Docking in Style

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Aigua said:
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/docking.htm

I found this which I though some people may find interesting?

I am fairly goodish at controling my boat at close quaters but I have printed this out and am going to use it to get better!!

Practice makes perfect and all that......!!
Click to expand...

It's all quite elimentary dear Watson, but most folk dont want to learn, They demand that the boat does what they want to do regardless of wind or tide.
 
Can't say I agree with the article anyway.

"If you are attempting to use the wheel while docking STOP! The rudders are of little or no help at slow speeds". Not in my experience - the rudder for the engine in forward gear has a very significant effect

"in reversing the rudders WILL steer the boat somewhat more than in forward". Not in my experience (although I do agree that keeping them centred for reversing makes sense)
 
Absolutely - one persons view of berthing with a particular style of boat.

The whole arcane science of boat handling is a continual learning curve and your boat will have its own quirks.

Then, just when you think you have got it sussed, all hell will break loose, usually in front of an appreciative audience.

Tom
 
Even on a twin with tiny rudders they can still be occasionally used at low speed and especially when stopped to shift the turning moment forward or aft of the vessels centre when pivoting if that's of any help in a particular manovering situation. Each on to their own, whatever works for each helmsman is probably best. :)

I do agree with one opinion in the article, that many never get the time to build decent practice hours, even after 5 years on the water - 5 elapsed years, but not enough minutes mooring time accumulated.
 
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For many reasons I never got on well with my Day Skipper practical instructor BUT....

He made us comfortable with just steering on the engines by doing a couple of hours working round a few buoys in the Solent and then in & out of various moorings in a locked marina, then same but in a Cowes marina with a strong tide running.

I learnt to be v confident in close quarter handling with just engines & bow thruster. Skills honed by being based on the Thames and having to practise in locks!
 
Well, David Pascoe is rarely dull and does know a thing or two.

On the subject of rudders my 2p is gleaned from someone who really does know what he is talking about who told me that when manouevring into a dock you never know whether rudders will or won't do much until you get the feel of a particular boat. FWIW mine will turn on sticks alone but, at slow speed and particularly in astern, the rudders do give a bit extra.
 
Andrew38 said:
Skills honed by being based on the Thames and having to practise in locks!
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That's a very interesting observation. I have noticed that some inland mobo skippers seem more experienced and comforteable handing boats in tight spaces and mooring in general. It may be due to a combination of factors such as greater mooring cycles per day, tighter spaces, often with reasonable currents to deal with and shorter but more frequent trips (ie greater mooring activity per mile travelled, locks, crowded harbours, small confined marinas/harbours etc).

I've noticed the same contrast over here between some Shannon/Erne mobo users and folks who are based in spots like Dun Laoghaire, Howth, Kinsale, Malahide, etc. Also, some coastal keel boat sailors seem quite at sea when mooring under power compared to moboers (eg lots of busy crew, fenders flying, lots of ropework and furtive activity when merely pulling into a finger berth), compared to the calm, quite and relaxed mood on a mobo when doing same. :)
 
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Hmm the bit about backing into a slip is interesting as he shows a convenient pile for you to rotate against. No such thing out here, imagine the slip sides are two other boats and there is no pile to stop the wind pushing you and you get the picture.

Also whats all that about coming into a dock at right angles and finding a pile to put the bow against, hmmm still cant see any piles, and .........wouldnt that damage yer boat
 
Pascoe is also used with Sportfishing boats, and these usually have the habit of having a wider beam, and the engines a bit more to outwards then your standard motor cruiser, so they usually can turn better by using the engines only
also sportfishing boats usually weight more about 25% more to a conventional EURO build, and this weight is usually on the hull so it also makes the boat more obediant in the wind
you should see in YouTube how some of these go into full speed reverse for the fishes in the US
 
PY....

Seeing as you raised the sportfishing topic (honestly it wasn't me that started drifting :o) is there any going on in the Med. or is that not possible because of the lack of currents etc., and do the sportfishers sell as a desirable boat outside in coastal countries.

You have mentioned previously, an interest in this type of boating.
 
hi Andie
in Italy they are becoming quite popular, mostly from the likes of Hatteras the most sold, Bertram, Cabo, Riveria, Tiara, Viking, Silverton, Luhrs and Maritimo
yes they do tournaments too in Italy, there is the famous big game of Porto Rotondo Sardegna end of August which has over 50 boaters participating, one in June in Cagliari Sardegna, 1 in May in Rome, and another in July in Punta Ala
there is also a famous one in Croatia happening in September I think it is done in Zadar, out of my head these are remember
I hear also in Spain there market share is growing, and accept Greece and Turkey to follow
they usually like good seakeepers there the Greeks and most of the boats mentioned above are prime seakeepers
 
Doghousekeeper said:
Can't say I agree with the article anyway.

"If you are attempting to use the wheel while docking STOP! The rudders are of little or no help at slow speeds". Not in my experience - the rudder for the engine in forward gear has a very significant effect

"in reversing the rudders WILL steer the boat somewhat more than in forward". Not in my experience (although I do agree that keeping them centred for reversing makes sense)
Click to expand...

Agree with that. The rudders can be used to speed up or slow down a turn and therefore should at least be kept in mind for docking manouvres
 
hlb said:
It's all quite elimentary dear Watson, but most folk dont want to learn, They demand that the boat does what they want to do regardless of wind or tide.
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I want to learn, have booked a skipper for next Saturday to spend the day on our boat learning all we can, my boat has just one engine and does its own thing.

Sometimes it lets me think I am in control, sometimes for whole days, but it knows when to get me! :)
 
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