Poor mans bow thruster!

[Jay A]

It's been on my mind and what the heck,I figured I'd try it. At the dock I got about 1 1/2' of space between boats off my bow and stern. And when the wind is pushing me away it's a pain to dock. I had been thinking using my washdown as a water jet powered bow thruster,strapped with bungee cords I secured the nozzle to the end of my boat hook,locked the handle of the nozzel on*then had my nephew hold it below the waterline near the bow. I turned on the switch and it worked! It held the bow steady and I made a perfect "landing"!

[Mumblerone]

Jay A...that's what the boat next to you is for!** "1 1/2' of space between boats off my bow and stern."* Kinda 'helps' you get in!* Now you can go fish'en alone again!* ***

[Jay A]

Mumblerone - 8/1/2004 7:13 AM Jay A...that's what the boat next to you is for!** "1 1/2' of space between boats off my bow and stern."* Kinda 'helps' you get in!* Now you can go fish'en alone again!* ***

Ya....And both are sailboats! Another factor is low tide,when it's low I only have about 3 feet of water along my*port side for about 8' which then thins out to a mud flat. I have to turn around and back down along the dock until I'm parallel with my space. Most of the time the wind handles my docking,but when it's out of the*N to*NE,it's a pain!

[skypoke]

Good idea but you know what? It's not necessary to submerge the end of the hose. Action/reaction. Try it.

Chuck

[The Classic]

I have seen poor mans bow thrusters that clamp onto the boy eye and are a real bow thruster, might be a solution if you frequently have the bad winds for docking. But if the washdown hose works, use it! Then you can go right to cleaning the boat too in one graceful manuver.