Waterway trivia question - poll

[OldFrog75]

I tried to get an answer to this question on another thread without success so I'll try a poll here instead:

What do you call the very narrow waterway(s) in a Marina between docks with boat silps on either side of it?

[Sailmonkey]

A fairway

[jongleur]

A taint? 'taint the fairway and
'taint the channel?

...oh, yeah...uh...never mind...

[J Clark H356]

Agree that it is a fairway.


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[OldFrog75]

I hope I was clear in my description. I'm talking about the waterway where one's slip is located that you use to back out of or pull into your slip. At MDR it's typically 35-50' wide, depending on the size of boats at that dock.

On the other thread someone suggested "slipway". Never heard the term but intuitively it makes sense.

[Sailmonkey]

A slipway is where you haul boats up on a railway.

[Ex-Calif]

The Dictionary of English Nautical Language, Glossary and Terms directory.

Term: fairway (n)
Definition: A navigable deep channel leading through a harbor or along a shoreline.
See Also: channel, waterway


Term: channel (n)
Definition: The deepest part of a waterway, usually marked for safe passage of water traffic.

Term: waterway (n)
Definition: 1) A channel that has been improved by dredging or marking to make it safe for navigation 2) A gutter along the edge of the deck that drains at the scuppers.
See Also: channel

Ergo...

A fairway is a "type" of channel

A channel is "part" of a waterway

A waterway is an "improved" channel

Clear as mud -

[ryon]

An aglet.

[Ex-Calif]

A is not a fairway because - it does not proceed along a shoreline or through a harbor

A can be a channel, even though not marked for navigation (I would not call Dock Letters, which are marked navigation marks) . It may not be a waterway because it does not appear to have been "improved by dredging"

B is not a fairway - it does not proceed along a shoreline or through a harbor.

B is a channel - It is marked for navigation. B is also a waterway - it is a channel improved by dredging

C is none of the above. i.e. open unmarked water.

As I said in the other thread -

I would refer to A as a marina side channel and B as a marina entrance channel or main channel.

I believe OldFrog is looking for a definition for "A"

BTW - I am the dissenter that voted channel. Flame away -

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

I believe OldFrog is looking for a definition for "A"

That is correct, sir. Thank you for providing the graphic. If I were as facile with computers and forums as you are, I would have posted one myself.

A picture truly is worth a thousand words.

[Cavalier]

Dock (maritime), The area of water between two piers or alongside a wharf that receives a ship for loading, unloading, or repairs

◾Floating Dock, misnomer describing a floating pier or wharf. The dock is actually the water alongside the structure.

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

Dock (maritime), The area of water between two piers or alongside a wharf that receives a ship for loading, unloading, or repairs

◾Floating Dock, misnomer describing a floating pier or wharf. The dock is actually the water alongside the structure.

So your vote would be "something else"?

[fryewe]

A "dock" is the area of water between two piers...and also the pier area at the location.

Most marinas have the piers labeled in some fashion and common usage leads us to call them "A" dock or Dock No. 1 or the fuel dock or the transient dock for example. Each of these piers (docks) may have finger piers (or docks)...or not.

Access to the piers (docks)...whether they have finger piers or not...is a channel ("...a course into which something can be directed...").

Directions to a slip in a marina may be helpful in understanding...eg..."I have assigned you to slip E-32. The approach to the marina entrance coming from the south requires you to exit the marked channel turning west when you see the first no wake buoy. Turn to starboard after passing that buoy to enter the main channel into the marina behind the breakwater. Proceed down the main channel until you have passed five piers on your port hand then turn into the channel between E and F docks. The even numbered slips on E dock will be to port when you enter that channel and your slip is the nearest to the channel entrance."

So the term to use would be "the channel between xxxx and yyyy docks (or piers)."

[Hoofsmit]

Fryewe .......... That makes sense to me


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[Hudson Force]

I selected "fairway" as the term that I have more often heard and used for these areas between rows of slips.

Originally Posted by OldFrog75

............. At MDR it's typically 35-50' wide ...........

I formerly struggled with the MDR term on the other thread and finally determined that it's a specific name for a marina in Southern California. We're all "neighbors" on this international forum, but we don't know everyone's neighborhood.