Advice for first time single-handed please!

[Philiz]

Circumstances are likely to dictate I have to go out single-handed at the weekend. Any tips for leaving the berth, and more importantly, getting back in? I am used to relying on Liz to chuck a rope over a cleat before I leave the wheel.

 

[Allan]

Mid-line, mid-line and mid-line. I sail single handed a lot and you may guess that I think dropping a line from a mid cleat over a shore side cleat makes life much easier. If it's blowing I lead the line back to winch and pull it in. Once that is done, it is much more relaxed as you put bow and stern lines out.
Allan

 

[hlb]

Depends on the boat alot. I can hardly do it at all, as by the time I've run from the wheel, the boats some where else.

Have you a mid cleat?? That might help you, if you can get that round a cleat. Another way is, think out of the box and moor some place down wind. Course the easy way is to radio ahead and get some help.

One way folk use, is to get a stern line on, then slowly drive ahead, which should hold you to the pontoon. Another is to leave a rope on the pontoon, draped over a pole with maybe a row lock on top, so you can grab it.

 

[crazy4557]

Depending on your boat, if a sports cruiser type take a long line from both fore and aft cleats and place at the point you jump off the boat onto the shore. Drive up to the pontoon as if you're berthing normally and once boats in position move quickly and grab both lines as you jump off boat onto the pontoon. At that point you will have the two lines connected to the boat and hopefully its not moved too far to allow you to tie off either front or back first depending which is needed more urgently. I've done this many times with a 40' boat single handed and have never had any problems. Needs a bit of practice though!!
Can be done from a flybridge, same plan but you need to move bloody quickly.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JamesTT]

I single hand quite a lot, mainly returning to my home berth. I fitted lots of fenders/dock bumpers to my berth together with permanent warps, I still fender both sides when returning and rig a stern line and line to the mid cleat, I dont have to use them very often, usually when I have messed up!
Having said that I cannot remember the last time that I returned to my berth single handed and have not been offered assistance by a neighbour on my leg at Conwy, a very helpful lot on B leg!
It helps that they can hear me returning.

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

i use mine alot single handed, as said line on mid cleat is a must. i new beforehand this would happen, so spent a bit of time practicing with help waiting on the pontoon and did a days landing n takeoffs both on fingers and dow in n stern in. its easy to say but a bit of practice is worth hours of panicing. i work on the theory that if it goes wrong just pull out n start again. it helps to remember that we have ALL made a bog of it so dont think your the only one..........good luck........ps. get it right and your head will swell to top heavy proportions. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

 

[Refueler]

If your Avatar is anything to go by - lots aren't !! - but I would say you're using a sailboat.

Then the Midships line is the best insurance you can ever have. make sure the eye in the end is "open" - one guy I know has put hose-pipe round that section to make it stay open ... you can then drop over cleat easy. But personally I prefer taping the rope in the eye ... this is generally less diameter addition and makes the eye harder but able to bend under the shore cleat. Once you have that line - you have engine ticking over and helm set so bow is turning out from pontoon ... boat will sit tight on that midships line for short time enough to sort other lines.

Other point is make sure you have autohelm / tillerpilot ... this will then allow you to set boat up while looking after helm for you.

I do a lot of solo stuff with my boat and to give idea ... I have to turn my boat for mooring 180 deg. in my private basin ... boat is 25ft and water depth suitable is about 30ft wide ..
I also go to Baltic moor solo ... that is stern line to buoy and bow to dock ... now that takes some setting up !

Seriously - take it easy and think it through ... all is possible especially if that midships spring line can be used ..

 

[Philiz]

Thanks all for the advice so far, the boat is a mobo which unfortunately doesn't have a mid cleat. Bow and stern lines where I can grab em sounds the best plan, already thought if I can get the stern line on a cleat and put engine in forward on tickover it should hold the bow in, might be a good technique if it's blowy. Luckily I don't have to move far from the wheel, I'm not as quick as I used to be!

 

[hlb]

Have a go at it first, whilst still tied up, or maybe just holding the bow line. See if it's better with the wheel a bit this way or that. If you can experiment between the two of you first, soo much the better. It is a bit risky though, if the boats not well tied. It might just bugger off!!

 

[AHoy2]

[ QUOTE ]
Bow and stern lines where I can grab em sounds the best plan, already thought if I can get the stern line on a cleat and put engine in forward on tickover it should hold the bow in, might be a good technique if it's blowy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am often single-handed on my MF805 and use a similar technique. I would advise that you keep the bow line short enough not to reach the prop, this will still leave enough length to step ashore with but saves possible embarrassment /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Solitaire]

[ QUOTE ]
If your Avatar is anything to go by - lots aren't !! - but I would say you're using a sailboat.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why don't people read the bio! The boat is a 6m Merry Fisher with an outboard. Full walk-around capability so it does not need a mid cleat - the boat is too small to need one.

The best option is to pre rig the bow line (make sure it is outside the guard rails) and run it down to the stern, rig the stern line and have that ready.

Now we don't know what type of mooring the guy has to go into - hammerhead? or normal marine pen type mooring, does he go bows in or stern in. What direction is the prevailing wind and is it x-tide? All these factors need to be considered before making broad sweeping recommendations.

Most of the work can be done from the stern with no trouble at all. If the wind is blowing the boat off the pontoon, that makes life even easier as the bow will blow away bringing the stern into the pontoon (remember how the boat pivots and play that to advantage), slip the stern line over the cleat and secure, wheel hard to the pontoon, gentle tick over will bring the bow in nicely. Put extra fenders on the stern if the stern line is left to short to avoid the quarter hitting the pontoon.

The key to single handed mooring is preparation and knowing what the boat is going to do. There should in fact be no need to get off the boat at all when the stern line is secured. The other key essential is not to rush things, there is plenty of time in reality. Seeing such phrases as "jump off" is a no no, all that needs to happen is a slip and then disaster strikes.

Practice with somebody with you, but use them only as a back up.

 

[RAI]

[ QUOTE ]
Bow and stern lines where I can grab em sounds the best plan, already thought if I can get the stern line on a cleat and put engine in forward on tickover it should hold the bow in, might be a good technique if it's blowy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you should take the bow line onto the stern-end bollard (as a spring), then drive forward slowly with the wheel hard over, trying to turn the bow away from the dock and the stern towards it. The spring line from the bow stops the boat going forward and holds the bow in, while the thrust pushes the stern into the dock. Then you can fix the other lines.

 

[Philiz]

Thanks for that comprehensive answer.
Berth is typical marina pontoon, well placed for access, prevailing wind is on the stern and we moor stern in.
All the advice is very useful, thanks all, most is along the lines of what I've been thinking but there are a few extra tips which I will bear in mind. Preperation is undoubtedly the key!

 

[Searush]

Generally, practise parking alongside either stopping dead next to the berth or blowing gently on to it. As already said, a silent partner, ready in case of disaster is a great confidence booster.

I generally find I can lay the bow & stern lines on the side deck in loose coils before I approach. Then it is easy to step ashore with both lines in one hand, which leaves a spare hand in case you slip!!

 

[Solitaire]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for that comprehensive answer.
Berth is typical marina pontoon, well placed for access, prevailing wind is on the stern and we moor stern in.
All the advice is very useful, thanks all, most is along the lines of what I've been thinking but there are a few extra tips which I will bear in mind. Preperation is undoubtedly the key!

[/ QUOTE ]

Phil, if the wind is on your stern the job is even easier as you go in stern too. The boat will sit square to the wind as long as you come is straight! Get the stern line on the cleat and even if you only single the line up by brining it back on board the wind will help you bring the bow in anyway. What about tide?

 

[wp1234]

[ QUOTE ]
Circumstances are likely to dictate I have to go out single-handed at the weekend.

[/ QUOTE ]

Phil,
You really need to get a grip and get your two dogs and the parrot to pull their weight aboard .One forward and one aft and one mopping your brow at the wheel – job sorted !
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Philiz]

Usually there's little or no effect from the tide.

 

[Philiz]

Cheers Wynn, but seeing as we can't even get the dogs to walk down the pontoon properly, I don't fancy my chances of getting em to jump off with a rope!
If I get it all pear shaped perhaps there'll be somebody about I can throw a rope to /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Refueler]

I gave up reading Bios a long time ago - well before you probably even heard of YBW / IPC forums /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif... why ? Because of the rubbish that many have in them. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry I didn't read this guys - I'll try harder next time. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I dare to suggest that 9x out of 10 a simple system worked out usually works with only odd times amendments.

I also try to get a windward side of a pontoon etc. if coming in solo ... then wind helps you on to the berth. Getting off is easier as you can then spring off ... A lee side is more difficult espoecially if you do not have that midships line ... as any boat trying to hold alongside using a line at the extreme ends is at serious disadvantage.

 

[Solitaire]

[ QUOTE ]
Usually there's little or no effect from the tide.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well that's OK so no issues at all then. Just keep it slow, fender the other side of the boat with fenders at gunwale height so even if the boat drifts onto the vessel next door so you can then just pull it across onto your berth.

There is nothing wrong with touching your neighbour as long as you are well fendered. If it looks/feels as if it's going wrong to do not power up to get yourself sorted - you'll make the situation worse unless you know exactly what the boat is going to. Leave the boat in neutral and just let it gently hit any object - we call it a controlled collision.

People over react and put power on and then it all goes horribly wrong, and that's when damage occurs to yours and others boats. remember a power boat pivots 1/3 from the bow going ahead and 1/3 from the stern going astern.

People's natural reaction is turn away from the danger and push the throttle forward and of course the stern swings out and -CRASH! - and the more power that goes on the further forward the pivot point goes and the faster the stern swings.

Take your time and it will all fall into place. Good luck.