Tom, I agree. Docking is the hardest thing to do singlehanded. I have learned a few tips trial and error. Tips for leaving a slip singlehanded bow in 1) Always warm up the engine before leaving the slip to prevent a stall at a critical moment. cause you can always rig a line to hold you tight, and afetr the engine is warmed upundo all the docklines and then 2) cast off slack lines before other lines under load 3) I rig a separate "getaway" line to hold me tight to the float as I take the last dockline off. It depends on wind direction. If wind is pushing the boat against the float, I rig the line to a stern cleat to keep the boat parallel to the float and find she will sit there fine. If the wind is blowing the boat away from the float, I rig the line from the toerail midships but forward of a float cleat, around the cleat and back aboard to a winch near the wheel. I set up a triangle and keep the boat tight against the fenders, against the float. Engine warmed up and everything ready to go, I check traffic and untie one end of the line, pull it abaord, and back out of the slip.
Returning to the slip, bow in: 1) Before approaching the slip, I have all my fenders tied on to the appropriate side and adjusted for height, I rig a long bowline (boatlength plus 5 ft) to a bow cleat, and coil it up and hang the coil on the stanchion forward of the gate. I rig a stern line (beam plus 5 ft) to a stern cleat on the float side and run it outside the lifelines, flick it over so it lays on deck and coil the tail to hang on the stanchion aft of the gate. This presents a ten foot coil on each side of the gate. I then rig a third line of a contrasting color (mine is green 3/4" StaSet and about 15 ft long) to the midship cleat and coil it on deck in that area with the loop on top of the toe rail. Last, I open the side gate. 2) I approach the slip at a good angle, 30 degrees and as slow as possible. I shift into neutral for the most of the last 6 boatlengths and add a spurt of power in forward or reverse as needed. I turn into my slip as late as possible so side momentum keeps the boat moving toward the float and the fenders kiss the dock after I give a short burst of reverse to slow the boat, and stop in the slip. I then step into the open gate and flick the two lines over the lifelines and step onto the float with control of bow and stern. If my approach is off, I can step onto the float and grab the midline which I'll wrap tight around a cleat mid float, stopping the boat. If you can get this line tight, so the fenders area squeezed between boat and float, the bow and stern can't swing and you can relax in tying up the other lines. Also, I suggest to dockside helpers, to grab the green line if they want to help, and ask them to wrap it tight around the cleat in middle of the float. If they pull it too tight, the fenders protect the hull very well. After the boat is secure, I cut the engine and rig my usual docklines and stow the other three lines below. I look forward to more ideas from the list. Chuck Resolute 1990 C&C 34R Atlantic City, NJ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom B" <t...@sv-alera.com> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Sent: Friday, January 3, 2014 10:14:02 AM Subject: Stus-List single handing I have not yet got around to single handing Alera. My main concern is not handling the boat, it's docking her. Any suggestions on that? Tom Buscaglia Alera 1990 C&C 37+/40 Vashon WA _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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