Berthing Single Handed

Nick_H said:
I don't think the OP was asking how to manouvre to the berth, he says he's done that before, seems more interested in how to get the lines on.
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Many thanks for all the replies and you're quite right Nick H.... (Perhaps I didn't make myself clear). I have carried out this manoeuvre but always with someone else - normally my other half and we don't normally have a problem with the actual berthing itself. I was simply wanting to know how to handle and prepare the ropes.
I'm relatively new to this boating malarky (120 hours in 6 months) and certainly don't consider myself an expert, but never having done this before I was seeking the experts advice. I'd be a fool if I thought I couldn't learn from the wealth of experience that resides in this forum, but as the many posts on this topic indicates - we all have our own opinion on how to make various moves and some are good suggestions but there are others which are better.
I'll let you know how I get on with the move later tonight!!
 
stelican said:
How did you get insurance if you dont know how to park a boat?
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To clarify .. I DO know how to park my boat. As I said I don't consider myself to be an expert but I'm also not incompettent - at least thats what the RYA instructor said after I'd completed the 2 day Helmsmans course last year!
I've done probably more hours in the past 6 months (120 hrs) than most people so as I said I'm not exactly useless at manouevering my boat.
Kawasaki said:
Hmm, I don,t ever remember any Insurance Co asking Me

I could be wrong going back to about 84 when I got My first boat
Something about experience etc maybe?
Been with the same peeps for about 15 years now.
I think they just renew!

Deffo nothing ever about Parking!
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You're correct Kwaka - The insurance companies I contacted prior to buying my boat were not in the slightest bit interested in my experience, they did however want to know if I had taken a training course of any sort.


Thanks again.
 
stelican said:
How did you get insurance if you dont know how to park a boat?
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I'm a newbie and my insurers never asked me if I could park a boat. Good job some would say! ;)

Anyway, the OP didn't say he couldn't park it, just asked for advice on single handed parking which he's not used to, fair enough I reckon, and good advice given which may be helpful to many of us.
 
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I have a twin sterndrive (Sealine F33) and am also new. My berth is beside another boat in a U-shaped pontoon with only about 4' between us. I reverse into the berth to make boarding easy. I would NEVER use the helm because it is simply too slow to react if you overcook the reverse and have to shift into forward - the vector is already pointing at they guy next door. I use the 'away from pontoon' engine and the bow thruster to achieve a slightly diagonal approach once I have reversed into the space.
Of course, experience may change me, but pipdoc has not done this one before so maybe he and I are in the same boat(s), so to speak.
The advice that I was given by many was the Glasgow version; "Just fender it to f****". So far I have never nudged my neighbour.

And I dont think that having a go at people asking for advice is helpful or constructive. That way no-one asks and whatever problem you think they have will continue to be a problem.
:)
 
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Before you leave your swinging mooring bring a mooring warp back from the bow into the cockpit on the side that you plan to moor. If you are not sure which side it will be then set up lines on both sides. Similarly, prepare a stern line. Secure the lines so that they are ready for use but cannot fall into the water.

On arrival bring the boat alongside as usual. Then step ashore with both lines and loop them round a couple of cleats. Once these lines are temporarily secure you can sort out the mooring properly.
 
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Would only add -
- rig fenders both sides
- go round & look at the berth first, checking wind ,tide , other boats
etc.
- if legs, DO use helm for thrust unless legs well apart, but you will know that from Helmsman course..
- if no midships cleat, prepare warp aft, approach as allready suggested so stern in against pontoon, lasoo pontoon cleat & make fast back aboard without getting off.. If bow now blowing off the pontoon, nudge ahead outside engine with helm to pontoon, leave in gear, bow now in, make fast bowline.
 
After a beautiful afternoon on the river I'm happy to report that all went well! The conditions were perfect which obvioulsy made the whole experience very simple.
In the end I was glad there was no one around to take a line off me and I was glad to have managed it on my own.
Preparation was the key and it reinforced the old adage "fail to prepare, prepare to fail"
All in all it was a big confidence boost!
 
Congratulations!

I am not at all anti-socoial by nature, but I find single handing one of lifes pleasures, and its good to build up the confidence in berthing so you arent worrying about it when you should be enjoying the sea.
 
Thepipdoc said:
To clarify .. I DO know how to park my boat. As I said I don't consider myself to be an expert but I'm also not incompettent - at least thats what the RYA instructor said after I'd completed the 2 day Helmsmans course last year!
I've done probably more hours in the past 6 months (120 hrs) than most people so as I said I'm not exactly useless at manouevering my boat.


You're correct Kwaka - The insurance companies I contacted prior to buying my boat were not in the slightest bit interested in my experience, they did however want to know if I had taken a training course of any sort.


Thanks again.
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Your insurance co assumed that if you had taken an approved course RYA that the instructor had confirmed that you were in control of the boat in differing close quarter situations
 
heres my pennys worth

Thepipdoc said:
I have a 27 foot twin engined Sea Ray, and tomorrow I need to move her on my own from a swinging mooring to a pontoon berth , on my own!
Leaving and arriving back at the swinging mooring isn't a problem, but I'm slightly concerned about coming alongside the pontoon.
I'm only going to move from the swinging mooring if the wind is as it's forecasted - 6mph, so hopefully wind shouldn't be an issue and I might be fortunate enough to have someone take the bow line from me, but there's no guarantees.
I should perhaps add that I'm normally with my wife and together we would carry out this manoeuvre without a problem but this is the first time I've moved the boat by myself.

I'd appreciate your thoughts about how I should make this a successful move.
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A boat on out drives need a direction to push from,
By turning the wheel and applying minimal power here you will get her to turn neatly.
By turning the wheel you are pushing her around her pivot point, her natural turning point , so minimum effort is required,

If you leave her mid ships, you will have to use loads of power to make her turn, she is trying to turn around the stern, hard work for her, and very easy for any out side force to have an influence.
 
just

Thepipdoc said:
I have a 27 foot twin engined Sea Ray, and tomorrow I need to move her on my own from a swinging mooring to a pontoon berth , on my own!
Leaving and arriving back at the swinging mooring isn't a problem, but I'm slightly concerned about coming alongside the pontoon.
I'm only going to move from the swinging mooring if the wind is as it's forecasted - 6mph, so hopefully wind shouldn't be an issue and I might be fortunate enough to have someone take the bow line from me, but there's no guarantees.
I should perhaps add that I'm normally with my wife and together we would carry out this manoeuvre without a problem but this is the first time I've moved the boat by myself.

I'd appreciate your thoughts about how I should make this a successful move.
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Take it slow and get everything you can ready before you need it, call the marina up they will be happy to come catch ropes for you.
 
Thepipdoc said:
After a beautiful afternoon on the river I'm happy to report that all went well! The conditions were perfect which obvioulsy made the whole experience very simple.
In the end I was glad there was no one around to take a line off me and I was glad to have managed it on my own.
Preparation was the key and it reinforced the old adage "fail to prepare, prepare to fail"
All in all it was a big confidence boost!
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Spot on Thepipdoc, good stuff:)
Must admit however, I read Your post incorrectly.
Sorry about that
I thought You were a total newbie, oops:o

I reckon a sports boat single handed is a bit of a difficult vessel to berth.
Restrictions getting about the foredeck etc.

Deffo worse than some ref windage.
So Yeh, hats off Mate for your first go on Your own:)
 
Pipdoc, do not be put off by numerous replies of mixed use, they are often quite funny
to read as a finished thread. You knew what to do and that you could do it. You did get the "correct" advice in amongst it all. We need more threads, not less, so don't stop asking.
 
Thepipdoc said:
After a beautiful afternoon on the river I'm happy to report that all went well! The conditions were perfect which obvioulsy made the whole experience very simple.
In the end I was glad there was no one around to take a line off me and I was glad to have managed it on my own.
Preparation was the key and it reinforced the old adage "fail to prepare, prepare to fail"
All in all it was a big confidence boost!
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Well done bet you feel great keep on posting as the forum is here to help.
Some on here are very helpful others not but don't let them get to you.
Cheers
Tim
 
Well done. I still remember the feeling of nerves beforehand and relief and satisfaction afterwards the first time I singlehanded last season.

Lots of worthwhile info and ideas in the thread as well even if some of it didn't directly relate to the original post.


Harpsden
 
timgriffin said:
Well done bet you feel great keep on posting as the forum is here to help.
Some on here are very helpful others not but don't let them get to you.
Cheers
Tim
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In response to some of the posters who have encouraged me to continue to post, It's real shame that there is a sector of forum members that seem to think it's clever to score cheap points of some of the less experienced people who ask what appears to them to be stupid questions.
I for one tend not to contribute ( and I’m certain there are other forumites out there), when perhaps I could or should, because there's a real risk that someone out there will have a pop at me in an attempt to make me look stupid ( and conversely - them look very clever!)
Rather than say something positive, some people seem to think it’s fine to belittle some of us less experienced boaters. Remember, you too had to gain experience somewhere and as I said in a previous post, “I'd be a fool if I thought I couldn't learn from the wealth of experience that resides in this forum” but I would ask you “clever” people out there to remember that one of these days you just might need the assistance of me! Yon never know I just might become a “clever” person as well!
 
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