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General Sailing Forum

Leaving my slip

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panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/26/2006 : 12:57:19

MY boat is tied up on the port side to my finger dock. The boat is facing west so if I have a west or southwest breeze when I try to back out of my dock the wind pushes me boat over into my neighbor. Since I sail by self alot I need a trick to back the boat out and keep the bow from blowing over into the other boat. Any suggestions?

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 13:14:49

Self slip: You'll need a long line. cleat your line to a cleat in your cockpit, then run the line from the cockpit forward to your bow cleat - (using your bowcleat as a chock) back to a cleat or ring on the dock close to the aft end of your boat. When you back out you will be able to control your bow by paying out the line at a controlled rate.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 13:55:24

When I leave the slip, I get myself moving aft by first pushing off the dock then I give it a fair amount of reverse to get myself going a bit faster. The faster the boat moves, the less the bow will drift.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 14:16:38

A younger fellow at our club starts his motor, walks his boat to the end of the finger, throws the bow over and jumps on behind the pulpit, walks to the back of the boat and away he goes. I must admit we are all waiting for him to miss.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 14:56:23

Two suggestions:

1. Do like Frank's friend and walk the boat out of the slip. I used to do that when the wind direction was unfavorable.

2. Back the boat into the slip, so that you can pull out bow first.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 16:37:53

What's the matter Steve, not walking the 35 out? I am ready for another dose of photos of your new boat! Stop grinning.

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SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 08:31:48

I'm with Steve, back the boat in. My piddly lil 3.5hp doesnt have a reverse, but I prefer to park stern-to in the slip for various reasons.

If you dont have reverse (or haven't mastered the prop walk corrections!), pull in fwd. Tie off the tiller. Tie a long line to stern opposite the finger pier you stand on (or on the upwind side if you have an option). Push the boat back out of the slip paying out the line, and as soon as the bow clears the slip (or neighboring boat) give it a push in the opposite direction you're standing on and start hauling on the line. Boats of these size will spin right around, pulling neatly back into the slip.

When you leave the slip going forward, you can carry as much speed as you like and have steerage before the boat clears the slip. Going backwards, you have to slow down and change directions, during which time you're at the mercy of the wind/waves/current.

Also, the boat steers from the stern. When you back out, the bow has no steerage control and will "follow" the stern. This makes controlling it a bit more tricky in crosswinds. Pull out fwd, and the bow will be pushed by the stern (rudder), and will have more positive control.

My $0.02...

Edited by - on

John P
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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 09:07:07

I also prefer to back in. For one thing, it makes me come past the slip and stop, then reverse and inch close to the pier, second, it makes leaving so much easier. I find that the 9.9 hp outboard does not have the power to stop the boat quickly enough, even when at the slowest speed, to safely come in bow first. And yes, I have hit the dock several times by coming in bow first.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 09:16:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 What's the matter Steve, not walking the 35 out? I am ready for another dose of photos of your new boat! Stop grinning.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I back/walk the boat into the slip. My neighbor has a beautiful, custom built motor yacht (about 35 feet) with a traditional drake-tail transom, and I'm taking no chances on scraping it. I use the motor to pull out bow first.

I don't have any photos of the boat under sail yet. Some of us may organize an across-the-bay cruise and raft-up this weekend. If so, I'll ask someone to get a couple of photos of it under sail, and then post them. (I can't stop grinning. It's an irresistible impulse. That's why I can't play poker. Everyone knows when I have a good hand!)

Kevin, backing in isn't nearly as difficult as it appears. Try it at first in light air, when it'll be the least difficult. When you're motoring down the fairway toward your slip, stay on the side nearest your slip. (Assume that your slip is on the left side of the fairway, for the purpose of discussion.) Keep your speed dead-slow. (Put the engine in neutral long before you get there, and coast.) When you get to the slip just before yours, start your turn to starboard. Put the engine in reverse and give it enough throttle to back up a bit. If the transom doesn't clear your neighbor's piling yet, pull forward and then back up again. Each time you do so, your transom will shift to the left slightly. When the boat is lined up with the slip, just back it in. You don't need to use the motor to get it all the way in. Get it started in, and then use boat hooks or ropes between the pilings to push and pull the boat into the slip the rest of the way.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 10:35:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John P
 I find that the 9.9 hp outboard does not have the power to stop the boat quickly enough, even when at the slowest speed, to safely come in bow first. And yes, I have hit the dock several times by coming in bow first.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You are correct, a small outboard has difficulty power braking a 6,000lb boat that has momentum. That is why I take it out of the equation when docking

When approaching my slip, I place the outboard in neutral about 10 or so boatlengths away, and sloooowly turn into my slip. I come in so slowly that I can step off the boat while it is still progressing forward and casually walk forward before it reaches the dock at the bow. If I have to use my outboard, it is usually to add speed to get me all the way into the slip or to slow my momentum if I feel I have too much speed, but I always return to neutral as I'm entering my slip.

Another benefit of not using the outboard while docking is that it gives you the experience of coming in without a motor. On more than a few occasions, I had to come in under sail alone and I simply matched my normal slow approach speed then furled in my sail where I normally placed my outboard in neutral. From there, I just glided into the slip like I do every time.

There are some sailors at my marina who power brake in the slip, and sometimes you'll hear the occasional...REVVVVV, OH %*$#!@, BANG!...not good with our all steel and concrete docks.

Edited by - on

SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 11:08:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucierThere are some sailors at my marina who power brake in the slip, and sometimes you'll hear the occasional...REVVVVV, OH %*$#!@, BANG!...not good with our all steel and concrete docks.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">One of my fav boating axioms:
Never approach a dock any faster than you're willing to hit it.

Some people laugh at how slow I approach the courtesy/fuel dock or the slip. But I've never dented anything (after I followed the above advice) and I can always just step off the boat. Even 1x/handed.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 11:17:59

For me, bow first docking is my only viable choice due to the tight quarters at my marina. I'm 3ft abeam of my neighbor (no piling) with barely a boatlength of room in the fairway behind me. If I were to pull out bow first, I'd probably come close to touching the boats ahead of me on the next dock before my stern was clear of both my finger dock and my neighbor's boat in order to start my turn.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 11:34:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by SailCO26
 Some people laugh at how slow I approach the courtesy/fuel dock or the slip. But I've never dented anything (after I followed the above advice) and I can always just step off the boat. Even 1x/handed.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I, too, come in very slooowly and sometimes I'll just scull with the rudder to inch me forward or to turn the bow.

Edited by - dlucier on 09/27/2006 11:35:30

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 17:52:29

The first time I brought my San Juan into it's slip by myself, I was REALLY glad it was a cold, rainy day...fewer witnesses. I was sailing with my new girlfriend, who was a power boater, she'd never been on a sail boat before. I made the turn into my row of slips a bit faster than I liked so I throttled down the OB, which promptly just died. In a near panic, I was trying to restart it while telling her to keep an eye out for other boats. Unknowingly, I put the tiller over, so I was heading for the transom of the 30 footer directly across from my slip. She yelled at me, I tried to correct, but it was too late, fortunately we weren't really moving that fast, so she was able to fend off with her feet but now we're headed directly for the main pier. I manage to get the engine started and stop the boat, but now we're drifting sort of on the right side of the little channel between finger piers, with really nowhere to go except back. As you well know, backing up a sailboat is problematic at best, and when you're already rattled, it's even harder. Long story short (too late), we did our best to not bounce off of a couple more boats on the way back to my slip. I finally got the boat in, the GF was trying hard not to laugh at me, fragile ego and all that. I told my friend from whom I'd bought the boat the edited version, and all he had to say was "it's time to get right back into the saddle and go do it again". Good advice. Now when I'm bringing the boat in, I shut the engine off before the spot where it conked out on me that first time, and I ghost into the slip, sculling with the rudder as necessary to move the bow around or get a bit of thrust. I mostly single handed that boat, and got to where I could easily just step off the stern, grab a line and stop the boat with no problems.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 19:09:22

If I'm motoring into a marina or to my mooring, I always idle in neutral until the boat is secured. That way if I do need power it's available. On days when my old motor is a little finicky and won't idle, I put it in neutral and boost the rpms a bit to keep it running. I've had one too many stalling incidents in crowded marinas not to be wary of going too fast or slow and/or suddenly not have motive power for steering.

Regarding slip exit, my strategy is to walk the boat to the end of the dock/pier with the engine idling in neutral, start the boat turning out into the fairway in the right direction, then gently hop on and continue with the motor.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 20:54:43

Of all the things I struggle with as a newbie, backing out of the slip seems pretty straight forward. It is important to steer w/ both the tiller and OB yoke. We're in tight quarters and out is pretty easy. Coming in is tough though. Final approach is dead slow in neutral, with a short reverse thrust at the last moment if necesary. We never cut the motor until we're onto a cleat. The prevailing wind is across port side and naturally the floating slip is port side...so we try to swing around some and come into the wind. The goal is to grab a cleat w/ the bow spring line BEFORE making contact w/ the very fixee bulkhead...
Jerry

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 21:40:35

A couple of things to consider...

1. The engine, especially when you give it a thrust of power in forward, tends to push the stern to starboard (and the bow to port). In reverse, it's the opposite. That might work to your advantage, or against you. If against, then use short bursts of power followed by idling down so the boat coasts with no "prop walk".

2. If you back into the slip and therefore must go out forward, consider the possibility of letting the bow fall off opposite to where you want to go (if it really wants to), and then go in reverse down the fairway. It's not uncommon practice for sailboats, and actually makes you look rather smart! (But it takes careful attention to the tiller.)

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 22:27:02

FYI, we have wheel steering, so when we do have to back into a slip, we'll stand astern of the wheel facing astern with the wheel behind us. Meanwhile the other keeps an eye out forwards. Our very first docking was a bit bumpy, but ever since we adopted the 'go slow' even if we have to 'go often' it has been a whole lot easier.

Paul

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3478 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 22:35:44

My dock setup is a bit different than yours - I 95% of the time back into my slip. In that configuration, my bow is facing Northwest and the finger slip is on my starboard side. My docking is generally as follows: I go slightly past my dock, then shift into reverse and if the wind is brisk which (which is often not the case where my slip is located), I then find it best to approach the slip faster so that the boat maintains it's direction. I take a wide turn and angle into the finger slip, starightening out as I get close.

The key for me not to mess up with a brisk wind is to not baby it into the slip. If i approach to slow, then the wind turns the boat. Have to approach with decent speed (not 6 knots but not 1 knot either).

I do a lot of single handed sailing and my docking is normally very good. After messing up once or twice when I was a newbie with my boat, I can only recall one time that the wind got the best of me. In that case, I revved it out in forward gear and approached the slip bow first. I only did that one time when I had difficulty.

The key to me when it is windy is a wide turn to get a good shot at the approach, decent speed speed to maintain direction and angle into the dock straightening at very end.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3478 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2006 : 05:26:02

I forgot to mention one very important thing !

When I signed up for my slip, the marina operator gave me a small tour of available slips and pro/con of each. One factor was that oftentimes we get winds from the southwest, west and northwest. The benfit of having a slip that would be on the ast side is that i most instances, the wind would tend to blow me toward the dock. Also, I chose a slip further into the marina and where it is situated, it gets some wind shielding from a land and wall barrier not that far from my dock.

So....it is not only dock maneuvers that makes for easy docking. Consider getting a finger slip that may have some natural advantages.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2006 : 12:23:39

Regarding approaching the dock and stopping the boat with a dock or spring line. One of the first things I was taught was that when entering a slip (frontwards), loop a stern line first. When tensioned, a stern line will pull the boat into the dock. Deploying a bow line will cause the opposite to occur, the stern will swing out. Depending on how fast your approach is, contact with the dock could be gentle or violent, so have some fenders out early.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2006 : 21:00:32

My first line is always a spring line (that I leave on the dock) to a midship cleat (on the genoa track on Passage). That pulls the boat into the dock and stops it in the right position. Then, if there's a breeze or current, I leave the engine running in gear to hold the spring line taut while going around and hooking up everything else. I can swing the bow or stern in or out by steering the engine. Leaving the slip, I use the engine to tension the same spring line, unhook everything else, shift out of gear, toss the spring line, and go.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 09/29/2006 21:03:03

Jmurfy
Navigator

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USA
176 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2006 : 00:41:05

I go in on neutral to take contolling the motor out of the equation. I walk "My Joy" back by holding the shrounds when departing then get on the boat and motor reverse some more if necessary.

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