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Ok, here is a question for all you "skilled" boaters.....
I have had my boat 3 years now and I am getting more and more confident with everything. I keep my boat in a slip that I back into! So far, no bumps or bruises
I want to know, with pictures if possible, the best way to go off on your own and dock on your own. In other words, what lines do you untie first, leave at the dock, etc, etc.....
Give me your step by step procedures.....
BTW, I got used to the trailer thing really fast so I know I can learn!!
__________________ "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
I use 3 ropes, front, back and center on one side.
I start my emgines, then untie the the front and back line from the cleat on the dock and throw them on board. I get on board, then untie the middle one and throw it on the dock. and leave.
Coming in, I park it in neutral, grab the center line off the dock with my gaff and tie it to the post on the rail, and drop my fenders.
Then I turn her off, jump, or more like waddle off the boat, and tie the front and back lines to the dock cleats.
The center line really helps when I am alone.
my boat has three essential lines on the dock.
1) The spring line to the rear port cleat (protects the stern from hitting the dock.)
2) the two criscross stern lines.
When I leave the dock I make sure the spring line and the one criscross line to the starboard stern eyes are hooked up and on the dock (I use brass clips on the stern lines).
When I return I can grab the spring line and pull the boat in, securing the spring line and then unhook the starboard stern line and clip it on, the boat is essentially secure-won't go forward due to stern line and won't go backward due to spring line.
Once in I attach the other stern line and one other short line to the mid cleat on the port side.
Don't like boat hooks-master reverse-with just the spring line on you can use reverse power against the spring line to bring the stern into the right position if the wind is trying to grab the bow out of the slip.
With a single keeled inboard, my process is a bit different since my steering in reverse is extremely limited.
I back in to where the starboard transom is next to the dock and tie it off. Then, put the engine in forward with the wheel turned hard to starboard with a fender over the side tied off the cleat amidship.
Once the fender, boat and dock are in contact I get out and tie up the bow and middle line.
I navigate so I can back straight into the slip anticipating for the wind and current. I gently, but firmly, place the engine into reverse. I gain momentum and then slightly slam into the pole at the edge of the slip, over correct, gouge the dock with my starboard stern, ricochet, and then careen off gently scraping the boat in the adjacent slip, give the motor one more correction back to starboard, a touch of throttle and voila, docked as pretty and neatly as you please. Since I'm usually not docked long, I use two ropes, one bow and stern.
I'm lucky to have a nice wide slip. But I learned the hard way. At a dry stack with mucho current and wind, and two boats per slip space. Of course, every time I came in, there was only one space left, and a boat was already docked on the down-current side. I learned quick that the first thing to do is to put out bumpers! You could go in bow first, but it was next to impossible to dock stern to without bumping (at least a little) the guy next to you. Guess I was lucky. Never gouged any gelcoat.
Now it's easy. With a wide slip and a protected harbor, anyone can look like a pro. I always grab the spring line first. Then I tie off my two bow lines (use the boat hook to grab them). Use the motors to control the back of the boat as needed. Might be jumping back and forth just a little while getting the bow lines on if you're alone. But if you don't have a bad tide running, or if in a protected area with little current or wind, it's simple. Next, I tie off the stern lines (I leave them loose until I've unloaded and washed down and actually ready to leave, just to make it easier to get on and off the boat). Then the lines from port and starboard quarter, and you're docked.
Guys, I have to trailer mine but do it alone now even when I have people with me (when the boat does actually work...so I may have forgotten how at this point )
but I've found the easiest and safest way of doing it is to keep this handy:
They redesigned them late last year, previous models were dogs. This thing is strong enough that I can pull the 24' in with it no problem. When I'm coming in I use it to grab the dock....then kick into reverse for a second, cut motor, jump out....(holding hook) in case the boat blows away a bit from the dock...tie off etc. I then keep the hook handy as every once in awhile i have to use it to give the side of the boat a shove when hand loading. I've attached a flashlight to mine with the clip they sell so it's good at night too. Also good for out on the water encounters when someone wants to shoot the breeze...easy to pass it across the gap and keep the distance...
They are a lot better than they were a year ago even, they are finally strong enough you can do somethign with them.
This is all GREAT info. I want to hear from more people on how they utilize the lines they tie up with and what lines they take on the boat and what lines they leave on the dock.
__________________ "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
I singlehanded a 28ft lots of times, I left all the lines on the dock/pilings, as to which lines to let go first or last it's hard to say, one rule, let go the most upwind or up current last and pickup the most upwind or current first when returning, ....Mick
I typically tie a boat with five (or six) lines under normal conditions. Two at the bow, two at the stern (preferrably crossed) and a sping line. Two on larger craft.
I leave every one of them at the dock when I leave and carry a set of "travelling lines" with me. By leaving them at the dock you do not have to adjust your lines but once a season or, in the more extreme latitudes, once or twice during a lunar cycle, (storms and unusual conditions excepted).
Travelling lines are usually the old set of dock lines that I have replaced as they show enough wear to warrant replacement.
My arranging your line with the greatest reach (i.e. crossing stern lines) you can increase the elastic advantage of the line and also longer lines work better.
Each dock and docking situation is unique but some rules are standard. These would include detaching the leeward lines forst when departing and attaching the the windward lines first when tying up. Keep hands/fingers UNSIDE THE BOAT while performing docing and departure operations. Having a mate with a long boatpole on the foredeck is priceless as is the ability to drop midship springs ontot he vessel as you are backing in.
Also, arranging your lines in a manner that facilitates retreival is smart as there oftentimes will not be a dockhand or friendly neighbor to throw you a lline when you return.
When returning to the dock brief everyone onboard to KEEP FINGERS/HANDS IN THE BOAT and not to help and less directed to.
Just to let you know that this is serious stuff, I watched a young lady loose a finger as she attempted to put a 5/8th inch line on a cleat, the captain throttled and I heard a pop and a splash. Believe it or not, her finger was severed and plopped into the water. The finger was retrived with a net and I believe they were able to get it reattached at a nearby hospital.
Because my slip is against the seawall, I have to nose into my slip since it is too shallow for the motor to back the boat in.
I tie up with 5 lines... The two bow lines pictured, two crossed stern lines set high on the pilings, and a spring line on the port side that keeps the bow off of the seawall.
Since the above photo was taken, I've added lateral lines between the rear pilings and the seawall pilings to help keep the boat from drifting sideways out of the slip when operating single handed in windy conditions.
In my case, the spring line is my 'control' line. When casting off, the bow lines go first (hooking them on the piling for easier retreival later), then the stern lines are cut loose, and last, the spring line. All it takes is a tug on the stern lines while standing on the transom and the boat begins moving. Loop the lines on each piling, drop her into reverse... and I'm off!
When returning, I ease the bow thru the pilings... as the cabin clears the piling, i take the spring line off the piling and wrap it on the midship cleat. The line is pre-marked, so I know where to wrap it so I don't hit the bulkhead. Walk the transom and grab both stern lines and secure them, then finally the bow lines...
All of my lines are pre-marked with permanent marker to show where they need to go. This makes it easier when operating single handed to get it right quickly the first time... It also makes it foolproof when I have help. Nobody has to guess how tight or loose the lines should be.
Thats my method!
__________________ .
Capt. Kevin ~~~~~~~~~~><((((*>
Actually, I have 8 lines. I forgot the spring on the starboard side. And snubbers on the bow lines, as the bow gets most of the wind/movement. I live away from my boat, and it's in a small neighborhood marina with no dockmaster. So I can't be too careful. Only takes a few seconds to put the lines on, and I feel much better about it when I'm sitting at home and the wind starts howling. I worry more about the guy's boat beside me breaking loose than I do about my boat coming loose.
I also have bumpers out so that if the boat drifts towards a piling while I'm trying to dock single-handed, no big deal. And ropes across the pilings to grab if it drifts towards the neighboring slip. I also trailer the boat some, and no big deal to put it in by myself. The key is to use the right ramp, so that you aren't fighting wind/current too much.
I do still worry about one thing though... I've never figured out how to tie up so that it's convenient for loading/unloading and still get the motors further away from the dock. Line stetches. Up to 15%-20% of it's lenght, if I recall correctly. If you're backed in, and the motors are as close to the dock as most that I see, I believe the motors would be banging the dock if a really nasty storm blew through. That's the main reason I use as many lines as I do. But I still worry about it. At least with my docking situation.
All lines stay on the dock/pilings when I depart. And plenty of extra line on-board. A friend told me once you should have a line onboard for every 4'-5' of boat you have. (24' boat should carry 5 or 6 dock lines). So that's what I do. And at least a couple of them with some length too.
Skills question 
