[Rhodes22-list] Docking Issues

[Bob Keller]

Ron,Get as close to the dock as you can and use an extendable boat pole to grab a cleat and pull yourself closer.BK
 > Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 10:49:20 -0700
> From: hmcheung57 at gmail.com
> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Docking Issues
> 
> 
> Ron,
> 
> Docking in windy conditions is challenging, no doubt about it.  Oddly,
> success in fairly high wind depends on suppressing your natural impulse to
> take it as slow as possible.  I suggest you practice this out in the open
> someplace, but approaching the slip at a high enough speed to maintain
> control is essential; as is being able to get the motor into reverse to
> bring the boat to a stop alongside your dock.  Also, determine which line is
> the most essential to get tied on first.  On our boat with our slip
> arrangement it is the dock side stern line.  Once this is on everything else
> can be handled with more leisure.  For good or ill that line is right behind
> the helmsman (usually me).  So in moderate winds I focus on getting Muireann
> in position for me to get ahold of that line off our dock and securing it to
> the cleat behind me.  
> 
> In worse winds, another thing to bear in mind is that if its really windy
> don't be too proud to ask for help from folks ashore.  Keep some longish (25
> ft or so) dock lines on board; two should be plenty.  And be ready to toss
> these to folks on your dock to help pull/guide you in.  Even with just one
> other crew member, a long dock line can be handy as with a strong wind it's
> easiest to bring the widest part of the boat (or just forward of it) to the
> dock and have your crew step off with either one or two long dock lines.  If
> one, it's usually the forward dock line and you can back against it once
> it's cleated to swing the stern back to the dock if the wind is blowing you
> off.  Having a crew step ashore with a line in hand (cleated to the boat
> already of course) may be easier than that same crew fishing for the dock
> tied line with a boat hook.  
> 
> Lastly, don't be afraid to back away from the dock and set up to try again
> if the approach isn't going well.
> 
> Hope this helps!  I'm sure others will have ideas as well.
> 
> Mike
> 
> 
> 
> butterchurn wrote:
> > 
> > As a new boat owner I am having docking isues in wind.  I would like some
> > suggestions concerning what steps to take in order to learn to do a better
> > job of it.  This weekend at Lake Erie it was quite windy.  We wanted to
> > sail but when we tried to untie from our slip the wind was so strong we
> > couldn't control the boat.  The wind was trying to blow the boat away from
> > us.  Our slip is has the wind blowing our port side away from the dock
> > instead of into the dock.  Perhaps we were trying to go out in too windy
> > conditions.  We saw other sailboats out though they were at least 26
> > footers.
> > 
> > We don't want to use our Rhodes as a floating cabin, we got the boat to
> > sail it.
> > 
> > Anything you might suggest that might help us to get up to speed with our
> > skills?  Now once away from the dock I can sail no problem.  I just need
> > to get out and in.
> > 
> > Sometimes I feel dumb asking these questions, but I guess I can't learn if
> > I don't ask.
> > 
> > Ron
> > 
> 
> 
> -----
> Mike Cheung
> s/v Muireann 1993/2008 Rhodes 22
> -- 
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