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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Slip Safety Net

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Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/20/2005 : 20:27:22

Just back from the marina, (preparing for a possible visit from Wilma) and noticed a 30 foot Oday slip (took off and headed north) had 2 lines criss crossed sitting in the water. I believe he used as a safety net. Sounds like a great idea...catching you as you come in hot..but wouldn't this ultimately damage your bottom paint or even a swing keel. Opinions please.

Don B
86FK/SR #5216 "Mighty M"
Southwest Florida

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2005 : 23:24:47

Hi Don,

I think your description is similar to what a few of us have done at our marina. I dug through my photos and found a mast-raising photo I took that shows this simple "boat-catcher" made from nylon line and a fender ... it does help prevent smacking the dock if you come in too hot (don't ask how I know that

If the above is what you were describing, I highly recommend it.

'Hope you make it through Wilma OK ... BEST of luck to you and your boat.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2005 : 00:22:01

It's a great device called a "bridle". Best set up with a sizeable fender and make sure that the lines are tied off to the dock as tight as possible so that there is minimum "give" in the fender,stopping the lower part of the bow before the upper part hits the dock!
Derek

Edited by - on

Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2005 : 07:36:38

Buzz, your design looks great. The setup I saw just had 2 criss crossed lines laying in the water.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2005 : 07:54:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Don B
 Buzz, your design looks great. The setup I saw just had 2 criss crossed lines laying in the water.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Is your slip square and the bow like Buzz's or tapered?

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5913 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2005 : 09:01:10

Those devices help to protect a boat while their owners are learning to maneuver them, but the better approach is to learn how to put the boat in the slip every time without needing such devices. It's easier than you might think.

First, you need to think about the physical principles that govern displacement sailboats. Our heavy boats use very low powered motors and small, low powered props. Their hulls are designed so that they can be easily driven with a low powered engine, such as an outboard motor or sails. It doesn't take much power to get them started from a dead stop, but, once they are moving, our low powered motors don't have enough thrust to overcome their 5,000 lbs. of inertia, and to bring them to a quick stop. The important point you need to remember is that it's much easier to start our boats than to stop them.

The trick to handling them is to get them slowed down long before you get to your final stopping point. Plan your approach so that you bring the boat to a stop, or nearly so, before you are all the way into the slip. (Remember, if the boat stops short, a little shot in forward gear from your small motor will easily move the boat the rest of the way into the slip.) If you execute it perfectly, the boat will drift the last few feet into the slip so slowly that nobody will even have to catch the boat to stop it.

Most people think that if they let the engine idle, or put it in neutral as they are approaching the slip, that is enough to slow it down. If the wind is on the bow, it might be enough, but if the wind is at your stern, it probably won't slow you down nearly enough. As I approach the slip with a tailwind (maybe 50 yards away), I put the engine in reverse at idle. If that isn't enough to slow it down (and it often isn't), then I start to apply a little throttle in reverse, until the boat nearly stops. (Remember, if the wind is at your back, it will start pushing the boat downwind again as soon as you take the engine out of reverse and put it into neutral, so it's better to err on the side of going slower.)

If you learn how to "apply the brakes" as you approach the slip, and follow the principle that it's easier to start a boat than to stop it, you'll put the boat in so gently that you won't need a catcher.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 10/21/2005 09:12:00

Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2005 : 10:39:02

Frank,
The slip is just like Buzz'a except remove the finger dock on the starboard side...I just have a wood piling separating me from the next slip.

Steve,
Great information...I don't normally have a problem departing or entering the slip under normal conditions. But when those Florida afternoon thunderboomers kick up...you remember those...the white wall of water approaches and the markers start to disappear

. All sorts of questions come to mind...can I outrun it to the marina or should I just stay outside the marina, throw an anchor and just ride it out. To make things more interesting, our marina is totally exposed to Tampa Bay...no breakwall or any other protection from anything that rolls in out of the north. A few weeks ago I had one of those outings...made it in just as the storm enveloped the marina. A Cal 30 (new to our marina) decided to enter the marina after the storm hit...he had the wind directly from behind and apparently not enough horse power to keep from ramming the bulkhead. Being that it's a narrow marina, there's no way I would have attempted docking under those conditions. Just hang outside and ride it out...it's a Florida storm after all...wait 15 or 20 minutes and then sun will be shining

. I just thought that the "bridal" would come in handy for certain conditions.

Edited by - Don B on 10/21/2005 10:46:33

Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2005 : 11:09:25

We use these on the hydrohoisted docks, Once they are set you know right where the boat is on the hoist. Our lines are attached to the docks as shown, and we have small lines that run aft from the hoist to the back cleats. Rasing the boat you start the hoist, push back on the pulpit untill the bow comes up on the hoist, then everything else is a snap.

Lets face it, there are times when these lines do come in very handy. Even if you are the best of sailor's. I have found that the lines are a great guide when we go out for a night sail and we are comming back in at 12:00. Ya you can see, by flashlight, but there is the main in the way on the port side of the boat, and someone is always standing in the way. Oh and I drink beer:)

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2005 : 11:12:51

I have the same setup as Buzz, but do not have finger dock on the port side. The finger is not necessary just a pole to tie off the bitter end at the wide end. I have gone thru 2 pulps on my previous boat as the result of thunder storm high winds which snapped two 10" piles in half alowing the boat to get beat up on the dock before I could get home from work and haul it off to anchor out and a large boat, that I did not notice go by, wake push the boat into the dock before I had the stern lines tied off. I usually have come to a stop with 3/4 of the boat in the slip and then ease it in with the motor in idle forward, but on ocassion, as we all know, things happen so anything that gives you an edge on saftey I am all for it.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2005 : 12:26:32

Steve's method works great in a sheltered marina or in minimal wind. However, I have to hit a 4' wide area between the guides on the hoist, and the prevailing wind is on my port quarter as I turn for the slip. With any wind over about 5 knots, with the excessive windage of the C25, I have to "goose" the engine to make sure that I don't ram a tank on the hoist (very expensive repair job!

). In those conditions (i.e. most of the time) the bridle is a godsend as full reverse often will not slow the boat enough.

I really prefer to dock the boat like "a butterfly with sore feet landing on a lawn", but have to deal with existing conditions at the time.
Derek

Edited by - on

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