmsman's decisions.

We seldom find neutral conditions and have to adjust for wind or current.
Sometimes both. And different boats will have to be more concerned about the
current that the wind and vice versa, depending on windage, draft, amount of
current vs amount of wind, etc.

Imagine trying to walk slowly in to the corner of a room and stopping without
whacking the wall. If nobody pushes or pulls on you in the process, it's easy.

If somebody is pushing you toward the wall, (docking downwind or down stream)
its much harder to stop in time. If somebody is tugging steadily on your belt
to bull you away from the wall, it's possible to muscle in with better control.

Those of us with single screw inboards have another reason for docking upwind
or upstream. We may want to leave the dock again before conditions change.
"Fun" could never be defined as side-tied in a line of boats with a moderate to
strong cross dock wind pinning you against, rather than pushing you off the
dock. Has been known to make getting away really hair raising.

One final reason for docking upwind, generally.....You may be staying on the
boat for a while with the wind remaining out of that particular quarter. If the
wind is blowing you off the dock, you won't bang into it every time another
boat passes and tosses up a wake or a stronger than usual gust blows through.
Even with fenders out, you're still aware of the jarring around whle trying to
sleep or relax.

docking problems continue
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message

Given a 10 knot wind away from the dock and a 10 knot current heading
toward the dock, I'm going with the current. The heck with the
wind....

I see your point wrt to the aircraft analogy. In an airplane, the wind is
generally your only "current." In a boat, your "ground speed" is a function
of wind and current, but you still almost always dock bow into the current,
just as you land a plane into the wind.

Before I dock at some place that I'm not familiar with, I point upstream and
idle and see what the current is going to do. To my recollection the wind
has never pushed me forward into a significant current, but I like to sit 10
or 20 feet off the dock and figure out which way I'm going to be drifting
and how much power I'm going to require to remain stationary and all of that
before I try docking.

It may take 1500 rpm to remain abeam a pylon or docked boat or some other
fixed location and if I know that beforehand, I know what to expect when I'm
slipping in between two docked boats. ('Cause you can't assume much based on
how somebody else is docked.) It's not as elegant as the guy who drives
right up to the dock and parks, but I've never bumped into anybody else's
boat, either.

-c

docking problems continue
 

G There "is" something to be said for docking stern too the wind/current.
A high percentage of boats will want to back into the wind/current and
this fact can be used to advantage under some conditions.
I know that whenever I want to hold position some place, I rarely do it
with my bow into the wind/current ..... generally, always, stern too
....depending on the boat, one (wind/current) will have more effect than
the other and can even overcome the normal "prop walk"

otn

gatt wrote:
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message

Given a 10 knot wind away from the dock and a 10 knot current heading
toward the dock, I'm going with the current. The heck with the
wind....


I see your point wrt to the aircraft analogy. In an airplane, the wind is
generally your only "current." In a boat, your "ground speed" is a function
of wind and current, but you still almost always dock bow into the current,
just as you land a plane into the wind.

Before I dock at some place that I'm not familiar with, I point upstream and
idle and see what the current is going to do. To my recollection the wind
has never pushed me forward into a significant current, but I like to sit 10
or 20 feet off the dock and figure out which way I'm going to be drifting
and how much power I'm going to require to remain stationary and all of that
before I try docking.

It may take 1500 rpm to remain abeam a pylon or docked boat or some other
fixed location and if I know that beforehand, I know what to expect when I'm
slipping in between two docked boats. ('Cause you can't assume much based on
how somebody else is docked.) It's not as elegant as the guy who drives
right up to the dock and parks, but I've never bumped into anybody else's
boat, either.

-c