How do you get out of tight berth when the wind is blowing?

[Viking Sailor]

You may have noticed that all the power boats have their bows pointing into the fairway.

When the winds are mostly calm and the tide is mostly slack you can use long lines to turn the boat bow out. This can be done solo. The procedure is to tie a long line to a stern cleat and run it around the stern of the boat. The line must be able to clear the stern and be on the outside of the life lines. The line needs to be long enough to allow the boat to completely clear the dock and secured to the last dock cleat. Walk the boat out of the berth pushing the bow to start it rotating. Haul on the line to continue rotating the boat and pulling it back into its berth. When the stern is within reach, walk the boat the rest of the way into the berth.

You will find that it is much easier to get underway when dealing with wind and current while going forward.

[JOHNMARDALL]

All of the recommended methods of warping out will work, if you and your crew are plentiful, fit, strong, agile and experienced. If you're like my wife and I, who only go boating for fun, and to whom none of those prerequisites would apply, the answer is to install a bow thruster.

Good luck,
John Mardall
Shameless Commerce Division
Vetus Maxwell

PS Actually, we are experienced, and our experiences have made us bow thruster enthusiasts.

[Nightcrawler]

Or like me, pick marinas that have pilings at the end of the docks.

They call me the Pole Dancer.

[jmschmidt]

We would need to know which way the wind is blowing and at what speed, which way your boat is pointing (bow in or bow out), one engine or two, which direction is your prop walk, if any, and maybe other details like other obstructions, skill of skipper and deck hands, if any.

Wind on the nose pointing out of the slip, no problem, use enough power to get steerage way and you're off. Any other combination of the above variables would take a little more analysis to give an coherent reply.

[Mike Banks]

Because a rudeer moves the stern of a bot, not the bow, whatever course of action you take is better done going astern.

Obvious statement I know--but this is the safest way of doing anything because if the stern goes there under power, everything else must follow.

All you may need is someone to make sure that the bows do not drag across another vessel--and for that you will need at least one deckhand.

Sometimes you will have to borrow one--and having cleared the dock, anchor up and ferry him/her them ashore.

Your other alternative is to get a good book or two and wait until the wind drops--as has already been said. Lets face it--any fool can be uncomfortable--and a rough sea is about as uncomfortable as it gets close to shore.

[Don C L]

There are plenty of boats that do not steer well, or at all, in reverse. If the wind is blowing don’t count on propwalk or spring lines to perform predictably.