Dinghy Dock Faux Pas

[two-rocks]

You probably tied up at Edgartown yacht club.

[Benz]

'round the corner in Newport, dinghy etiquette allows you to re-tie anyone who ties up too short to allow others passage, or worse yet, side-ties bow and stern. Also, any engine left up WILL be dropped by the next passer-by. I routinely re-tie people, and occasionally my painter gets moved to re-shuffle the crowd. It's all good as long as the re-tie is secure.
Gord: there's a loading-only zone on the principal dinghy dock, which is a really great thing to have. I only wish there was more dinghy dockage, or that people used smaller dinghies. Or both.

[NavyDave_andMe]

Originally Posted by two-rocks

You probably tied up at Edgartown yacht club.

Oh, I really don't think so! The docks were by a tiny beach area with a public bathroom, if I remember correctly, and you could walk up a rather steep hill with lovely flower gardens, and look back down at the picturesque harbor. At the top of the hill were dozens of shops.

[skipmac]

From the Edgartown harbormaster's web site. You can see dinghies tied up in the center of the google maps shot.


DINGHIES
Floating docks west side of Edgartown Yacht Club and in front of the Atlantic restaurant

Denoted by red painted pilings

Have at least an 8 foot bow line so others can land on the float.

Use the launch and leave your dinghy on your mooring if you'll be gone for more than a day-- this will help ease overcrowded tie-up.

Yachtsman can tie up to our floating dock at North Wharf to drop off trash, buy ice, and use showers and restrooms.

[NavyDave_andMe]

So...that doesn't look familiar, maybe I'm "misremembering", and we were in a different harbor!

--Cheryl

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by skipmac

...Can't recall exactly how Edgartown is set up but the dinghy dock in another harbor has no cleats nor bollards. Instead there's a 2x4 running the perimeter of the dock sitting on top of smaller 2x4 blocks every 3-4' like a very low railing. So you run your painter under and around the 2x4 to tie off. A lot of locals attach a snap shackle or similar to the end of the painter, then just around the 2x4 and clip it back to the painter.

FYI, that is called a bull rail.

[macieknan]

Originally Posted by Ween

passive-aggressive retie....

lol, didnt know that was a thing

[Bob S]

Originally Posted by skipmac

From the Edgartown harbormaster's web site. You can see dinghies tied up in the center of the google maps shot.


DINGHIES
Floating docks west side of Edgartown Yacht Club and in front of the Atlantic restaurant

Denoted by red painted pilings

Have at least an 8 foot bow line so others can land on the float.

Use the launch and leave your dinghy on your mooring if you'll be gone for more than a day-- this will help ease overcrowded tie-up.

Yachtsman can tie up to our floating dock at North Wharf to drop off trash, buy ice, and use showers and restrooms.

The dinghies you see are in a private dinghy dock marked in yellow. Forward of them are pilings marked in red that are for the public. It is very busy and usually requires you to pass through several dinghies to get to the dock. The OP probably docked at the Harbor Master's office at the North Wharf which is allowed. It is for limited use - to drop off trash, buy ice or use the public showers but is not intended to leave the dinghy for any extended time.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Bob S

The dinghies you see are in a private dinghy dock marked in yellow. Forward of them are pilings marked in red that are for the public. It is very busy and usually requires you to pass through several dinghies to get to the dock. The OP probably docked at the Harbor Master's office at the North Wharf which is allowed. It is for limited use - to drop off trash, buy ice or use the public showers but is not intended to leave the dinghy for any extended time.

Thanks for the clarification. As I mentioned, don't go to Edgartown very often so not too well acquainted with the local deal. Always mobbed in the summer and most of the shops and restaurants closed in the winter.

Wife wanted to take some friends to a restaurant in Edgartown a few years ago. No where to park in front so dropped them off and went to park the car. Drove around for 30 minutes and finally found a spot on a side street over a mile away. Harbor isn't much better.

[NavyDave_andMe]

Mea culpa!

I have verified with a friend that we never were in Edgartown. We were in Vineyard Haven. Don't remember seeing any painted pilings, so maybe it's more of a free-for-all over there.
But now I know what to expect if I ever do venture over towards the yacht club.
--Cheryl

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by NavyDave_andMe

Mea culpa!

I have verified with a friend that we never were in Edgartown. We were in Vineyard Haven. Don't remember seeing any painted pilings, so maybe it's more of a free-for-all over there.
But now I know what to expect if I ever do venture over towards the yacht club.
--Cheryl

Well then, a whole different story. Not sure where you were. I don't know of a water taxi dock in the main harbor but never anchor there so could be.

Regardless, the dinghy dock in VH harbor (assume you didn't turn left as you entered the harbor and go under the draw bridge to VH Lagoon) is at Owen Park next to the public beach and the harbormaster's office. That is the long dock to the right (north) of the ferry dock which should be obvious.

Far as I know, no restrictions on the dinghy dock.

[NavyDave_andMe]

^^^^^^
Yep, that's where we were.