Challenge: How to Leave this Dock ?

[Stevek]

I kept a boat on a canal with a setup very similar to this a few years back. Often I went out alone. Unless there was a strong wind, I would manually swing the bow around, step on and motor away. ( I was on the other side so coming in bow first and hitting reverse put me right along side. Also, my boat at that time was a full keel 35 ft. that backed terribly)
Steve

[daddle]

Originally Posted by David M

Remember, boats steer from the back, not the pointy end.

Yes. of course. But the corollary is that it's the bow that blows around creating havoc and embarrassment.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by David M

I have to respectfully disagree daddle.

I have been handling many kinds of boats and small ships for a long long time. Trust me, let the wash push you away from the dock if you have that option. And in this situation, that advantage exists. Doing it as I described gives you complete control through the whole process regardless of the wind direction and eliminates the chance of hitting the boat forward or aft....so long as your line handler at the bow knows what they are doing in not letting go too early in the pivot.

the method you mentioned is also quite feasable,unless you have wind on the side or a left hand prop, current on the bow,in these conditions,then your only option is to spring off with rht hand down in fwd,so as to kick the stern out.

[Wand]

As Cdunc says in his post above, the boat has a fin keel with a spade rudder and vessels with this configuration behave perfectly reliably in reverse in any wind and tide conditions.

Do it just a couple of times and and then you'll be able to post on CF about what a doddle it is.

Later you can show off at the dock by backing in, as SteveA suggested above.

Seriously, with that boat, it'll be "as easy as sh**in' in bed". Have no fear

[David M]

Originally Posted by atoll

the method you mentioned is also quite feasable,unless you have wind on the side or a left hand prop,in these conditions,then your only option is to spring off.

Wash will overcome wind unless its blowing like hell....and of course if its a left hand prop, which are rarer than right hand props.

If it is a left hand prop and the wind is strong on the port beam, then he is not going to get out of there, no way, no how.... not without crunching the starboard bow hard into the dock by using an aft spring, trading paint with the neighbors by gunning it ahead or astern or hiring a tug to pull him straight out.

[atoll]

ha !ha! you should see me dock a 63 ft yacht with no bow thruster in a 70 ft space in 30 kt winds!!!! blowing off the dock with only the wife as line handler.....

[David M]

I wouldn't put any videos of this on YouTube...you probably want to keep your insurance.

[atoll]

no paint on boat,and spend all my insurance money on anchors..........

[nes]

My vote would be to back out. I routinely back in from the end of the pier to my slip (on Harbor Island) that is past about 30 slip.

[theway]

Its actually the pearson 323... so its a skeg rudder, and keel is a bit more than a fin. My thoughts are that backing would be nice, but depending on the wind, which could blow the bow around without the control as one would have going forward.

[theway]

Well, I backed it out without a problem. The wind was north west, so I had one person old a line on the bow and let the wind blow the stern out a bit as I back toward the exit.

When the bow started to blow around to the south east (when bow line was off) I would put the will over to the left and "check" the bow by steering the stern in that direction (i.e Not swinging the stern too far to starboard so the boat would straighten out for the exit).

Thanks again all, for the options and advice.

austin

[Bergovoy]

congrats... next time hows about a video im sure you would love to look back on this first move.... hehehe

[atoll]

pleased to hear all went well,if you need more tips on how to make a boat go SIDEWAYS allways wiiling to mentor..................

[bljones]

Swing on the spring while the engine does it's thing.

[boatman61]

Place fender in appropriate spot then cast of all but fore spring... motor fwd with tiller over to kick out stern then release spring and reverse out... for single hand work out a quick release system... also if solo may have to knock into low reverse and opposite helm to hold position if winds a bit strong at your stern....
Clockwork is the phrase that comes to mid... else your screwed..