Berthing assistance

[Mike21]

I believe there is a fairly good chance that anyone freely volunteering their assistance is likely to themselves be someone who is grateful for help when berthing their own boat!

Nice one Tony, suggesting anyone who offers help is UNlikely to be the most competent, that's a real confidence booster

You can always politely decline help, if you don't want any.

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[TheBoatman]

Re: Totally Agree and Totally Disagree

Julie
I agree with your comments but I have also found that if the boat is crewed by women I tend to stand back and watch a demonstration of how a boat should be berthed?

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[TheBoatman]

Re: Helpful idiots on the dock.

Andrew
Your so right, ALWAYS ASK FIRST, and the way you ask makes a big difference too! Shouting "do you need help" or worse still drop the "do" and end up with "you need help" makes the skipper feel inadiquate but asking (not shouting) "would you like some help" is much better and begs a friendly response.
If the skipper accepts help then I will always ask what he/she wants me to do, I feel it's only good manners to offer help if the boat looks under crewed or in some trouble, after all said a done having offered help it can ALWAYS be politely refused and I can go on my way safe in the knowledge that at least I offered.

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[Dominic]

Re: Totally Agree and Totally Disagree

It would be more accurate to accuse me of being silly and provocative in that last post.

But looking further down I see it has generated some interesting replies. Not all hostile.

Is it a forum rule that one should only post one´s true beliefs ?<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Dominic on 21/08/2004 10:20 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Dominic]

Re: Totally Agree and Totally Disagree

No I am not going to flame you. I am going to accept the charge of being silly and provocative.

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[powerskipper]

Re: Totally Agree and Totally Disagree

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Julie

 

[SpottedBlue]

I sail a 37' yacht with my wife. Most times there is just the two of us and we have developed a system over the years of berthing which except in extreme conditions works well for us.

It involves as we come in getting a bow spring onto the centre ponton cleat and a stern line to the end of the pontoon. The spring stops the boat and the stern line prevents the sterns swinging out as she stops.

However we sometimes sail with guests on board who insist on helping. Sometimes they have sailing experience and sometimes they are also good customers of mine, so telling them to sit down and keep out of the way is not really an option.

My strategy is to get them where they cannot do any harm, I tell them that as soon as we come alongside I want them to step off go up the pontoon to the bow and catch it as she comes in. We go through it several times so as to make it clear. Pretty simple really and difficult for them to cock it up - gives them something to hold but keeps them out of harms way.

In reality, almost without exception what they do is to jump off far to early then immediately start pratting around on the pontoon getting in my wifes way as she puts the spring on.

Its quite frustrating really.

As far as help from shore is concerned, if I need help I will ask for it and often do if conditions are such that we need it. Otherwise please just let us get on with it on our own.

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