The Couple Across the Dock from Me Invented Something Pretty Cool ...

[S/V Alchemy]

...and I made a blog post out of it.

If you want to go straight to the source, see here, although

this video

pretty well sums up their "better mousetrap" for docking with one arm.

They were selling them at the recent Toronto Boat Show andthey had to spend the evenings making new ones, as they ran out quickly, so I guess they've got a good idea for safer docking, single-handing, high freeboards, etc. While it would be simple to knock on off in the shop, I've see their product up close, and it's pretty nicely made and not, in terms of boat stuff, expensive.

I have no commercial interest in this product, but I speak to their nice dog now and then in French.

[cat man do]

Nice idea but looks like a mooring line with a ball on the end running through PVC tube with a cap on the end drilled to the right size to stop rope sliding through..

I hope they aren't expensive.

Dock Wand 5'
5 Foot Dock Wand and Cleat Ball
C$42.00

Hmm

[David M]

Clever idea, but all he has to do is to slow down and he would not need it.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by David M

Clever idea, but all he has to do is to slow down and he would not need it.

On a boat with higher sides it'll be a handy tool

[Noname]

What if there's no cleat, only a piling?

[Kettlewell]

Yep, it's great for that particular situation, but useless in many others that would be encountered. Outside of fancy yachting centers you don't find many floating docks with cleats on the dock.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Seaduction

What if there's no cleat, only a piling?

Yea, where I find myself a lot.

Pretty cool though. Pretty cool.

[Nicholson58]

nice solution for the guy & boat shown. Should be adaptable to any boat you can push around with one hand. I can only imagine what would happen if we tried this with our 36 ton vessel.

[Noname]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

nice solution for the guy & boat shown. Should be adaptable to any boat you can push around with one hand. I can only imagine what would happen if we tried this with our 36 ton vessel.

You may need to adapt a bowling ball for such a heavy vessel. Obviously a tennis ball would not meet the stringent requirements of a 36T vessel. (maybe a bocce ball?)

[Noname]

I think the idea shows great "outside the box" thinking. I hope somebody comes up with the idea of "universal joints" for boat drive shafts just like automobiles have. That would take care of all the boatcrobatics involved with aligning the engine and shaft. I've rarely had to replace a U-joint in my vehicles. (hey, I'd like 1% of the profits here).

[Nicholson58]

Seaduction, If you really want that jointed shaft on the cheap, take an automobile transaxle half-shaft and modify for your use. We build dynamometers for drive trian subassemblies. A typical trans-axle has a universal (Cardan) joint on the outboard end and a CV joint on the inboard end. They are made to run in salt spray. A good machine shop can make adapters for you. The tech issue you need to address is that you will need a GOOD combination radial and thrust bearing to support the prop shaft designed to fit your vessel since this shaft can ONLY transmit torque and absolutely zero thrust.

[Noname]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Seaduction, If you really want that jointed shaft on the cheap, take an automobile transaxle half-shaft and modify for your use. We build dynamometers for drive trian subassemblies. A typical trans-axle has a universal (Cardan) joint on the outboard end and a CV joint on the inboard end. They are made to run in salt spray. A good machine shop can make adapters for you. The tech issue you need to address is that you will need a GOOD combination radial and thrust bearing to support the prop shaft designed to fit your vessel since this shaft can ONLY transmit torque and absolutely zero thrust.

YIKES! Maybe its cheaper to pay the mechanic at the yard to align the buggar every half-decade or so...

[Ozbullwinkle]

Alchemy - I think it is a cool & simple solution for docks with cleats when one is on a high sided vessel , is shorthanded and especially when there is a crosswind blowing across the berth.

[shorebird]

Sorry, but....There are shaft couplers for boats that can absorb some shaft misalignment.

[SabreKai]

he he I was wondering what all the people were doing at the boat show wandering around with green nerf balls on a stick. At least that's what they looked like to me.

Interesting idea, but not much use to me unless I grow longer arms and use an 8 foot pole. From my position at the wheel, My nearest dock cleat is about 4 feet ahead of me.

$42 dollars? You have to be kidding. Ain't capitalism grand!