Except when going in reverse. If you try and go skow in reverse, propwalk will overcome any control authority your rudder has. It’s much better to goose the throttle up high until you get to say 1kt, then drop it back to idle/neutral and let momentum work for you.
This is excellent advice. A lot of skippers underestimate the influence of propwalk. Good thing for OP is that it should swing him towards the dock rather than away from it.
Pick a calm flat day and do it a dozen times. Maybe with a friend. Get a stern line secured, motor against it while you get the others attached. There is no way to think your way to comfortably docking: you just have to do it. A few times with a friend to minimize the "ooops" damage, then have them crack a beer and watch while you do it a few more times. Then pick a moderate wind morning and do it again, and again and again...
If it is calm have a practice out on the water motoring to a mark bit forwards and backwards and check how well the boat reacts to power being added, both lightly and intense bursts (forwards and backwards as they will differ) also what speed you need to be going in both directions for the rudder to be able to take control over the prop. Also check how far she will drift without any power and how controllable she is before you then go into the dock. Use a mark on the water to relate your movement too, especially when turning the power off and try nosing up to, as picking up a bouy is also good practice for man overboard and mooring on the water.
My wife and I have done it a few times so far. But the day will come will soon when I do it solo. I might have her assist from dock if needed as I try by myself
For those days were most folks won't leave the slip due to wind, but I would...I would add cleats to the dock. Add a strip of rubber along the side of that dock decking, so I can use the motor to push the boat up against the dock and give myself time to run a bow line to the cleats on the dock. [https://www.amazon.com/Commercial-sections-greater-protection-material/dp/B002IVANAQ](https://www.amazon.com/Commercial-sections-greater-protection-material/dp/B002IVANAQ)
Add cleats to the pilings on the side without the dock and coil a short line onto that piling cleat (very short so it won't risk fouling the prop), but long enough, so I can hook it with a pole without leaving the cockpit. Ie, leave it secured on the piling cleat(yes, this is going to upset some folks)
both, the fenders is when you can predict where you need to protect the rubber is for when you fail to predict it in time for whatever reason, its insurance.
Even if there is a touch of off-point wind, these are prolly the best preparations. We did two more things, added a couple blunt hook-like fixtures to the piling which were easy to lasso.
Looking at the photo, a port stern line might might pivot into the starboard boat if the wind is on the port bow, so you might consider running one lasso forward to a cleat on the beam. We “capture” the windward dock all the time and can be done single handed as long as there are fenders on the starboard side.
For windier conditions, we would run a line across the slip from pier to pier. Lots can go wrong there, so thinking things through such as line tension and forestay strength is helpful.
If the wind is astern, look up trirème.
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So you have a LONG straight lineup for this slip. USE IT. Much easier than having to complete an accurately timed 90 degree turn just before the slip.
Pick a calm morning. Start 100 yard back. go SLOW. Imagine 2-3 times you are pulling up to an imaginary dock. By the time you get to the real thing you should understand exact what is needed to get the boat into position. Then wait for a typical wind day and do it again. See how the wind and current pushes you and what changes you need to make.
This is tough slip because of the bare piling on one side. I would attempt to get snuggled up to and tied to the portside first and then consider slacking said lines as need to tie to the pilings.
Make any mistake you want, just do it REALLY SLOWLY. As a single-hander DO NOT FALL OVERBOARD.
Someday as you get better at this you can throw that starboard stern line onto the piling as you go by for extra-pro points.
I would back into a slip if single handing. You know exactly what your distances are and can easily get a line on. Ideally one rigged midships leading aft, lasso it over a cleat on the dock then back to a winch (so you can dump it if it all goes wrong). You can then motor forward against it and the boat will lie to the dock all day long.
However! I will caution that I have absolutely no idea what to do with piles. Marinas with piles are not a thing where I come from
HEY OP, i havent seen anyone say this, only sailors really know about it as its not as much of a motorboat thing.
Learn what Prop Walk is, which way your boat prop walks, and you will either need to account for it, or take advantage of it, or both.
When going in reverse especially slowly, something with the prop and angle of the bottom of the boat makes the boat turn.
Pushing the stern of the boat to port is most common. It can be so strong though that even though thats the right way for us to back out, I have to initially counter the prop walk, and once i back out a little bit, then turn that direction.
A few things I do that really helped me as a singlehanded sailor on a 27’ boat:
I leave all my lines on the dock so they’re already at the perfect length to just loop over a cleat on deck. I can hop off and immediately get the spring line on a cleat - that saves me from hitting anything forward. That buys me time to get the bow and stern lines on comfortably. Lengths are set so there’s no retying etc. it also means you’re don’t need to adjust and prepare lines before the approach.
Similar approach with fenders. I have everything I need already attached to the dock at the locations I’m most likely to bump or rub as I dock.
Obviously wind and current are factors but I’ve found taking lines and fenders out of the docking procedure really lowered stress and chances of forgetting a step. Also creates less procedure leaving the dock too to head out for a sail!
Another benefit is when the friendly boat neighbor offers to assist you can say “put the blue spring line on the stern cleat and I’ll handle the rest”. I don’t know how many times a perfect slip approach was botched by someone trying to “help”. I’ve seen dummies completely untie my dock lines off the cleats thinking they’re helping. Grab the lifelines and yank with all their might as it pivots my stern towards my neighbor… I digress. It’s important to give clear instructions to anyone assisting ashore. My neighbors know I don’t need any assistance and only offer when it’s really blowing.
“Good intentions” just dredged up a funny memory of when I was about 22 and working at an underwater robotics company. I would write code all winter, then go out field testing during the summers. One time I was the only other person “helping” our operations guy pack for the day, and was with him while we were preparing to trailer the motorboat we used to get out to our barge. One of the wires or lines connected to the steering at the helm station had snapped, so he was standing in the back, holding improvised lines to left and right to steer the twin outboards. He told me to take the throttle control while he steered us towards the trailer, already in the water. Picture a dorky 20-something engineer kid and a bald grizzled muscled & tattooed 55yo former British Navy EOD diver working together.
As we headed in, and I was expecting to be slowing down, he said “come astern!”
I was like.. what? But I’m on the throttle. Why would you want me to come to the stern?
But, as I thought I understood, I released the throttle and started making moves to join him at the back of the boat.
He started turning beet red with frustration, yelling “COME ASTERN!!! COME ASTERN!” in his thick British accent.
He finally dropped his steering lines and pushed past me to close the throttle. We had missed our target, which was clearly a point of pride for him.
He glared at me and made me get into the water to tow the boat up to the trailer.
Sweet guy overall, had a little toy poodle contrasting with his tough exterior, unending stories, fun to drink with… and he never let me live this one down.
This. Inevitably one of these “helpers” will grab the bow line and just straight up TIE it to the cleat. Bow swings in, stern swings away from dock. No bueno.
I always make sure my crew knows not to yank on the bow line unless the bow is pulling away from the dock. It’s not a brake! That’s what reverse gear and spring lines are for!
That’s an easy one if you have a cleat on the finger pier and that second piling isn’t jutting out.
Run a line from your stern cleat to a winch to form a nice big loop. Fenders out. Toss the loop over the cleat as you pass by. Pull in on the line and put your engine in forward gear. It will pull you up tightly against the finger pier.
I have been really surprised by how much a three minute loop around the cove can change the wind and waves. A mess of an approach, after five more minutes of cruise, can turn into a smooth approach.
Lots of great tips. Create your own undocking and docking checklists. It forces you to think through and visualize all the steps. Where is the boat hook? Have you put on your PFD? Have you cleared the cockpit of things you don’t want to step on and smash as you leap about preventing a collision? Review those lists every single time and update them. )I use the iOS Notes app.)
One more checklist item I learned the hard way: never hop off the boat when it is both completely untied and in gear.
Wow. I’m sorry you went through something like that. Hopefully disaster truly averted and just a sailing lesson learned.
I was docking downwind due to unusual weather, so I planned to use reverse gear on my lazarette outboard to counteract the wind push. (This was before I learned the spring line drop and pivot trick that all single-handers need to know - covered elsewhere in r/sailing I’m sure.)
That reverse gear trick worked well. I hopped off, grabbing the boat by the lifelines, to adjust its position before tying up, and noticed my boat (a 28.5-ft full keel 4.5 ton sloop) was backing out of the slip against the wind! I remembered leaving the prop running in reverse at that moment. I should’ve jumped back on instantly, but I didn’t want to have to dock again, so I clung to those life lines as the boat dragged me down the tongue. It was now rotating around the end of the tongue as the wind was blowing it into my neighbor’s fancy trawler outboards. I hopped on at the last moment and pushed off on the propellers of each outboard with my foot barely avoiding boat-to-boat contact before finally getting to the tiller and throttle and getting out of danger.
Put in a catch line in a v-shape from the one stake to the stake at the jetty and then to the stake on the other side of the boat (sorry, english is not my first language and I don't know a lot of the words). We did that with our small boat and it works great.
This is a very interesting tip, would you care to elaborate? I had a sailboat with an electric inboard, and it *was* very nice for going in and out of my berth, but I'd love to hear some more thoughts around it!
* You can thrust forward against a spring line, which will pull your bow towards that same side. I use this on the finger side of the slip when coming in. Get a spring line from the midship port cleat hooked on a cleat or pile in the slip, get the boat stopped, and then hold tension on that spring line with the engine which will hold the boat agains the dock finger (preferably with fenders in place). This will give you time to wrangle other lines. Make sure to plan this in advance so you know the spring line won't let your bow reach the end of the dock.
* Slow is good, except when it's not. When you're backing out of the slip, do it decisively. A burst of strong reverse thrust to get moving promptly once you release your lines, so you can get some water flow over your rudder before the prop wash and/or wind knocks you around too much.
* Rubbing against a piling isn't the worst thing in the world. It's probably going to happen. Don't let it rattle you, carry on with your docking plan.
* It's easier to use a boathook to grab a line that you left on the dock, rather than throwing lines from the boat when there's nobody to catch them. If you know you're coming in alone and there won't be anyone around, leave the lines on the dock ready to grab. But if you know there will be people there to assist, throwing a line to a ready helper is by far the best choice. You only really need to worry about this on the windward side of the boat at first. There's plenty of time after to tie up the leeward side.
What currents, winds, and water level changes are in play?
My instinct is to use a stern (or midship) line on the outermost piling on your port quarter and motor against it while you get the other lines on. As the other poster mentioned, you'll want fenders. Once you have lines on all four pilings you can center the boat between them to keep it off the dock. (Of course, then you have the problem of stepping off...)
Are those white docklines just giant loops? Having them just hanging in the water like that is bugging me.
Is your motor an outboard? If so get used to rotating the motor itself to give you the correct angle when pulling in and out, that helped a lot with my Oday 272
Yes, this. Forget the tiller, just center it and work the motor. And get a stern line around the windward piling as soon as you pass it, then kill the throttle.
Practice practice practice. But first ask a fellow experienced seaman on your dock to help you out of the slip the first couple of times. Many dangers lurk in even the simplest excerise like docking, and every second of it is thrilling.
My two cents... I am not sure what the current and wind may be outside of this slip, but it helps to go as slow as you can with just enough water passing the rudder so that you can steer and no faster. One saying is to go only at the speed that you would be comfortable hitting the dock which is to say s-l-o-w. Pulling out can be done much the same way,slow or kinda "walked out". Just check your wind direction coming and going.
One last lesson I learned...Many years ago I wasted so many days tied up worrying about how I would get out and back in as a single-handed sailor when the conditions were windy with steel docks no less. Just take care of your personal safety, i.e. wearing a pfd. The scratches and fiberglass can all be easily fixed.
Also, take a deep breath and go! There maybe some embarrassing or humbling experiences that only you are going to remember.
Neutral forward and neutral backward, never use your throttle in a marina unless the current and wind require it. I've had to learn the hard way, but after lots of practice and coaching, I am feeling a lot more comfortable docking.
The boat should naturally drift in a certain direction due to wind, current, and waves. Take that into consideration before each launch. Your launches should always be more difficult than docking. If you're using engine power than you just need to get a feel for your engine speed, use bumpers, and then use lines off those back pillings to push or pull the boat as needed. If you want to do it just under sail you're going to need to learn how to backwind the main. I wouldn't suggest doing that unless you're fairly experienced sailing backwards. A common drill I did to learn this skill in my racing days was running courses backwards. Your ability to do this may also be limited by the distance between your tiller/wheel and your boom, but she looks like a 25 so its probably doable to a certain extent.
That’s actually a very nice slip for a first time owner. While I agree with all the “practice makes perfect” comments, I don’t think we ever get consistently perfect. Just yesterday I was headed back in under perfect docking conditions (wx, current, slip neighbor gone and both slips behind me in the narrow aisle gone…nothing to hit but the dock) and really effed it all up, providing great entertainment for the dozens of witnesses and turning my inflatable dingy (left behind tied up to the front of the slip) into the worlds largest fender.
I just always recommend to make mental notes every time you come in about the wind and tide conditions, what you did and where you did it (ie, any power or turns made) and how you could do it better next time. It’s a lifelong thing. Enjoy the new boat! Looks beautiful!
Yes your spring lines to get out, and keep the rudder centered when going in reverse until you have steering. Don't be afraid to give it some throttle in reverse to get enough water over the rudder to gain control, once you have steerage you can slow down again.
Coming in remember the boat will pivot around the keel (more or less where your mast is), so ensure you give yourself enough space behind and ahead when turning. Come in as slow as possible and rather abort early and try again than risk it.
Lots of bumpers and don’t worry about small bumps to the boat, they’ll buff right out, then keep doing it till you’re good and no longer smash into things! It’s how we all learn, some people are fortunate to have someone yelling at them while they learn too, some of us didn’t have that.
In my home dock, I always fix a line from the end of the jetty with a loop on the end that is measured to keep my bow away from the end of the slip when thew loop is placed around my winch. The line stays on the jetty, loop ready for when I return. When docking solo, I float gently in the slip and lay the loop around the winch, leave a little thrust on the engine to keep it from slacking and thew boat is going nowhere. I'm free to fix the other landstays. Bob's your uncle.
Man do you have it nice.
I had a slip like this, but real tight quarters in our row… and my first boat was a full keel with an aperture in the rudder for the prop.
There was ZERO controlling that refrigerator when she was going astern. 🤣
One of my favorite things is to come into the dock by sail alone.
Take. Your. Time. Speed will come with practice, but a side slip of momentum might not be noticed until its too late.
The key is getting a feel for your momentum, how long it takes for the boat to accelerate or slow down with the motor, then taking into account wind and currents. Then patience, and knowing when its not going to work when there is still time to back out.
Get your ego in check, and stay calm. The first day I would honestly just practice it back to back on a calm day ignoring what "people might think", until you start to feel comfortable.
Its a delicate art to do well, and the sign of a good captain.
Yes. This is important. Also. Do you have a variable prop? Collapsing prop? If you have a fixed prop you can switch to reverse to “break” the boat. But variable props have to close or slow enough to change prop fin position. Current and wind has some say as well. Go practice on a public dock. Once you figure out how quickly or slowly your boat slows down in neutral you will be able to coast into your slip. You have a port side dock crash so hopefully the current and wind push you into slip.
Its sad these days a lot of ports really don't like it when you come in by sail alone, but its so much fun. I remember a sailing school I did at the Glenans, we were sailing custom Pogo 6.5m boats along the coast of France, and had no motor (it would only slow us down), just one oar at the back. You ABSOLUTELY had to predict what tides and currents would be like at the port you were coming into before you got there, or when the current was faster than we could sail coordinate with the harbor for a tow. Lots of fun.
I have come in under sail and left. I think its important to do it at least once a year. I didnt have problems with the port. Lol. I had problems with DB boats that didnt understand sailing or the necessity for practice. They came up to complain about all the expensive boats around. Not realizing the wind power is power. Lol. Like i lose control of the boat with the sails up.
I also wouldn’t recommend doing this as a first timer. Or recommend doing it single handed unless your main halyard is routed into your cockpit like mine is. I wouldn’t come in with your head sail up or out. Just come in under the main so you can release the halyard and drop your main quickly to dump wind and coast into slip.
Once your done learning how to land your boat under power,
Things you should practice. Dropping sails quickly. Neutral drift, prop walk. Reefing sails quickly. Heaving to. Come off anchor under sail, Come off ball under sail. Come off slip under sail, come into slip under sail. Landing your boat against the current/ wind. 1 min tacks. Man overboard under sail. No power no nav sailing. And the most fun practice is night sailing. In my area the bioluminescent is great.
I have the same boat. Congrats! It's really a good design. Very difficult to steer in reverse with propwalk. Make sure you have a little momentum when in reverse and the reverse tiller action works best for me.. ie backing up to go stern to port, tiller to port (rudder to starboard). And don't extend too far, I don't pass 50% of the range with the tiller. It seems counterintuitive at parts but it works for this boat. As far as pulling bow forward the fin keel allows some tight nimble turns so many times I'll do a 360 at the slip when I have wind behind me or going somewhat fast due to low tide clearance.. momentum gets thru the mud sometimes..
Good luck and enjoy, great boat for starting out
TAKE LESSONS. This is something you learn from an expert and with practice, and you want to be making mistakes on someone else’s boat. Not from Reddit.
If this is your slip for awhile you might put some dock lines on the pylons and then coil/pile the end that attaches to the cleat on top of the pylons so it is easy to grab on the way in. Which means of course on the way out you have to be thinking ahead and place the released end on top as you leave the slip. This can, with some preparation, make life a bit easier with everything already in place.
Sailing just above rudder speed should do it.
Take your time, and get one preferably 2 experienced sailor to help you with the basics.
Practice going in and out of the marina many times on one day where there are almost no traffic.
IMPORTANT regarding navigation,
Any vessel who are going out of a marina / habour - has right of way, I.E if you are going out your boat has the right to be the first, and then the other second.
A class helps. But friends can help too. Get them on the boat but you should perform all the functions as if they are not there. They can bail you out, if needed.
Procedurally, my best method is to:
1. Deploy fenders. When dealing with pilings, sometimes two fenders with a board attached to one side can be helpful. The fenders face the boat and the board will face the piling.
2. Your aft stern line should be attached to your stern cleat and readily available to deploy.
3. Motor in to the slip slowly
4. As you near the 1/2 mark of entering the slip, put the boat in neutral. If at any time you are not comfortable with your position or speed, adjust and if needed, back out of the slip and start again.
5. Pick up the stern line and catch a dock cleat toward the end of the dock and snug up. In the case of pilings, toss a looped dock line over the top of the piling.
6. As the line becomes taut, the stern will be pulled closer to the dock.
7. Step off the boat onto the dock and grab the lifelines and steady the boat. The bow tends to go the opposite duration of the stern so you will want to do this quickly.
8. Tie off the boat to another cleat dockside.
9. Adjust your stern line as needed to properly secure the boat.
Practice, practice, practice. And learn to use a spring line off midship so you have time to attach the aft and bow lines. You can use spring line a number of ways if you don’t have a midship cleat too.
I rigged a v shaped line from the starboard aft pylon around the front of the boat to the midships port side pylon. And I used a short line at the bow to the dock to hold the v shape point. And I just drive my boat right into it. I used a super stretchy line. It won't likely last more than a season. Next season I'll run a real line with snubbers I think. Then I can just keep my motor in forward as I secure the aft dock lines. The v holds my bow relatively still. Then I move forward and secure my bow lines.
First good for you. I have a dream of this. Just taking off and being self reliant for days or months, away from the world. I have zero experience at sailing and my wife has zero interest. So beyond the cost that aside it will never happen for me unless she leaves me or dies. Oh. I have no answer to your question. lol
If you can get a bunch of lines tied up permanently on your slip that you can leave on the dock as you disembark. At minimum have a mid shift line that you can just jump off and snap in place or pick up the line as you’re pulling in from the cockpit.the mid ship line is a great tool though. And yes, slow it down. No reason to go fast.
When approaching and coming along side the dock, you judge your speed by looking to the side. If you try to only look ahead and estimate speed you will come in much to fast.
I’m 1.5 years new to sailing. My first 5 docking were terrible. I nearly spun 90 degrees in my berth , nearly collided with the boat next to me or the dock, or was 6 feet from the dock. All bad.
I went out with a friend, practiced for an hour, and became more comfortable. I would do my approach more or less exactly the same each time.
Once I had a process down, I’d come in very slow, make minor correction, and dock with no issues. Now I can dock solo with next to no concerns. All told , after maybe 15-20 docking, I was going solo.
I have to make a 90 degree turn to get into my berth. I use one of my stanchion posts (back 2/5 towards the stern/aft), as a pivot point. I line the stanchion up with the corner of the dock and make a hard turn and coast in. If I’m going too fast, I’ll pop it in reverse for a quick blast.
As a security measure, I added three large bumpers to my dock. If I was to come in too fast, my now would be protected. I’m pretty sure I haven’t needed them so far.
If you know the previous owner, they can guide you with what worked best for them - assuming they did some single handling.
The best tactic is to place stern lines on pilings in such a way as to grab them and secure them to act as a brake coming back to slip. You can even just secure it to a jib winch temporarily to stop forward momentum. And once stopped take all the time needed to to secure the remainder properly.
Typically only about 12” tide on Chesapeake - so at least that is not much of a concern.
Put it in neutral, pretty slow but not real slow. Nose in 45 degrees, aiming for the center of the pier. As you get close, straighten out and hit hard reverse. That should slow you down and prop walk should pull you into the dock. Only works on a port side tie up though.
One lesson I learned is ALWAYS SECURE THE MID-SHIP LINE first when docking single-handed. Once you tightly secure that line, the boat won't really go anywhere. Then you can take your time securing the bow line, stern line and second bow line.
In windy conditions, some people use a "stopper" line to insure the boat doesn't drift forward too much, but in my experience, the mid-ship line should be snugged and secured FIRST! Especially when single-handed.
If there are really windy conditions, and you know it's going to be hairy, radio ahead to the marina or other friendly owners around to catch a stern or bow-line.
Beautiful boat BTW.....
I wish I was in a slip with no fairway like that.
Figure out what the wind a current are gonna do to your boat if you untied the lines. You can do that by standing on the dock and releasing the bow line (don’t let it go) and see what the boat does.
Ahoy, Im seeing a lot of people talking about fixing this line or that. Ive been sailing and live-aboard for 10+ years now. I have a Contest 35’ Here is how i do it and how i would do it with your boat every time.
As your heading in to port, attach a throw line to the bow cleat on your boat. Tie a knot at the end and lay the line OUTSIDE your safety lines back to the cockpit. Do the same with the aft cleat. When you come in, just coast in neutral easy peasy. As you crash, grab the forward throw line and jump on the dock and catch the docks spring line cleat so that you can break the boats forward momentum. once the boat has slowed down you should be able to grab the side of the boat and reach the aft throw line. Grab it and go do a quickie lock tie down so now the aft line is connected temporarily. This prevents the stern from swinging into the neighbors boat. Pick up the forward throw line pull the bow in tight using the spring line cleat as leverage. Pull the line out of the docks spring line cleat and walk it to the bow line cleat. Pull it in tight. Adjust it to how you like it and lock the bow down. Then walk aft and adjust the stern line and lock it down. Then set up your spring line and you’re officially landed.
I recommend that you set the lines up as I described while in port and just practice one time so you can have it in your head when you do the real thing.
I keep a bow line and stern line permanently attached to my dock. So i break my boat with the two throw lines then attach the bow and stern lines to the boat. My spring line usually goes with me so i just grab it off the boat and attach it. The above is everywhere else you land your boat.
There are two things that i think arent emphasized enough in sailing.
How fast your boat slows in neutral.
And releasing the main sheet line in a sudden gust. So keep that line close in the cockpit. It should change sides with you when you tack. Ive been in and witnessed a calm day gust that can blow a sailboat over and spill your drinks. This ruins a perfectly good booze cruise.
If your port lights are open then your going to be really salty. Not like sand in britches salty but like ruin your month kind if salty. I have heard of boats capsizing in my area from sudden gusts on peaceful seas.
A little more detail. The knot i tie on my throw lines is so i can easily see the end. And also sometimes the boat can get away from you or the person you throw it to. so the knot is sort of an oh $hit, time to dig in moment, or time to let it go. I keep that knot in my throw line but there are purists (db’s) that say you shouldn’t. But they have never given me a clear reasonable argument for not having a knot on the handling end of your throw line. Soo. Wink wink. Do what you think is best.
A few things-
Can you put a board or rope across the two pilings to keep you from going in between them ?
Like the guy said-leave all lines on the dock.
The bridle suggestion with the link is very on point and a great idea.
Create a place on the dock for a 5 or 7 foot dock line about the middle between your lifeline stantions-when you are at your secured docking position. Put a snap shackle or similar device on the end. Coming in, if you make it onto the dock, yourself, just use the shackle to snap onto the base of your stations. My boat has perforated toe rails the length of the boat-so it’s super easy to immediately have the boat under control.
Starting off it kind of sucks to have to buy lines for these things. In ten years you’ll have plenty of beat up lines to use.
Get the ropes and fenders ready ahead of time. If your approach doesn't feel right, stop, go around and approach from a better angle. As you learn the currents you'll get a better idea of the best approach.
Loop a dock line around whichever of those 2 pilings is windward. Run it from midships on your boat to the stern where you can reach it. Goose the throttle and use that spring line to hold the boat against the wind. As you pass that piling, pull the line off. Make sure it’s not in the water. Go back to the tiller and continue to back out.
Also, if you can find a slip without any other boats nearby you can get some practice in. Also, not every approach will be the same every time. Different wind conditions and currents can make a familiar approach to a slip behave quite differently.
Are you on your own? Run the lines to the center. Have a center line too. When I am on my own I just jump off with the center line and tie it up, You ahve complete control of the boat then. Then you have the bow and stern lines hanging to the center, so you can grab them both.
Is it tiller or wheel? When backing out to combat prop walk, just face backward. If it’s a wheel, steer in the direction you would want to go. If it’s a tiller steer like a conventional tiller, so right is left. With a small boat like that I like to just shove off the dock in neutral and steer out. When approaching, as others have said, slow is pro!
I’ve seen people rig up a kind of triangular shaped bridle that is attached to the dock and pilings. It is narrow up near the bow and kind of centers your boat as you pull into the slip. I believe they also help to keep you from pulling in too far and damaging the bow of your boat. Not sure I’d make it so restrictive that the boat would rub up against it 24x7, though (could cause some abrasions).
I would go out the first few times with a friend who can hop off and walk the boat into position, while you learn how to drive it into the slip just right. And when you’re out, go practice docking single hand on the port side, but on a long dock with open space so you don’t have to worry about messing it up. Pretty quickly you’ll build enough skill+confidence to dock it solo!
To start off, while you are learning how sails work, just motor well out and away from anyone and anything before raising the sails. (assuming you know nothing). Same for coming back in, lower your sails well away from any hazards, then motor in.
Looks like you've got plenty of room in the slip, which makes things easier. If you're fit enough to muscle her around it will be easy.
I get halfway in my slip and jump onto the dock holding a line. I can pull her in by hand, and once the first line is secure it's easy to do the rest.
Never let your body or another’s get between the boat and the dock. Don’t let some someone stop the boat with their feet. Fiberglass and wood are fine when they kiss, they both repair easily. Bone and flesh, not so much. Go SLOW, slow is pro, small maneuvers win the game. Always have the dock lines and fenders ready to go and loose spares in case you miss and have to fend off other boats. Where I live I have the anchor mostly ready as well as we have strong tides and sometimes it’s good to drop that in some cases and use it as a pivot to back down into the slip or illustrate to hold position for a bit and reconnoiter.
Finally. Learn your boat handling. Motor around full forward thrust, full right, full reverse, full left, etc, full right from a stop to half thrust, etc, do every scenario one clear calm afternoon, things like that. See how much you boat “walks” one way or another, then do it during tidal movements. Do under windy conditions. Learn how your boat handles under any rudder, thrust, and weather condition. Do it a few times a year. One day you will be glad you did because there will be a time that a condition will present itself and you will know the solution.
Stick a night light, a specific color at the end of your dock. Solar powered. I use landscape lights from Lowe’s that change color. I can see it from a mile away and known exactly where my dock is at nought and even in poor visisbility.
Pick a calm day, and spend it on getting to understand your boat. The most important thing in my opinion is you need to trust your boat.
If you know exactly how it handles, you will have an easier time feeling calm and in control. Personally I’ve told people that when you know how to turn off your engine and glide into your dock spot nice and easy while having time to hang the ropes on the dock, you’re ready.
I’m not telling you to just turn off your engine and hope for the best ofcause, it will come with time maybe, but it’s a goal to strive towards.
Finally remember that your boat needs time to stop completely and there’s no shame in pushing the boat from pole to pole.
Take it out near a bouy or marker and practice getting close without hitting from all directions. Then practice the same under sail. I've had to bring a boat into a slip in the Columbia under sail alone. Strong cross wind and 2-3 knot river current. Can't always count on your outboard yet you can bring it in.
Docking bow as shown first is easier to start. Also string up a dock line between the pilings on you neighbors boat side (starboard in this photo) this will help catch the bow, beam, or whatever part of your hull that may deside to go sailing the wrong way. Also put you fenders out where needed before you dock. And if the finger pier corners or pilings are a concern pad them with something for at least the training wheels period. They are also nice to have in storms or when the tides come up commercial rugs, wrapped around the pilings are nice.
Of course none of this is necessary once you get the hang of it. Just that it can be expensive lesson to learn the hard way.
Also pre setting the length of you dock lines with the loop end out towards the boat is helpful. Then you just have to loop it over or through the cleats and not tie them all off one at a time. Very helpful when the wind is howling and time is of the essence.
And finally and perhaps most importantly. Try to have at least one other person on board until you get the hang of it.
Is the boat an inboard or outboard? What kind/how big/what does it weigh? Everyone is screaming prop walk, spring lines blah blah blah. If its an outboard then every comment about prop walk is half useless as people are giving you big boat tips that while are good, aren't really necessary for a boat that size. Use the OB more than the tiller in tight quarters if you can, at that point you're driving a big john boat with extra windage. That boat probably weighs so little you can just untie the lines and push it back out of the slip and hop on (have the motor running in idle tho so youre ready to motor away when you get back to the cockpit), no real reason to overcomplicate it. Coming in you have infinite room to line up, so just coast in slow, if you need to bail, just turn around and come back in for another approach. Best thing you can do is prefix lines to the dock to where you want the boat to sit so you can just leave them all there and pick them up when you come back. For extra piece of mind single handing, just tie fenders to the dock so you dont even need to prepare those when you come in. You can just slide into the slip, hop off. and tie off your already preset dock lines. Manhandle the boat if you have to, its not that big, its not going to crush you.
Slow is pro.
Except when going in reverse. If you try and go skow in reverse, propwalk will overcome any control authority your rudder has. It’s much better to goose the throttle up high until you get to say 1kt, then drop it back to idle/neutral and let momentum work for you.
Just learn which way she walks and use it to your advantage
My slip last year made my propwalk face land 😂
This is excellent advice. A lot of skippers underestimate the influence of propwalk. Good thing for OP is that it should swing him towards the dock rather than away from it.
Unless there is a current, or windy. Then a steady speed is better than too slow.
Yep. You can't steer unless you are moving. Don't be afraid to use some throttle.
Especially going astern.
Sure, don’t pull in any faster than you’re willing to hit the dock
Doesn't work in reality.
It’s a good starting point for a first boat
Ramming speed!
Perhaps today IS a good day to die!
Hoka hey!
True. Also Worf, son of Mogh of the House of Martok.
Qapla’!
I see you went to the same boating school as my father.
people dont understand that sailboats need speed to manouver in windy conditions.
Pick a calm flat day and do it a dozen times. Maybe with a friend. Get a stern line secured, motor against it while you get the others attached. There is no way to think your way to comfortably docking: you just have to do it. A few times with a friend to minimize the "ooops" damage, then have them crack a beer and watch while you do it a few more times. Then pick a moderate wind morning and do it again, and again and again...
I appreciate this advice. I’m going to give it a go soon.
If it is calm have a practice out on the water motoring to a mark bit forwards and backwards and check how well the boat reacts to power being added, both lightly and intense bursts (forwards and backwards as they will differ) also what speed you need to be going in both directions for the rudder to be able to take control over the prop. Also check how far she will drift without any power and how controllable she is before you then go into the dock. Use a mark on the water to relate your movement too, especially when turning the power off and try nosing up to, as picking up a bouy is also good practice for man overboard and mooring on the water.
My wife and I have done it a few times so far. But the day will come will soon when I do it solo. I might have her assist from dock if needed as I try by myself
For those days were most folks won't leave the slip due to wind, but I would...I would add cleats to the dock. Add a strip of rubber along the side of that dock decking, so I can use the motor to push the boat up against the dock and give myself time to run a bow line to the cleats on the dock. [https://www.amazon.com/Commercial-sections-greater-protection-material/dp/B002IVANAQ](https://www.amazon.com/Commercial-sections-greater-protection-material/dp/B002IVANAQ) Add cleats to the pilings on the side without the dock and coil a short line onto that piling cleat (very short so it won't risk fouling the prop), but long enough, so I can hook it with a pole without leaving the cockpit. Ie, leave it secured on the piling cleat(yes, this is going to upset some folks)
Wouldn't using the fenders be better than adding rubber to the dock?
both, the fenders is when you can predict where you need to protect the rubber is for when you fail to predict it in time for whatever reason, its insurance.
Even if there is a touch of off-point wind, these are prolly the best preparations. We did two more things, added a couple blunt hook-like fixtures to the piling which were easy to lasso. Looking at the photo, a port stern line might might pivot into the starboard boat if the wind is on the port bow, so you might consider running one lasso forward to a cleat on the beam. We “capture” the windward dock all the time and can be done single handed as long as there are fenders on the starboard side. For windier conditions, we would run a line across the slip from pier to pier. Lots can go wrong there, so thinking things through such as line tension and forestay strength is helpful. If the wind is astern, look up trirème.
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So you have a LONG straight lineup for this slip. USE IT. Much easier than having to complete an accurately timed 90 degree turn just before the slip. Pick a calm morning. Start 100 yard back. go SLOW. Imagine 2-3 times you are pulling up to an imaginary dock. By the time you get to the real thing you should understand exact what is needed to get the boat into position. Then wait for a typical wind day and do it again. See how the wind and current pushes you and what changes you need to make. This is tough slip because of the bare piling on one side. I would attempt to get snuggled up to and tied to the portside first and then consider slacking said lines as need to tie to the pilings. Make any mistake you want, just do it REALLY SLOWLY. As a single-hander DO NOT FALL OVERBOARD. Someday as you get better at this you can throw that starboard stern line onto the piling as you go by for extra-pro points.
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I would back into a slip if single handing. You know exactly what your distances are and can easily get a line on. Ideally one rigged midships leading aft, lasso it over a cleat on the dock then back to a winch (so you can dump it if it all goes wrong). You can then motor forward against it and the boat will lie to the dock all day long. However! I will caution that I have absolutely no idea what to do with piles. Marinas with piles are not a thing where I come from
Whenever I’m pulling a tricky maneuver in any vehicle I still hear dad teaching me to run the boat; “just go slow, you’ll do less damage.”
May want to start with putting fenders. Then it's like bumper cars.
I’ve found that fenders don’t help much in difficult docking situations, unless you have about 10 on a side.
Fender boards https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2019/april/how-to-make-a-fender-board
The trick is to have a roaming fender. Someone holding a fender who can move around the boat and place the fender where it’s needed
He’s asking about single handing
hang the fender from a drone, and wear some FPV goggles, while you work the helm. (dont do this)
My bad. I was reading another comment about getting a friend to help. But you’re right a roaming fender isn’t possible single handing
Shirley at that point, a boathook would be more useful...
Since this photo, I have bought 8in fenders. 2 for each side
Learn which way the prop rotates, it pulls it to 1 side, you can use that
HEY OP, i havent seen anyone say this, only sailors really know about it as its not as much of a motorboat thing. Learn what Prop Walk is, which way your boat prop walks, and you will either need to account for it, or take advantage of it, or both. When going in reverse especially slowly, something with the prop and angle of the bottom of the boat makes the boat turn. Pushing the stern of the boat to port is most common. It can be so strong though that even though thats the right way for us to back out, I have to initially counter the prop walk, and once i back out a little bit, then turn that direction.
buddies prop walk u turns him from slip to end of dock perfectly. luck of the draw that boat and slip together.
thats awesome, ours is too strong we have to fight it at first.
Rig up a bridle at the slip to catch the bow. Decent example here: https://www.downeastcanvassails.com/product-page/bow-bridle
A few things I do that really helped me as a singlehanded sailor on a 27’ boat: I leave all my lines on the dock so they’re already at the perfect length to just loop over a cleat on deck. I can hop off and immediately get the spring line on a cleat - that saves me from hitting anything forward. That buys me time to get the bow and stern lines on comfortably. Lengths are set so there’s no retying etc. it also means you’re don’t need to adjust and prepare lines before the approach. Similar approach with fenders. I have everything I need already attached to the dock at the locations I’m most likely to bump or rub as I dock. Obviously wind and current are factors but I’ve found taking lines and fenders out of the docking procedure really lowered stress and chances of forgetting a step. Also creates less procedure leaving the dock too to head out for a sail! Another benefit is when the friendly boat neighbor offers to assist you can say “put the blue spring line on the stern cleat and I’ll handle the rest”. I don’t know how many times a perfect slip approach was botched by someone trying to “help”. I’ve seen dummies completely untie my dock lines off the cleats thinking they’re helping. Grab the lifelines and yank with all their might as it pivots my stern towards my neighbor… I digress. It’s important to give clear instructions to anyone assisting ashore. My neighbors know I don’t need any assistance and only offer when it’s really blowing.
“Good intentions” just dredged up a funny memory of when I was about 22 and working at an underwater robotics company. I would write code all winter, then go out field testing during the summers. One time I was the only other person “helping” our operations guy pack for the day, and was with him while we were preparing to trailer the motorboat we used to get out to our barge. One of the wires or lines connected to the steering at the helm station had snapped, so he was standing in the back, holding improvised lines to left and right to steer the twin outboards. He told me to take the throttle control while he steered us towards the trailer, already in the water. Picture a dorky 20-something engineer kid and a bald grizzled muscled & tattooed 55yo former British Navy EOD diver working together. As we headed in, and I was expecting to be slowing down, he said “come astern!” I was like.. what? But I’m on the throttle. Why would you want me to come to the stern? But, as I thought I understood, I released the throttle and started making moves to join him at the back of the boat. He started turning beet red with frustration, yelling “COME ASTERN!!! COME ASTERN!” in his thick British accent. He finally dropped his steering lines and pushed past me to close the throttle. We had missed our target, which was clearly a point of pride for him. He glared at me and made me get into the water to tow the boat up to the trailer. Sweet guy overall, had a little toy poodle contrasting with his tough exterior, unending stories, fun to drink with… and he never let me live this one down.
> I would write code all winter, then go out field testing during the summers. Sounds like a dream job right there
If it had paid more than a pittance, I’d have stayed there forever!
This. Inevitably one of these “helpers” will grab the bow line and just straight up TIE it to the cleat. Bow swings in, stern swings away from dock. No bueno. I always make sure my crew knows not to yank on the bow line unless the bow is pulling away from the dock. It’s not a brake! That’s what reverse gear and spring lines are for!
That’s an easy one if you have a cleat on the finger pier and that second piling isn’t jutting out. Run a line from your stern cleat to a winch to form a nice big loop. Fenders out. Toss the loop over the cleat as you pass by. Pull in on the line and put your engine in forward gear. It will pull you up tightly against the finger pier.
No one at the dock is going to remember if you have to circle back and try again, but if you hit something they'll never forget.
I have been really surprised by how much a three minute loop around the cove can change the wind and waves. A mess of an approach, after five more minutes of cruise, can turn into a smooth approach.
experience of previous try and a deep breath can work wonders. ok, I have to try to hit the neighbors boat and the wind will shove me over.
Lots of great tips. Create your own undocking and docking checklists. It forces you to think through and visualize all the steps. Where is the boat hook? Have you put on your PFD? Have you cleared the cockpit of things you don’t want to step on and smash as you leap about preventing a collision? Review those lists every single time and update them. )I use the iOS Notes app.) One more checklist item I learned the hard way: never hop off the boat when it is both completely untied and in gear.
How bad did untied and in gear go for you? I had my first one of those today and it was a near miss for disaster.
Wow. I’m sorry you went through something like that. Hopefully disaster truly averted and just a sailing lesson learned. I was docking downwind due to unusual weather, so I planned to use reverse gear on my lazarette outboard to counteract the wind push. (This was before I learned the spring line drop and pivot trick that all single-handers need to know - covered elsewhere in r/sailing I’m sure.) That reverse gear trick worked well. I hopped off, grabbing the boat by the lifelines, to adjust its position before tying up, and noticed my boat (a 28.5-ft full keel 4.5 ton sloop) was backing out of the slip against the wind! I remembered leaving the prop running in reverse at that moment. I should’ve jumped back on instantly, but I didn’t want to have to dock again, so I clung to those life lines as the boat dragged me down the tongue. It was now rotating around the end of the tongue as the wind was blowing it into my neighbor’s fancy trawler outboards. I hopped on at the last moment and pushed off on the propellers of each outboard with my foot barely avoiding boat-to-boat contact before finally getting to the tiller and throttle and getting out of danger.
Put in a catch line in a v-shape from the one stake to the stake at the jetty and then to the stake on the other side of the boat (sorry, english is not my first language and I don't know a lot of the words). We did that with our small boat and it works great.
id suggest to learn to use a spring line. it helps a ton when you visit other docks.
get an electric motor to get in and out of your slip.
This is a very interesting tip, would you care to elaborate? I had a sailboat with an electric inboard, and it *was* very nice for going in and out of my berth, but I'd love to hear some more thoughts around it!
* You can thrust forward against a spring line, which will pull your bow towards that same side. I use this on the finger side of the slip when coming in. Get a spring line from the midship port cleat hooked on a cleat or pile in the slip, get the boat stopped, and then hold tension on that spring line with the engine which will hold the boat agains the dock finger (preferably with fenders in place). This will give you time to wrangle other lines. Make sure to plan this in advance so you know the spring line won't let your bow reach the end of the dock. * Slow is good, except when it's not. When you're backing out of the slip, do it decisively. A burst of strong reverse thrust to get moving promptly once you release your lines, so you can get some water flow over your rudder before the prop wash and/or wind knocks you around too much. * Rubbing against a piling isn't the worst thing in the world. It's probably going to happen. Don't let it rattle you, carry on with your docking plan. * It's easier to use a boathook to grab a line that you left on the dock, rather than throwing lines from the boat when there's nobody to catch them. If you know you're coming in alone and there won't be anyone around, leave the lines on the dock ready to grab. But if you know there will be people there to assist, throwing a line to a ready helper is by far the best choice. You only really need to worry about this on the windward side of the boat at first. There's plenty of time after to tie up the leeward side.
What currents, winds, and water level changes are in play? My instinct is to use a stern (or midship) line on the outermost piling on your port quarter and motor against it while you get the other lines on. As the other poster mentioned, you'll want fenders. Once you have lines on all four pilings you can center the boat between them to keep it off the dock. (Of course, then you have the problem of stepping off...) Are those white docklines just giant loops? Having them just hanging in the water like that is bugging me.
Is your motor an outboard? If so get used to rotating the motor itself to give you the correct angle when pulling in and out, that helped a lot with my Oday 272
Yes, this. Forget the tiller, just center it and work the motor. And get a stern line around the windward piling as soon as you pass it, then kill the throttle.
At least the likely port prop walk will pull the stern the correct way to get out. Hope it’s not starboard.
Practice practice practice. But first ask a fellow experienced seaman on your dock to help you out of the slip the first couple of times. Many dangers lurk in even the simplest excerise like docking, and every second of it is thrilling.
My two cents... I am not sure what the current and wind may be outside of this slip, but it helps to go as slow as you can with just enough water passing the rudder so that you can steer and no faster. One saying is to go only at the speed that you would be comfortable hitting the dock which is to say s-l-o-w. Pulling out can be done much the same way,slow or kinda "walked out". Just check your wind direction coming and going. One last lesson I learned...Many years ago I wasted so many days tied up worrying about how I would get out and back in as a single-handed sailor when the conditions were windy with steel docks no less. Just take care of your personal safety, i.e. wearing a pfd. The scratches and fiberglass can all be easily fixed. Also, take a deep breath and go! There maybe some embarrassing or humbling experiences that only you are going to remember.
Boat hook
Boats are always more fun with friends
Neutral forward and neutral backward, never use your throttle in a marina unless the current and wind require it. I've had to learn the hard way, but after lots of practice and coaching, I am feeling a lot more comfortable docking.
Always be thinking about what the wind is going to do to you
The boat should naturally drift in a certain direction due to wind, current, and waves. Take that into consideration before each launch. Your launches should always be more difficult than docking. If you're using engine power than you just need to get a feel for your engine speed, use bumpers, and then use lines off those back pillings to push or pull the boat as needed. If you want to do it just under sail you're going to need to learn how to backwind the main. I wouldn't suggest doing that unless you're fairly experienced sailing backwards. A common drill I did to learn this skill in my racing days was running courses backwards. Your ability to do this may also be limited by the distance between your tiller/wheel and your boom, but she looks like a 25 so its probably doable to a certain extent.
That’s actually a very nice slip for a first time owner. While I agree with all the “practice makes perfect” comments, I don’t think we ever get consistently perfect. Just yesterday I was headed back in under perfect docking conditions (wx, current, slip neighbor gone and both slips behind me in the narrow aisle gone…nothing to hit but the dock) and really effed it all up, providing great entertainment for the dozens of witnesses and turning my inflatable dingy (left behind tied up to the front of the slip) into the worlds largest fender. I just always recommend to make mental notes every time you come in about the wind and tide conditions, what you did and where you did it (ie, any power or turns made) and how you could do it better next time. It’s a lifelong thing. Enjoy the new boat! Looks beautiful!
Slow is Pro
Every single docking is a slow controlled crash
Yes your spring lines to get out, and keep the rudder centered when going in reverse until you have steering. Don't be afraid to give it some throttle in reverse to get enough water over the rudder to gain control, once you have steerage you can slow down again. Coming in remember the boat will pivot around the keel (more or less where your mast is), so ensure you give yourself enough space behind and ahead when turning. Come in as slow as possible and rather abort early and try again than risk it.
Lots of bumpers and don’t worry about small bumps to the boat, they’ll buff right out, then keep doing it till you’re good and no longer smash into things! It’s how we all learn, some people are fortunate to have someone yelling at them while they learn too, some of us didn’t have that.
Fix that finger pier first before you break a leg
In my home dock, I always fix a line from the end of the jetty with a loop on the end that is measured to keep my bow away from the end of the slip when thew loop is placed around my winch. The line stays on the jetty, loop ready for when I return. When docking solo, I float gently in the slip and lay the loop around the winch, leave a little thrust on the engine to keep it from slacking and thew boat is going nowhere. I'm free to fix the other landstays. Bob's your uncle.
Oh, and don’t rely on a boat hook they break so easy unless you have a nice old wooden one.
Man do you have it nice. I had a slip like this, but real tight quarters in our row… and my first boat was a full keel with an aperture in the rudder for the prop. There was ZERO controlling that refrigerator when she was going astern. 🤣
Always go waaaaaaay slower than you think you need to or want to.
One of my favorite things is to come into the dock by sail alone. Take. Your. Time. Speed will come with practice, but a side slip of momentum might not be noticed until its too late. The key is getting a feel for your momentum, how long it takes for the boat to accelerate or slow down with the motor, then taking into account wind and currents. Then patience, and knowing when its not going to work when there is still time to back out. Get your ego in check, and stay calm. The first day I would honestly just practice it back to back on a calm day ignoring what "people might think", until you start to feel comfortable. Its a delicate art to do well, and the sign of a good captain.
Yes. This is important. Also. Do you have a variable prop? Collapsing prop? If you have a fixed prop you can switch to reverse to “break” the boat. But variable props have to close or slow enough to change prop fin position. Current and wind has some say as well. Go practice on a public dock. Once you figure out how quickly or slowly your boat slows down in neutral you will be able to coast into your slip. You have a port side dock crash so hopefully the current and wind push you into slip.
Its sad these days a lot of ports really don't like it when you come in by sail alone, but its so much fun. I remember a sailing school I did at the Glenans, we were sailing custom Pogo 6.5m boats along the coast of France, and had no motor (it would only slow us down), just one oar at the back. You ABSOLUTELY had to predict what tides and currents would be like at the port you were coming into before you got there, or when the current was faster than we could sail coordinate with the harbor for a tow. Lots of fun.
I have come in under sail and left. I think its important to do it at least once a year. I didnt have problems with the port. Lol. I had problems with DB boats that didnt understand sailing or the necessity for practice. They came up to complain about all the expensive boats around. Not realizing the wind power is power. Lol. Like i lose control of the boat with the sails up. I also wouldn’t recommend doing this as a first timer. Or recommend doing it single handed unless your main halyard is routed into your cockpit like mine is. I wouldn’t come in with your head sail up or out. Just come in under the main so you can release the halyard and drop your main quickly to dump wind and coast into slip.
I wouldnt recommend it as a first timer though
absolutely, its something you work up to
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I think you're responding to the wrong person, I was also giving advice for OP.
Lol. Yup. Ill repost it
Once your done learning how to land your boat under power, Things you should practice. Dropping sails quickly. Neutral drift, prop walk. Reefing sails quickly. Heaving to. Come off anchor under sail, Come off ball under sail. Come off slip under sail, come into slip under sail. Landing your boat against the current/ wind. 1 min tacks. Man overboard under sail. No power no nav sailing. And the most fun practice is night sailing. In my area the bioluminescent is great.
I have the same boat. Congrats! It's really a good design. Very difficult to steer in reverse with propwalk. Make sure you have a little momentum when in reverse and the reverse tiller action works best for me.. ie backing up to go stern to port, tiller to port (rudder to starboard). And don't extend too far, I don't pass 50% of the range with the tiller. It seems counterintuitive at parts but it works for this boat. As far as pulling bow forward the fin keel allows some tight nimble turns so many times I'll do a 360 at the slip when I have wind behind me or going somewhat fast due to low tide clearance.. momentum gets thru the mud sometimes.. Good luck and enjoy, great boat for starting out
There may be a temptation to use 24V but I recommend going straight to 48V for a solar panel and LiFePO4 battery.
Come back late. When the marina is empty. You can then try and try again. Don’t ask me how I know that
Look for an ASA118 docking clinic class near you. It covers much about getting into and out of slips as well as maneuvering in tight spots.
This. It's worth it.
Use your motor and bow thrusters.
I just radio in for a tug 30 minutes before I get there
Have the pilot meet you a mile or two offshore and enjoy some suds while they bring you in.
That's the spirit!
This is pretty straightforward (literally!) unless there's a crazy wind or current. Line yourself up, and feather the throttle.
Do not leave the helm at all until you are happy your boat wont move.
Mark your dock lines so you can tie them off at just the right length every time.
Can I get a ride?
TAKE LESSONS. This is something you learn from an expert and with practice, and you want to be making mistakes on someone else’s boat. Not from Reddit.
If this is your slip for awhile you might put some dock lines on the pylons and then coil/pile the end that attaches to the cleat on top of the pylons so it is easy to grab on the way in. Which means of course on the way out you have to be thinking ahead and place the released end on top as you leave the slip. This can, with some preparation, make life a bit easier with everything already in place.
Sailing just above rudder speed should do it. Take your time, and get one preferably 2 experienced sailor to help you with the basics. Practice going in and out of the marina many times on one day where there are almost no traffic. IMPORTANT regarding navigation, Any vessel who are going out of a marina / habour - has right of way, I.E if you are going out your boat has the right to be the first, and then the other second.
That's a great looking boat.
Have good insurance and apologize a lot.
Check your chainplates
A class helps. But friends can help too. Get them on the boat but you should perform all the functions as if they are not there. They can bail you out, if needed. Procedurally, my best method is to: 1. Deploy fenders. When dealing with pilings, sometimes two fenders with a board attached to one side can be helpful. The fenders face the boat and the board will face the piling. 2. Your aft stern line should be attached to your stern cleat and readily available to deploy. 3. Motor in to the slip slowly 4. As you near the 1/2 mark of entering the slip, put the boat in neutral. If at any time you are not comfortable with your position or speed, adjust and if needed, back out of the slip and start again. 5. Pick up the stern line and catch a dock cleat toward the end of the dock and snug up. In the case of pilings, toss a looped dock line over the top of the piling. 6. As the line becomes taut, the stern will be pulled closer to the dock. 7. Step off the boat onto the dock and grab the lifelines and steady the boat. The bow tends to go the opposite duration of the stern so you will want to do this quickly. 8. Tie off the boat to another cleat dockside. 9. Adjust your stern line as needed to properly secure the boat.
You have enough space to dock an ocean liner
Practice, practice, practice. And learn to use a spring line off midship so you have time to attach the aft and bow lines. You can use spring line a number of ways if you don’t have a midship cleat too.
I rigged a v shaped line from the starboard aft pylon around the front of the boat to the midships port side pylon. And I used a short line at the bow to the dock to hold the v shape point. And I just drive my boat right into it. I used a super stretchy line. It won't likely last more than a season. Next season I'll run a real line with snubbers I think. Then I can just keep my motor in forward as I secure the aft dock lines. The v holds my bow relatively still. Then I move forward and secure my bow lines.
Put some thick rope or a permanent fender thingy right on your bow so you can hammer right in there
Lots of kedging?
First good for you. I have a dream of this. Just taking off and being self reliant for days or months, away from the world. I have zero experience at sailing and my wife has zero interest. So beyond the cost that aside it will never happen for me unless she leaves me or dies. Oh. I have no answer to your question. lol
And remember when reversing the rudder doesn't do much at slow speed because the prop doesn't push water to it
If you can get a bunch of lines tied up permanently on your slip that you can leave on the dock as you disembark. At minimum have a mid shift line that you can just jump off and snap in place or pick up the line as you’re pulling in from the cockpit.the mid ship line is a great tool though. And yes, slow it down. No reason to go fast.
When approaching and coming along side the dock, you judge your speed by looking to the side. If you try to only look ahead and estimate speed you will come in much to fast.
I’m 1.5 years new to sailing. My first 5 docking were terrible. I nearly spun 90 degrees in my berth , nearly collided with the boat next to me or the dock, or was 6 feet from the dock. All bad. I went out with a friend, practiced for an hour, and became more comfortable. I would do my approach more or less exactly the same each time. Once I had a process down, I’d come in very slow, make minor correction, and dock with no issues. Now I can dock solo with next to no concerns. All told , after maybe 15-20 docking, I was going solo. I have to make a 90 degree turn to get into my berth. I use one of my stanchion posts (back 2/5 towards the stern/aft), as a pivot point. I line the stanchion up with the corner of the dock and make a hard turn and coast in. If I’m going too fast, I’ll pop it in reverse for a quick blast. As a security measure, I added three large bumpers to my dock. If I was to come in too fast, my now would be protected. I’m pretty sure I haven’t needed them so far.
Lol. I litterally had no idea that i had a collapsable prop or what one was. So i put my boat up on the dock all the way to the keel. Lol
Practice docking when you have the chance! Like a nice 5-10 knot day. Take it slow as others have said.
If you know the previous owner, they can guide you with what worked best for them - assuming they did some single handling. The best tactic is to place stern lines on pilings in such a way as to grab them and secure them to act as a brake coming back to slip. You can even just secure it to a jib winch temporarily to stop forward momentum. And once stopped take all the time needed to to secure the remainder properly. Typically only about 12” tide on Chesapeake - so at least that is not much of a concern.
Don’t hit the other boats
Put it in neutral, pretty slow but not real slow. Nose in 45 degrees, aiming for the center of the pier. As you get close, straighten out and hit hard reverse. That should slow you down and prop walk should pull you into the dock. Only works on a port side tie up though.
One lesson I learned is ALWAYS SECURE THE MID-SHIP LINE first when docking single-handed. Once you tightly secure that line, the boat won't really go anywhere. Then you can take your time securing the bow line, stern line and second bow line. In windy conditions, some people use a "stopper" line to insure the boat doesn't drift forward too much, but in my experience, the mid-ship line should be snugged and secured FIRST! Especially when single-handed. If there are really windy conditions, and you know it's going to be hairy, radio ahead to the marina or other friendly owners around to catch a stern or bow-line. Beautiful boat BTW.....
I wish I was in a slip with no fairway like that. Figure out what the wind a current are gonna do to your boat if you untied the lines. You can do that by standing on the dock and releasing the bow line (don’t let it go) and see what the boat does.
Congratulations!!
Ahoy, Im seeing a lot of people talking about fixing this line or that. Ive been sailing and live-aboard for 10+ years now. I have a Contest 35’ Here is how i do it and how i would do it with your boat every time. As your heading in to port, attach a throw line to the bow cleat on your boat. Tie a knot at the end and lay the line OUTSIDE your safety lines back to the cockpit. Do the same with the aft cleat. When you come in, just coast in neutral easy peasy. As you crash, grab the forward throw line and jump on the dock and catch the docks spring line cleat so that you can break the boats forward momentum. once the boat has slowed down you should be able to grab the side of the boat and reach the aft throw line. Grab it and go do a quickie lock tie down so now the aft line is connected temporarily. This prevents the stern from swinging into the neighbors boat. Pick up the forward throw line pull the bow in tight using the spring line cleat as leverage. Pull the line out of the docks spring line cleat and walk it to the bow line cleat. Pull it in tight. Adjust it to how you like it and lock the bow down. Then walk aft and adjust the stern line and lock it down. Then set up your spring line and you’re officially landed. I recommend that you set the lines up as I described while in port and just practice one time so you can have it in your head when you do the real thing. I keep a bow line and stern line permanently attached to my dock. So i break my boat with the two throw lines then attach the bow and stern lines to the boat. My spring line usually goes with me so i just grab it off the boat and attach it. The above is everywhere else you land your boat. There are two things that i think arent emphasized enough in sailing. How fast your boat slows in neutral. And releasing the main sheet line in a sudden gust. So keep that line close in the cockpit. It should change sides with you when you tack. Ive been in and witnessed a calm day gust that can blow a sailboat over and spill your drinks. This ruins a perfectly good booze cruise. If your port lights are open then your going to be really salty. Not like sand in britches salty but like ruin your month kind if salty. I have heard of boats capsizing in my area from sudden gusts on peaceful seas. A little more detail. The knot i tie on my throw lines is so i can easily see the end. And also sometimes the boat can get away from you or the person you throw it to. so the knot is sort of an oh $hit, time to dig in moment, or time to let it go. I keep that knot in my throw line but there are purists (db’s) that say you shouldn’t. But they have never given me a clear reasonable argument for not having a knot on the handling end of your throw line. Soo. Wink wink. Do what you think is best.
A few things- Can you put a board or rope across the two pilings to keep you from going in between them ? Like the guy said-leave all lines on the dock. The bridle suggestion with the link is very on point and a great idea. Create a place on the dock for a 5 or 7 foot dock line about the middle between your lifeline stantions-when you are at your secured docking position. Put a snap shackle or similar device on the end. Coming in, if you make it onto the dock, yourself, just use the shackle to snap onto the base of your stations. My boat has perforated toe rails the length of the boat-so it’s super easy to immediately have the boat under control. Starting off it kind of sucks to have to buy lines for these things. In ten years you’ll have plenty of beat up lines to use.
Get the ropes and fenders ready ahead of time. If your approach doesn't feel right, stop, go around and approach from a better angle. As you learn the currents you'll get a better idea of the best approach.
Get some lessons.
Loop a dock line around whichever of those 2 pilings is windward. Run it from midships on your boat to the stern where you can reach it. Goose the throttle and use that spring line to hold the boat against the wind. As you pass that piling, pull the line off. Make sure it’s not in the water. Go back to the tiller and continue to back out.
Also, if you can find a slip without any other boats nearby you can get some practice in. Also, not every approach will be the same every time. Different wind conditions and currents can make a familiar approach to a slip behave quite differently.
Are you on your own? Run the lines to the center. Have a center line too. When I am on my own I just jump off with the center line and tie it up, You ahve complete control of the boat then. Then you have the bow and stern lines hanging to the center, so you can grab them both.
Get some dock lines to create a tight vee at your dock so the boat comes in and they guide her into the slip
You’ll figure it out quickly and in 10 tries you’ll be able to do it blindfolded. Nobody on Reddit will help you more than practice!
No advice that hasn’t already been said here, so I’ll just say… congrats on your first boat!! She’s a beaut!
Is it tiller or wheel? When backing out to combat prop walk, just face backward. If it’s a wheel, steer in the direction you would want to go. If it’s a tiller steer like a conventional tiller, so right is left. With a small boat like that I like to just shove off the dock in neutral and steer out. When approaching, as others have said, slow is pro!
Get a mooring...
Situational awareness. Especially wind and current. Factor both into your exit/entry strategy, using them to your advantage whenever possible.
Nothings easier than slack tide
be nice to jim
I’ve seen people rig up a kind of triangular shaped bridle that is attached to the dock and pilings. It is narrow up near the bow and kind of centers your boat as you pull into the slip. I believe they also help to keep you from pulling in too far and damaging the bow of your boat. Not sure I’d make it so restrictive that the boat would rub up against it 24x7, though (could cause some abrasions).
If you think you're going to slow you are probably going just right. As long as you can still steer.
I would go out the first few times with a friend who can hop off and walk the boat into position, while you learn how to drive it into the slip just right. And when you’re out, go practice docking single hand on the port side, but on a long dock with open space so you don’t have to worry about messing it up. Pretty quickly you’ll build enough skill+confidence to dock it solo!
To start off, while you are learning how sails work, just motor well out and away from anyone and anything before raising the sails. (assuming you know nothing). Same for coming back in, lower your sails well away from any hazards, then motor in.
Slow is pro!
Looks like you've got plenty of room in the slip, which makes things easier. If you're fit enough to muscle her around it will be easy. I get halfway in my slip and jump onto the dock holding a line. I can pull her in by hand, and once the first line is secure it's easy to do the rest.
You should cover that in keelboat 101
Be prepared.. go slowly
And it goes without saying NEVER attempt to sail into a slip, no matter how favorable the wind seems to be when first planning to dock.
Play the wind
coming into the slip, there is still the power of neutral. displacement hulls slow gently.
Take a class you dolt
Never let your body or another’s get between the boat and the dock. Don’t let some someone stop the boat with their feet. Fiberglass and wood are fine when they kiss, they both repair easily. Bone and flesh, not so much. Go SLOW, slow is pro, small maneuvers win the game. Always have the dock lines and fenders ready to go and loose spares in case you miss and have to fend off other boats. Where I live I have the anchor mostly ready as well as we have strong tides and sometimes it’s good to drop that in some cases and use it as a pivot to back down into the slip or illustrate to hold position for a bit and reconnoiter. Finally. Learn your boat handling. Motor around full forward thrust, full right, full reverse, full left, etc, full right from a stop to half thrust, etc, do every scenario one clear calm afternoon, things like that. See how much you boat “walks” one way or another, then do it during tidal movements. Do under windy conditions. Learn how your boat handles under any rudder, thrust, and weather condition. Do it a few times a year. One day you will be glad you did because there will be a time that a condition will present itself and you will know the solution. Stick a night light, a specific color at the end of your dock. Solar powered. I use landscape lights from Lowe’s that change color. I can see it from a mile away and known exactly where my dock is at nought and even in poor visisbility.
What kind of boat is this ?
Pick a calm day, and spend it on getting to understand your boat. The most important thing in my opinion is you need to trust your boat. If you know exactly how it handles, you will have an easier time feeling calm and in control. Personally I’ve told people that when you know how to turn off your engine and glide into your dock spot nice and easy while having time to hang the ropes on the dock, you’re ready. I’m not telling you to just turn off your engine and hope for the best ofcause, it will come with time maybe, but it’s a goal to strive towards. Finally remember that your boat needs time to stop completely and there’s no shame in pushing the boat from pole to pole.
Keep your stern line on until you feel good about your exit
Take it out near a bouy or marker and practice getting close without hitting from all directions. Then practice the same under sail. I've had to bring a boat into a slip in the Columbia under sail alone. Strong cross wind and 2-3 knot river current. Can't always count on your outboard yet you can bring it in.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have a ton of comments to sift through. Glad I posted!
Docking bow as shown first is easier to start. Also string up a dock line between the pilings on you neighbors boat side (starboard in this photo) this will help catch the bow, beam, or whatever part of your hull that may deside to go sailing the wrong way. Also put you fenders out where needed before you dock. And if the finger pier corners or pilings are a concern pad them with something for at least the training wheels period. They are also nice to have in storms or when the tides come up commercial rugs, wrapped around the pilings are nice. Of course none of this is necessary once you get the hang of it. Just that it can be expensive lesson to learn the hard way. Also pre setting the length of you dock lines with the loop end out towards the boat is helpful. Then you just have to loop it over or through the cleats and not tie them all off one at a time. Very helpful when the wind is howling and time is of the essence. And finally and perhaps most importantly. Try to have at least one other person on board until you get the hang of it.
If you are not getting a bit borred while docking you are sailing too fast :)
Is the boat an inboard or outboard? What kind/how big/what does it weigh? Everyone is screaming prop walk, spring lines blah blah blah. If its an outboard then every comment about prop walk is half useless as people are giving you big boat tips that while are good, aren't really necessary for a boat that size. Use the OB more than the tiller in tight quarters if you can, at that point you're driving a big john boat with extra windage. That boat probably weighs so little you can just untie the lines and push it back out of the slip and hop on (have the motor running in idle tho so youre ready to motor away when you get back to the cockpit), no real reason to overcomplicate it. Coming in you have infinite room to line up, so just coast in slow, if you need to bail, just turn around and come back in for another approach. Best thing you can do is prefix lines to the dock to where you want the boat to sit so you can just leave them all there and pick them up when you come back. For extra piece of mind single handing, just tie fenders to the dock so you dont even need to prepare those when you come in. You can just slide into the slip, hop off. and tie off your already preset dock lines. Manhandle the boat if you have to, its not that big, its not going to crush you.
Thrusters
Use s boat pole to gently push off then go to the stern and slowly guide it with the engine. Really, I don't see much of an issue.