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Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Thanks, and a question about boarding

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/26/2005 : 23:40:27

Thanks to everyone that has answered my questions about C250WK handling, docking, motor brackets and finding an owner in Portland. Your answers have been very helpful, and I appreciate your time.

Florence and Mark Dickerson took me out their C250WK on Saturday. What a sweet sailing boat! Now I know why it is hard to find them for sale used...just super.

I did learn something unexpected from the experience, and I hope someone out there can help me with it, I see it as the last obstacle between me and my own C250...

My wife is 4" 11". Although we will not get to try it out until next weekend (when we go out to the dock and try it), I think the boarding step, even on the newest boats that have the small indented step on the combing, may be too high for her to use to step aboard as we leave the dock. One solution to this is to have her steer and I push us off the dock, but my wife is not quite ready to jump into that solution. If it was any other time than docking, we could use a step like a lot of larger boats do. But during docking that really does not work...

So I am wondering if anyone has ever made or purchased a ladder that would hang over the side of the boat to make boarding easier, or if you have another suggestion?

Thanks again for everyone's advice and assistance.

Kevin

Kevin Mackenzie
Former Association Secretary and Commodore
"Dogs Allowed"
'06 C250WK #881
and
"Jasmine"
'01 Maine Cat 30 #34

Edited by - on

britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2005 : 06:54:42

Interesting Question, you are certainly putting plenty of thought into the process.

Joint Decision is our first 'real' boat, we don't count the Laser II (which is still for sale!)
So Peggy's experience on boats was slim to none. Most of it was at the boat shows.

Forgive the pun, but we Jumped into buying JD at the boat show.

Regarding launching, boarding, docking, and sailing too, we have found that you just do it and figure out the things that are peculiar to your situation. It's not height, weight or gender that is an issue, but attitude. Smile at each challange, and figure out how to overcome them. Within very little time, those odd challanges will seem totally insignificant.

Slips & Docks are at varying heights and unless they float, they are subject to the tide. Probably the best thing you can plan on is to keep the boat close to the dockside until all are aboard. Use a good boat hook to help fend off. We don't 'shove off' at all, we use the springers to spring the stern out from the dockside.

You are going to have a huge amount of great experiences when you get your boat, and if you are like us, you'll be planning your next trip out on the journey home.

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coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2005 : 07:37:19

we faced the same problem leaving the dock as you describe as i am only 5 feet tall. when we first got our 250wk, we tried captain at the wheel and me shoving off and then jumping on. it was much to hard. i almost "missed the boat" once.
then we decided that we should both be on board when we leave the dock. so we tie another line to the bow and the back, and leave it coiled it up. (just in case for some unforseen reason someone might have to jump off.) then, when we are ready to go, we both remove the dock lines and throw them to the dock at the same time as we are backing out. we are both saftley on board, once we are on our way, we remove the coiled up lines until we are ready to return to the dock. then we tie the lines back on, i bring the bow line back to the cockpit and wait there until the nose is in the slip, where i simply reach out to grab a pre determined length of dock line that we have on a "dock catcher" (a pole with a hook on it that holds the line) that is shoulder high on the dock. i place it around the winch the boat fetches itself to the dock and i simply step off onto a set of steps that we have on the dock with the bow line in hand. the rear line is handed to me and we tie off. this works for us every time. no one has to jump on or off the boat. hope this helps.

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frankr
Captain

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256 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2005 : 08:00:16

My wife is 5 foot and has a hard time getting on and off the depending on the tide. She uses a little step stool on the dock and a garden type kneeling pad on the deck. Makes life easier for her. Also the garden pad has a short line attached with a clip on the end so it can be attached to the life line so it doesn't blow or fall overboard. I also use some short brackets on the piers to hold the dock lines. I use longer dock/spring lines and tie a small bowline on the end to allow for them to be looped on the brackets. - makes them easier to retrieve when coming in.

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2005 : 10:01:00

Your replies are very useful, thank you. How do you handle docking at someplace other than your home dock? (No dock catcher, for example). Sounds like Joint Decision uses a boat hook, any other suggestions?

Oh, and I am following your advice BritinUSA. Part of my process of meeting each challenge is to see what I learn about how other more experienced sailors have met the same challenges I have. I need to meet some challenges in order to get full support from my wife in making the purchase. "How will I get on and off the boat?" is a reasonable question... ;-)

Kevin

Edited by - kevinmac on 09/27/2005 10:05:40

coldducks
Captain

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USA
342 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2005 : 17:11:25

the boat is not THAT high. if you have the lines tied on the boat and come into the dock slow enough and have a line in your hand, you should be able to step off the boat, wether you use a boat hook or a dock catcher or nothing at all. if you are concerned about going to a foriegn marina other than your own, call ahead and they will be happy to catch you.

Edited by - coldducks on 09/27/2005 17:14:38

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2005 : 19:30:51

Stepping off with line in hand may be fine if the dock is high enough
to do that. However, my home dock is level about six inches above the water line and I am almost a real senior citizen. Dock catcher works the nuts for me and a lot of approaches if the wind is blowing
in an unforgiving direction. I also find at times backing in to be successful,you always have forward on the motor to get out of a mess. I also find I have been able to step thru the transom onto the dock when backed in.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2005 : 10:39:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by kevinmac
 Your replies are very useful, thank you. How do you handle docking at someplace other than your home dock? (No dock catcher, for example)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

When docking at an unfamiliar slip or gas dock, I try to predetermine if I will be docking "starboard or portside to" by either calling ahead via radio or phone.

Before approaching the slip, I run a long dockline outside the lifelines from the bow cleat to the cockpit with another dockline attached to a stern cleat. After stopping the boat alongside the slip, I simply step off with both docklines in hand and temporarily secure the boat in the slip. After settling in, I tie the appropriate amount of docklines.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2005 : 10:45:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bear
 Stepping off with line in hand may be fine if the dock is high enough to do that. However, my home dock is level about six inches above the water line...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I have the opposite problem...My dock is about 5 feet ABOVE the water line!

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tbader
Deckhand

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USA
24 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2005 : 17:11:09

I would first echo what others have said: once you get the hang of handling the boat, you probably will be able to do it single handed. So your wife will be able to be on the boat, assisting you with lines while you maneuver the boat.

Regarding the ladder you asked about, in the back of Sail Magazine this month there is an advertisement for a small step that hangs off the side of the boat. I have seen this advertised elsewhere, and it might help.

Finally, I'm sure with a little practice the two of you will be able to execute docking, boarding and departing without too much difficulty. My 12 yr. old son is usually the only help I have, and we manage. And I've gotten my 72 year-old mother to climb aboard my 250 from the dock. So I'm sure you'll find a way.

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cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2005 : 22:35:22

You can depart with both of you on the boat if you set up your lines right. If at your home slip just cast off your lines from the boat. Use your boat hook to place them on the dock or piling so you can get them easily when you come back. If you're pulling off a visiting dock you can get all your lines in your control aboard the boat by having both ends with you so you only have to slip the line off the cleat or piling when you're ready to go.

You'll get the hang of it. Remember, it's rarely so rough that you can't just rest against a piling or your fender while you get everything tied up just so.

(oh, & I'm only 5'1" so I understand your dilema)

Edited by - cathluk on 09/28/2005 22:36:08

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2005 : 07:49:28

Last year, we trailed out Laser II over to bradenton (before they slammed). We rented a slip at the local marina just to save putting the boat together everyday. The first slip they assigned was a fixed dock with a drop of 6 feet to the wateline.. The laser is pretty much at the waterline, so my 6' height was not a lot of help. They gave us a new slip on a floating dock. Nice Marina! would go there again (probably within the year.)

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GaryW
Deckhand

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12 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2005 : 02:06:48

We have long used the process of uncleating the bow and stern lines, leaving one turn around the cleat, and bringing the end back on board, to be held by someone at the bow and someone at the stern. Then, to cast off, the linesman just pulls the lines aboard - no running down the dock or jumping up the high freeboard. I assume this is the same as Cathy's process.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2005 : 07:59:33

My wife is only 5ft tall also. I have found that with the dock catcher I can wrap that line coming from the dockcatcher around the winch on the cabin roof and the boat is held amidships right at the dock. Also we have a three step plastic ladder that folds up and can be stowed {Walmart]. Floating dock is barely above waterline so its a pretty good drop to the dock if ladder is not used.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2005 : 07:59:44

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2005 : 15:16:49

Kevin,

I wouldn't worry too much about your age as a factor in handling the various "challenges" of sailing or boat handling. I know two individuals, one a 73 year old who solo sails his 30' Nonsuch on Lake Superior for about 40 to 50 days every summer. The other is a man and wife in their mid 60's who cruise their 40' Beneteau about 30 to 40 days on Lake Superior every summer. The two factors you and your wife need to concern yourselves with is state of mind - I can do this and overcome percieved obstacles, and physical conditioning. You've already got a handle on the former. As far as the latter is concerned, my son's father-n-law cruised for five days with me this past summer. He's a 6'3" 230+ pound 65 year old with arthritis. He did not do well on a 25 foot sailboat in terms of space/comfort and ability to perform routine tasks. I don't believe he'll be doing any sailing with me other than perhaps day sailing again. On the other hand, I'm 56 and sail my boat single handed in most conditions including racing. Frankly I've run into a number a situations that have caused a degree of "pucker". Generally if you do a dry run like docking, or getting on your boat, in your minds eye you will come up with the solution that best fits your situation. Once you have the solution in hand, approach it with caution the first few times.

Good luck with your new boat.

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2005 : 22:40:48

Thanks to all for the great suggestions.

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