Side tie vs traditional slip

[mdolesh]

We are looking at new marinas for next year and one that we are considering has two slips for even money. One is a t-head shared with another boat and one is a conventional slip with a small finger pier. Any pro's or con's to the t-head and side tie up?

 

[Blueone]

Both have good and bad points.
I side tied for 3 years in the pic. Lots of room forward and aft in my case so no problem getting in in an opposing wind. If you do get a wind blowing you against the dock…. It’s not ideal with noise… I tried a few different post mounted fenders before stopping that. Your neighbor interaction is minimized… typically wide dock.

With a traditional dock and like you said a short pier you have direct interaction with the neighbor sharing a narrow dock. And aft parking… I hate afternoon sun so that right there is a deal breaker plus no view
Although you can suspend the boat in the slip so no touching the sides if you can four point …. This is a big positive for me. In the end what ever you pick if you don’t like it you can move

 

[Pirate Lady]

I am trying to move to same situation. When you say side tie are you at the outside of the T pier. Follow me. If outside and can only tie one side of boat how will you deal with tides? If inside then never mind because you will have a port bow piling to tie to (when stern in).
I am on a finger pier slip trying to move to inside slip along the t pier.
Easier to get off on. I can wash the whole side of boat then turn it around and wash the whole other side. If high winds when coming in I can bow in and still get off boat. And rather than dealing with boats bows I need to avoid going in and out, it’s an easy pull in out slip cause then I would be at end of pier,
In picture i am currently 3rd slip (empty) in bottom of pic. Want to move to empty slip at top along t pier inside. These are primo in any marina.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

I would not like a slip like @Blueone pictured. No way would I want staring at the bow of my neighbor right behind my swim platform.

 

[Blueone]

I would not like a slip like @Blueone pictured. No way would I want staring at the bow of my neighbor right behind my swim platform.

Think about looking across the dock 6’ away at your neighbors calling each other bad names…. Or cranking tunes…. Or partying and pissing off the swim platform at night.
That boat behind me was a gap of 10-15’
Like I said good and bad for both and all boils down to your neighbors and your tolerance

 

[mdolesh]

Here is the slip. I could face either way.

 

[Blueone]

View attachment 116810
Here is the slip. I could face either way.

Well then there is the walk…. And dealing with all the stuff you cart
In my marina last year those end T’s were highly desirable….. long waiting list.
Ease of getting in and out is perfect. If you have a dinghy or a visitor they can raft off….. I would do that slip in a second

 

[boatman37]

We are in a finger slip on a river just off the Ohio River. When we get high waters with strong current we get a bunch of debris up against the side of our boat. Not a huge issue but if you are in a river might want to think about the current. For that reason I prefer to be out on C dock parallel to the river but like was said it is nice having boats next to you to socialize with rather than staring at someones anchor while sitting in your boat.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Dole. You down the road from me. At end of t pier how you gonna deal with tides with only a 2 point tie? Need a 4 point tie to allow for tides. 5 with spring line.

 

[sbw1]

It is tough to beat a four way tie while sprung fore and aft. Some of our worst nights in transient slips have been wall tie ups with a wind blowing the boat against a squeaky fender. That is a recipe for no sleep.

 

[Mark.60]

Think about looking across the dock 6’ away at your neighbors calling each other bad names…. Or cranking tunes…. Or partying and pissing off the swim platform at night.
That boat behind me was a gap of 10-15’
Like I said good and bad for both and all boils down to your neighbors and your tolerance

Blue, are you complaining about me again?

 

[Blueone]

Blue, are you complaining about me again?

Lol….. I am always so afraid of that…. I know a lot of my boat neighbors are on here but never post….
I had a Bad day at work today….3 beers and a vodka it’s going to come out…. I can’t help myself

 

[Skybolt]

I would take a T-Head all day long for a couple of reasons, providing it's not in the way of boat traffic.

1. And most important to me is easy launch of the dinghy. And can possibly be left in water for weekend.
2. Able to clean side(s) of boat with said dinghy - very easily.
3. only one side of neighbors.

I would be in heaven with the right T-Head.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Sky, how would you deal with our tides on a 2 point side tie? I’ve done it for a day or night as a transient (no sleep as said) but can’t imagine as a perm slip.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Gnite. Got go.

 

[techmitch]

I would take a T-Head all day long for a couple of reasons, providing it's not in the way of boat traffic.

1. And most important to me is easy launch of the dinghy. And can possibly be left in water for weekend.
2. Able to clean side(s) of boat with said dinghy - very easily.
3. only one side of neighbors.

I would be in heaven with the right T-Head.

Also, when you're on the T-head, you are the traffic, and have the longest walk.
But you get to see @Blueone 's and his neighbors show. Lol

 

[Jaybeaux]

I will give a +1 to what Blueone and Skybolt said. A T-head is great because you can generally get to the entire side of the boat and you can spin the boat. This was helpful for cleaning/waxing and especially winterizing the ACs by backflushing the AC lines. Parallel parking on a T-head is a good skill to have. Backing into a traditional slip is very simple. I was on a T-Head for 4 years and only moved due to boat traffic and fishermen.....my boat was getting dinged up.

At the end of the day, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Jaybeaux

 

[Skybolt]

Sky, how would you deal with our tides on a 2 point side tie? I’ve done it for a day or night as a transient (no sleep as said) but can’t imagine as a perm slip.

Would be a 4 point but bow to dock, stern from outside cleat diagonal to dock and spring lines in both directions, or stern dock to mid-ship cleat to bow dock spring. It would depend on any currents and traffic but either would be fine. I pretty much tie that way now, except the stern is crossed. But nothing off of the opposite bow piling.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

Think about looking across the dock 6’ away at your neighbors calling each other bad names…. Or cranking tunes…. Or partying and pissing off the swim platform at night.
That boat behind me was a gap of 10-15’
Like I said good and bad for both and all boils down to your neighbors and your tolerance

I actually hung around the slip for a couple of weeks seeing what was going on before I bought. I was in Belle Maer 30 years ago and was an original dockominium owner there. Moved away and once back I was determined to get back there. Spoiled being able to park at the slip, place for a picnic table and grill, shade tree and grass for the dog. All pluses for me. I'll be looking at my picnic table, grass and the back of the truck and my golf cart when in the back. One well is being rented near me. The rest are all owner occupied. A nice low-key group. I tried to make sure I wasn't going to be amongst a bunch of party animals. Too old for that crap.

 

[Espos4]

Do they make the fiberglass “whips” for a boat your size?

I’ve had good luck with my set up. Keeps it off the dock through the 1-2’ tide change that we get.