Docking In Heavy Wind

[zeehag]

we did tha tkind oif docking in fla in apalachiacola--ony it wasnt the wind, it was a raging current--we got in with much embarrassment, and out was even worse....was a long buncha time to undo the line from prop as the undocking didnt work so well....

it takes a lot of practice..i think i would rather anchor, or do as boatman said, even tho geoduck is right on with that answer....LOL

[Geoduck]

Spend 20 years commercial fishing in Alaska and then tell me how to dock a boat.
Most of you people dont have a clue - you just think you do.

[Jimbo485]

LOL!!!

[goboatingnow]

Spend 20 years commercial fishing in Alaska and then tell me how to dock a boat.
Most of you people dont have a clue - you just think you do.

I seen fishermen dock boats too, Im glad they're built strongly, thats all I can say.

Dave

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

Spend 20 years commercial fishing in Alaska and then tell me how to dock a boat.
Most of you people dont have a clue - you just think you do.

Sorry - my mistake I will never dock my boat again, just leave it drifting. (walks off quietly in a westward direction, head hanging in shame)

You may well be right about many peoples skill, hell you may be right about mine, but you have the most amazing and outrageous presumptive and arrogant behaviour. Tell me, the commercial fisherman near me, can they dock a boat, or do they have to learn to do it in Alaska.

Jeez, as we would say in godsown , Up yaself or what.

[dirkdig]

But the Alaska fishermen are very special, they are on Discovery channel after all.

I learned how to dock watching discovery!

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

Spend 20 years commercial fishing in Alaska and then tell me how to dock a boat.
Most of you people dont have a clue - you just think you do.

Sheet! I've been docking boats on the River Styx for the last 17,000 years. Alaska is for pussies.

[Geoduck]

You guys are mean!!
Where the hell is the River Styx?
(I love it when I push someone's buttons!)
(Old s.o.b. ain't he?)

[Blue Crab]

I got yer button to push:

[Geoduck]

Originally Posted by Blue Crab

I got yer button to push:

Yea, most rookie sailors take 2 or 3 of those things along with them so they can Momma to come get them when the big bad wolf comes howlin.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

You guys are mean!!
Where the hell is the River Styx?
(I love it when I push someone's buttons!)
(Old s.o.b. ain't he?)

You will see the river Styx soon enough, on your final journey.

As for pushing buttons, there is a difference between being provocative and being simply rude and self opinionated.

[Geoduck]

I guess it works though, doesn't it?
Most people find me very provocative - the rest is a matter of opinion - and yours doesn't count.
Getting back to the thread -
Once in Alaska, I pulled into Pelican in my 45' troller with the wind blowing about 60-70 knts and all anyone could do was crash land against another boat tied to the pier with as many fenders as you can come up with. All these boats were rafted out on each other 6-8 deep when the pilings started pulling out from the boats tied inside at the pier. The raft of boats was jumping up & down so hard against the pier, the lines tied were pulling pilings out of the ground. Pretty soon we were all trying to get loose and scatter for cover - which there isnt any - so it was back out in the channel for most of us - bucking into a screaming blow with no place to go and nothing to do except jocky for position and try to stay off the rocks.
Nobody was docking their boats that day. Good thing I still had some fuel on board - 10,000lbs of fish helped too - a light boat would have blown over.

[Factor]

This bloke must be from Yorkshire.

The art of one upping the next bloke - Monty Python and the four Yorkshire man

[Capt Phil]

Those were the years, Geoduck... commercial fishing taught you how to handle a boat in the worst weather, gear breaking constantly, drunk or insane crew and navigating by the seat of your pants with no guarantee of coming home alive or making a decent $ share. I look back on those times as character building and still wonder why I kept going back season after season.
It was the same in the towboat industry as well. At least we were able to duck the worst of the weather for fear of losing the tow! Back in the 60's there wasn't much in the way of safety gear either... no survival suits, liferafts and not much of a Coast Guard to speak of. Went a lot of funerals with no bodies as I recall. If you went overboard, that was the end. But I still managed to blank out the bad times and remember the good ones! By the way, I don't find you provocative at all! Phil

[westsail374]

Originally Posted by zeehag

when i dock solo--
i bring bow and stern docklines to the waist of the boat so i can get them in order without losing way...cannot let boat run with the wind--and cannot panic--must be deliberate and pre- planned movements. my midships line is first to secure. then bow and stern.
i will not step over lifelines.
i watched a friend of mine fall into water between dock and crocker ketch still under way into the dock----you do not want to have to go there. (i saved her but it was a difficult thing to do and risky as hell.)

Very well put. Practice, practice, practice.