douglee25
Well-Known Member
Last weekend in DFW, I decided to do the maintenance and take the boat out afterwards for a quick test. My son was itching to take the helm but the wind was definitely whipping. I checked the weather app and it said 34 mph+ but out of the NW. Usually even when the wind is great in the DFW area, it drops quickly and you'll have pockets of opportunities to get back in.
So we head out, do the test, come back in and I waited before heading down the fairway to see how the boat reacted. I thought to myself I probably should have stayed in. I'm the third slip to the end of the gangway, so when the winds are out of the NW, it doesn't give me any room to back into the wind because my bow would technically be over top of the gangway, and it pushes you right towards the dock fingers. It's really difficult to say the least. When the wind is out of the SE in the dead of the summer (almost always), there is no problem.
I proceed down the fairway and try to get as reasonably close to the gangway and begin backing and pivoting all at the same time. The winds started getting ahold of the bow and I had to abort. To turn the boat required 75% throttle. Literally hold the f on or we're not getting out of here without some damage! I turn around and go back out to the end of the fairway to wait a few minutes. Wind wasn't dying down unfortunately. Several dockhands heard me maneuvering and decided to lay a fender down on the corner of my dock. I tried again and aborted. Tried a third time and aborted. The dockhand said don't bother... Just way too windy. He offered to let me tie up at the fuel dock since it was late in the day.
Pride aside, I decided to give up and take the easy way out.
I went back to the slip and just stood there analyzing the situation. My son said, "Dad what are you looking at?". I just stood and stared to see if there was any way feasible to get back in. I came to the conclusion there wasn't given the conditions at that moment, so I'm glad I took the guy's suggestion.
Ever have that happen to you?
Edit - Here's a pic showing the issue when the wind is from the NW. I really need to start backing from past that gangway which just isn't feasible.
So we head out, do the test, come back in and I waited before heading down the fairway to see how the boat reacted. I thought to myself I probably should have stayed in. I'm the third slip to the end of the gangway, so when the winds are out of the NW, it doesn't give me any room to back into the wind because my bow would technically be over top of the gangway, and it pushes you right towards the dock fingers. It's really difficult to say the least. When the wind is out of the SE in the dead of the summer (almost always), there is no problem.
I proceed down the fairway and try to get as reasonably close to the gangway and begin backing and pivoting all at the same time. The winds started getting ahold of the bow and I had to abort. To turn the boat required 75% throttle. Literally hold the f on or we're not getting out of here without some damage! I turn around and go back out to the end of the fairway to wait a few minutes. Wind wasn't dying down unfortunately. Several dockhands heard me maneuvering and decided to lay a fender down on the corner of my dock. I tried again and aborted. Tried a third time and aborted. The dockhand said don't bother... Just way too windy. He offered to let me tie up at the fuel dock since it was late in the day.
Pride aside, I decided to give up and take the easy way out.
I went back to the slip and just stood there analyzing the situation. My son said, "Dad what are you looking at?". I just stood and stared to see if there was any way feasible to get back in. I came to the conclusion there wasn't given the conditions at that moment, so I'm glad I took the guy's suggestion.
Ever have that happen to you?
Edit - Here's a pic showing the issue when the wind is from the NW. I really need to start backing from past that gangway which just isn't feasible.
