Docking or Divorcing

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Alaskan Sea-Duction said:
From BoatTest.com

Some interesting tips and suggestions. On the west coast I believe most docks are floating. So how do you deal with a "fixed" dock?

We also use the Eartec headsets which keeps the shouting at each other at a minimum.

https://boattest.com/article/dockin...1KU&utm_content=244532447&utm_source=hs_email
Click to expand...

Our solutions depend on the height of the dock and whether we're in a tidal area. In some cases a fixed dock can be easier if it's tall enough, as we can reach the cleats from the side decks rather than needing to step off.

As far as communication, we usually have a solid plan before the final approach, so not much communication is needed. In many cases, a word or 2, or hand signals is enough. And I'll often move around at the helm so I can see what's being done with lines.
 
Alaskan Sea-Duction said:
On the west coast I believe most docks are floating. So how do you deal with a "fixed" dock?

We also use the Eartec headsets which keeps the shouting at each other at a minimum.
Click to expand...


Many docks on this side along the AICW, starting from Norfolk/Portsmouth VA area and then all the way down to FL, are floating docks too. And then we have mostly fixed docks on the Chesapeake Bay, and some fixed in FL.

If there are piles, it's not hard. Approach, get a line on a pile, finish up with more lines on piles or cleats or whatever, docked. Rubrails and piles play nicely, assuming sloooooow speed contact.

I imagine bull rails would be a different animal, but we've never encountered those...

Fenders afterwards and that can get more complicated, sometimes best option being to tie the fender to a pile instead of to the boat. It's not horribly complicated, though... even if a fender board becomes an occasional necessity.

We use headsets too... partly to reduce noise, partly to improve comms, mostly because I'm in an enclosed bridge... and can't see wifey all round the boat anyway.

I've also expanded use of VHF (and sometimes loudhailer) directly with the dock hands, 'cause sometimes they won't do what wifey tells them to do... (I hate that!)

-Chris
 
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My continuing troubles are with med mooring. Some places with so called slips are virtually med mooring as well. Got pretty good with the 46’ sailboat but the NT42 still confounds me at times. Sailboat had just a bow thruster. The NT has bow and stern. Sailboat had a little engine. NT a big one. You would think the motor boat would be easier but find it harder. Probably lack of experience and I’ll hopefully will get better at it. But miss that real big rudder, predictable prop wash and walk and relative lack of response to wind c/w the motorboat.
 
Hippocampus said:
My continuing troubles are with med mooring. Some places with so called slips are virtually med mooring as well. Got pretty good with the 46’ sailboat but the NT42 still confounds me at times. Sailboat had just a bow thruster. The NT has bow and stern. Sailboat had a little engine. NT a big one. You would think the motor boat would be easier but find it harder. Probably lack of experience and I’ll hopefully will get better at it. But miss that real big rudder, predictable prop wash and walk and relative lack of response to wind c/w the motorboat.
Click to expand...


Quit using the rudder.
Use both thrusters.
Short in/out of the transmission.
Easy to overthink it.
HOLLYWOOD
 
Hippocampus said:
My continuing troubles are with med mooring. Some places with so called slips are virtually med mooring as well.
Click to expand...


Haven't ever encountered med mooring on the US East Coast...

-Chris
 
Startling sight to see a 40 foot fish boat adrift dragging piles and sections of foam filled docks alongside. Burning no fuel and guided by the current kinda like a horse that’s broke loose

Rick
 
Alaskan Sea-Duction said:
From BoatTest.com

Some interesting tips and suggestions. On the west coast I believe most docks are floating. So how do you deal with a "fixed" dock?

We also use the Eartec headsets which keeps the shouting at each other at a minimum.

https://boattest.com/article/dockin...1KU&utm_content=244532447&utm_source=hs_email
Click to expand...

On the west coast the only fixed docks I have every dealt with were fuel docks/piers. At high tide it’s a non issue and at low tide there have been some very strange tie ups. Since it was only ever to get fuel it was short and I needed not concern myself with tide changes. If I had to be tied to a fixed dock with an 8 to 12’ tide I would need some very long spring lines and big ball fenders.
 
There are no side docks or side ties on town jetties in the med. Their marinas do have side docks and side ties.
All the fun is on the town walls so it's worth the effort. We had it pretty easy with a catamaran and the anchor windlass controlled from the helm.
Sailboats with the windlass controls on the bow and only two crew had their work cut out in a cross breeze.
Most off the fun was the next morning when someone left and you realized they had crossed your anchor.....
 
no mistakes

O C Diver said:
Why would I? I don't recall ever having made a mistake when by my self. :rolleyes:

Ted
Click to expand...
I saw a friend bringing his sailboat into the dock I was at and noticed his wife was not along. After tying up I asked him how the trip was. He said it was great. He didn't make a single mistake.
 
Learning to handle one's boat by themselves has great advantages.
 
I was watching a video of some boats trying to med moor. After multiple tries the first 2 boats gave up. The third one had a lot of difficulty getting tied up but did make it. With a bit of wind not a fun thing to do.
 
Fixed vs Floating really depends on the tide swing. In southern New England the tide is around 3.5 feet. Northern New England can be 10-12 from Cape Cod Bay and gets higher as you go north into Maine.

Where I am in the winter on the ICW on the space coast, the tide is about 6-10 inches.

No fixed docks where there are large tide changes.
 
For some reason the Admiral has a mental block about "port" and "Starboard", same for fore and aft, bow and stern, etc. We work pretty well as a team if I avoid using these terms. Plus, we have a pretty good system worked out so mostly no communication is needed.

Also very important to avoid terms like "dummy", "Stupid", etc.

pete
 
Shrew said:
Fixed vs Floating really depends on the tide swing. In southern New England the tide is around 3.5 feet. Northern New England can be 10-12 from Cape Cod Bay and gets higher as you go north into Maine.
Click to expand...

Tide swing is 8 feet plus in LI Sound as you go west toward NYC.
 
I numbered my crab float type fenders and installed pad eyes under the railings with clips on the lines some years ago. Took care of much confusion for anyone assisting the docking process. Agree it is often difficult to get dock workers to follow instructions (especially in Mexico) I tell them to tie spring / center line first and they insist on trying to pull the boat in by hand. 44 ft of hull, and bimini canvas creates a lot of windage. If the center line is tied quickly the engines can do the work of getting bow and stern closer to the dock without putting folks at risk.
 
My 2nd wife is a really smart women. At times too smart and she will question why I want things done the way I do. Which is great, but not when docking. I had to talk to her several times that just do as I ask unless its just plainly wrong. Like crashing into anther boat. But that's a fine line.

My last wife was great with the kids and cooking!! Really was. But would be lost on the boat doing anything. With my 2nd and current wife, she will even pump the boat out. As one of my friends said, "she is above my pay grade".
 
After 60 years of marriage,, I still introduce my wife as " my first wife" It gets the point across..>>>Dan
 
We are only on 52 years married. I tell he she has a great deal going and not to mess it up…
 
Stern too mooring, don't worry we all have to learn.
 
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