docking

[keets]

Well it's time to secure our dock space for this summer. Last year we backed into our slip. The wind almost always blows down river but sometimes we get a strong wind from the south blowing up river. So most time the breeze and current worked in our favor pushng us toward the dock while backing up (our walkway was down river). Then there were the days that we had a stong wind up river and strong current down river which made it interesting. So now to my question, in these conditions when going out by myself would I be better off backing into a dock or parallel parking? I have a 260 da 6.2l. I want to be able to go out on my own and dock by myself this summer. thanks, keets

 

[Nehalennia]

Well it's time to secure our dock space for this summer. Last year we backed into our slip. The wind almost always blows down river but sometimes we get a strong wind from the south blowing up river. So most time the breeze and current worked in our favor pushng us toward the dock while backing up (our walkway was down river). Then there were the days that we had a stong wind up river and strong current down river which made it interesting. So now to my question, in these conditions when going out by myself would I be better off backing into a dock or parallel parking? I have a 260 da 6.2l. I want to be able to go out on my own and dock by myself this summer. thanks, keets

Nose into the wind is typically the easiest, if that's a possibility

 

[RiverRat]

On those "interesting" days why not just pull strait in to your dock?

 

[keets]

Parallel parking will put my nose up river and into the wind most of the time. Our slips are short. We would have to jump off the front of our boat down to the dock. I think I am going to go for the parallel parking. I want the best way to dock when alone.

 

[comsnark]

Yeah, whenever I get a stiff breeze on my stern when docking, I forgo normal docking and go in the "upstream" direction -> I just break out the transient lines before I do it since the dock lines I leave behind when I go up are not setup for "reverse docking".

It is not too hard to rotate a 26' boat from the dock using 30' lines once the crew has disembarked.

 

[drob]

I pulled into my dock all the time, also a 260. The tide came in from the stern and out by the bow. The wind always blew from behind me. (Buzzards Bay-Southwest wind after 1PM). I had the spring line right at the wheel so I just opened the curtain and grabbed the rope and tied it on enough, so I could go get the other lines. I was able to do this by myself. Try to get a slip with the dock on the starboard side.

 

[Pirate]

IMO, if you are that worried about docking, do it repeatedly until you're not. :smt001

 

[keets]

No, not really worried . 1st Boat. I spent a few days docking , then pulling back out, then docking again hours on end, people on shore thought I was nuts. I got it down pretty good. Just looking for ideas on docking by myself say when the wind kicks up to 25mph or so. Backing in the boat, the bow really gets pushed around when the wind gust over 25 With the current going one way and the wind blowing the other way I was just wondering if it is easier to dock parallel or backing in when out on the boat alone with no one on the dock to help is all. I take the boat out by myself alot and have no trouble docking except in high winds. Thanks for all the replies so far. I found some helpful tips. Keets