Getting off-topic, but I do think that both education and licensing would help. It's not going to make things perfect. Someone can read a dozen books on how to hit a golf ball, but how may will hit a hole-in-one on the first day out on the golf course. Having knowledge and having a good understanding of what to do plus some real experience behind the wheel would be a big payoff vs no knowledge, no understanding, and no experience.
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Docking by myself
- Thread starter Arnold
- Start date
Getting off-topic, but I do think that both education and licensing would help. It's not going to make things perfect. Someone can read a dozen books on how to hit a golf ball, but how may will hit a hole-in-one on the first day out on the golf course. Having knowledge and having a good understanding of what to do plus some real experience behind the wheel would be a big payoff vs no knowledge, no understanding, and no experience.
I envy guys who have mastered the fine art of docking. I still have problems with it sometimes. Backing in to a tight slip is harder for me now that I almost never do it. My home slip is alongside a bulkhead and it has spoiled me.
Anyway, I find that if I can control the center of the boat with a line when pulling alongside a bulkhead I am in good shape. Especially when someone is standing on the dock looking to catch a line to lend a hand. So, I usually secure a line to the mid-ship cleat on the side where I am going to dock. That way if I am by myself I can step off the swim platform with the bitter end in my hand and tie it off so that the center of my boat is controlled and secure to the dock. That way the bow or stern can't get too far away from me before I have a chance to secure them.
It's also good for when someone on the dock signals me to throw them a line. If I were to throw them a line secured to either a forward or aft cleat I would have to worry about them yanking on it too hard and spinning the opposite end (bow or stern) in to the middle of the canal.
When backing in to a slip by myself I try to secure a spring line first to hold me both in the slip, and keep me off the dock behind me. Once I have that set I do the stern and bow lines to center me in the slip.
Anyway, I find that if I can control the center of the boat with a line when pulling alongside a bulkhead I am in good shape. Especially when someone is standing on the dock looking to catch a line to lend a hand. So, I usually secure a line to the mid-ship cleat on the side where I am going to dock. That way if I am by myself I can step off the swim platform with the bitter end in my hand and tie it off so that the center of my boat is controlled and secure to the dock. That way the bow or stern can't get too far away from me before I have a chance to secure them.
It's also good for when someone on the dock signals me to throw them a line. If I were to throw them a line secured to either a forward or aft cleat I would have to worry about them yanking on it too hard and spinning the opposite end (bow or stern) in to the middle of the canal.
When backing in to a slip by myself I try to secure a spring line first to hold me both in the slip, and keep me off the dock behind me. Once I have that set I do the stern and bow lines to center me in the slip.
What with the wind, the current, and one engine I don't think I COULD back into a slip with my boat unless the Admiral took the dinghy and made like a tugboat.
I have to admire the commercial guys who do it every day (but then, they do it every day).
I have to admire the commercial guys who do it every day (but then, they do it every day).
quote:
Originally posted by stmbtwle
I have to admire the commercial guys who do it every day (but then, they do it every day).
Its a little differnt. I find ships easier. As you said I was docking them everyday and I was pretty good about willing them where I wanted them. I think I'm worse driving my own boat. Then again with kids now I'm on my own boat so infrequently... I admire you guys who can make the smaller boats dance. Hope to get that comfortable again.
Small boats can be far more difficult. Most of them are shallow-draft with lots of windage, sometimes too much power, and things can go wrong a whole lot more quickly. On the flip side, mistakes aren't as expensive.
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quote:
Originally posted by Pa Mikee
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman
We really need boater education and licensing.
Getting off-topic, but I do think that both education and licensing would help. It's not going to make things perfect. Someone can read a dozen books on how to hit a golf ball, but how may will hit a hole-in-one on the first day out on the golf course. Having knowledge and having a good understanding of what to do plus some real experience behind the wheel would be a big payoff vs no knowledge, no understanding, and no experience.
Education and licensing are stupid ideas. A stupid person before education will still be a stupid person after boating education. You cannot fix stupid.
Licensing is nothing more than a tax. If licensing were the answer, then ther would be no car accidents. Also, how do you level the field on licensing?
Here on the Columbia River the current makes it almost impossible do dock single-handed, but this device has saved my butt.
http://www.dockhooker.com/dockhooker/
Our public docks are mostly 4X4 or 2X4 rails so it works great. The hook "rolls" over when you pull the rope and grabs the cleat or the tie-up rail.
http://www.dockhooker.com/dockhooker/
Our public docks are mostly 4X4 or 2X4 rails so it works great. The hook "rolls" over when you pull the rope and grabs the cleat or the tie-up rail.