It all sounds good Chuck.

How do you like pulling into a finger when the wind is blowing 10-15
broadside off the finger, and then sometimes to complicate it all there is
another boat tied up to leeward on an adjoining finger so you have very
little room for error.   Docking under windy conditions is the real test;
anyone can do it with a little practice and some good planning under calm
conditions.  So I prefer calm conditions or docking into a straight
headwind.I have a 3 blade autoprop that has good forward and reverse power
but which sometimes hesitates to engage just when I need it most while
docking and that requires a shot on the throttle to fix, but I have very
little room to do a shot on the throttle.still no accidents so far but
mostly I sail off a mooring, guess maybe that is a reason that I am getting
very little practice nowadays

 

  _____  

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Chuck S
Sent: January 3, 2014 7:01 PM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Subject: Re: Stus-List single handing

 

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

  _____  

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
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