Down Wind Berthing Advice Please

[professionalservices]

I have a 34ft twin engine stern drive flybridge cruiser.

I need some advice as to how to handle my berthing situation in the marina.

The port side tie berth is at the end of a marina finger, no boats starboard but a boat directly in front of me tied also to the end of the finger.
I have to berth bow in and usually the prevailing breeze is downwind i.e. pushing me down to the dock. As I carry a bit of windage with the flybridge can anyone give me some advice as to best handle the approach to the dock.

 

[John100156]

Some more info, a sketch and more info would be good, bow thruster? etc. Or you could try it like this:

http://uk.yhs4.search.yahoo.com/yhs...rchdial&type=dnldstr_14_14_ff_ag65_yiry&rd=r1

 

[John100156]

I particularly like the 'How to dock a boat' one....

 

[alant]

I have a 34ft twin engine stern drive flybridge cruiser.

I need some advice as to how to handle my berthing situation in the marina.

The port side tie berth is at the end of a marina finger, no boats starboard but a boat directly in front of me tied also to the end of the finger.
I have to berth bow in and usually the prevailing breeze is downwind i.e. pushing me down to the dock. As I carry a bit of windage with the flybridge can anyone give me some advice as to best handle the approach to the dock.

Are you not able to control with engines in astern & just let the wind push you down gently?

Where is your berth?

 

[professionalservices]

Here is a sketch of the marina.

No bow thruster.

Thanks for the advice so far, much appreciated.

 

[ProDave]

Why do you HAVE to berth port to?

With the wind in that direction, go past your berth, turn round and approach up wind berthing starboard to?

 

[oldbilbo]

Assuming the wind/windage is strong enough, often enough, to create the potential for damage, one must ask why 'must' the OP berth with bows downwind. In such circumstances I'd be tempted to park it 'bows to wind' if that gave me better control of the manoeuvre, and change around later when more convenient.

How would that ungainly manoeuvre have been addressed in the past, in other less well-equipped vessels? One could turn around in the access fairway when passing the end of the preceding finger, then deploy a kedge anchor directly upwind of the required berth - surging cable out to manage direction and speed while easing back into the allocated berth under control, then lowering the cable to the seabed once 'in'.

Alternatively, would it be possible to stop alongside the other boat sharing the T-end, securing temporarily, then taking a line to the far, upwind end of the finger-berth and warping back into position under total control....?

 

[prv]

The wind is at least onto the berth rather than off it. So if you can hold station against the wind using reverse gear, you'll drift sideways onto the berth.

However, most of us on this forum have sailing boats, and I'm told that motor boats behave very differently when berthing. So you might get more knowledgeable help over on the mobo forum: http://www.ybw.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?14

Pete

 

[professionalservices]

Why do you HAVE to berth port to?

With the wind in that direction, go past your berth, turn round and approach up wind berthing starboard to?

Sorry I was not totally clear as to the reason I have to berth bow in, portside tie.

I have a dry dock. See picture.

 

[professionalservices]

Many thanks. New to here although a subscriber to PBO for over 10 years. Will post to the mobo forum as well.

The wind is at least onto the berth rather than off it. So if you can hold station against the wind using reverse gear, you'll drift sideways onto the berth.

However, most of us on this forum have sailing boats, and I'm told that motor boats behave very differently when berthing. So you might get more knowledgeable help over on the mobo forum: http://www.ybw.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?14

Pete

 

[prv]

I have a dry dock. See picture.

Heh. Dan Crane will be pleased

Pete

 

[John100156]

I had a similar, but not same, type of berth when I had my Targa 34. It was not a hammerhead, the central pontoon extended out to provide two open berths.

I know the T34 has less windage, I now have an F43 which suffers more from this affliction (albeit on shafts) so I do appreciate your problem. If you cannot simply position the boat and let the wind run you in, I would probably try running the bow in with the wind up my chuff at around 45 degrees (assuming there is sufficient depth with the stern out) aiming the bow at a point on the berth a metre plus away from the other boat with a bit (not a lot) of way on. Let the wind do the work for you if you can, then take the power off, wheel hard over to port and as your drifting in close, go astern with the port or starboard (not both) engine, this will both slow the boat down and will pull the stern in and straighten the bow. Try using the port or stb astern to see what best suits the boat and the prevailing conditions.

Do not panic if you get it wrong, just reverse out and try again until you get it right, you will soon find your way. I would rather see a skipper take a couple of attempts and get it right, rather than seeing him panic trying to get it when things are going horribly wrong.

If there are any experienced skippers around with a similar boat, seek their advice too, or better still invest in a days close quarters tuition from a school specifically to assist you getting on and off, again, and again, and again, until you're completely confident, that's half the battle, confidence.

Others too I am sure will be along to give you their recommendations, a bow thruster might certainly make life a lot easier!

All the best!

 

[William_H]

i have a theory that if you fit a rope from one end of the berth side to the other with a loop in the middle and that if you have a central mooring cleat on the gunwhale.
Then as you arrive a person near the bow can pick up that what might be called a continuous springer. he moves along the springer while also moving down towards the centre cleat such that he can drop it onto the cleat at the critical moment. This will stop the boat and essentially lock the boat in the fore and aft directions. From there it should be fairly easy to pick up breast ropes to pull the boat into the jetty. Does anypne elkse use this method? Will it be as easy as I imagine. needs 2 people of course. good luck olewill

 

[ProDave]

Sorry I was not totally clear as to the reason I have to berth bow in, portside tie.

I have a dry dock. See picture.

Can you explain to me what that is / what it does please?

It could still be turned round the other way though?

 

[knuterikt]

I have a 34ft twin engine stern drive flybridge cruiser.

I need some advice as to how to handle my berthing situation in the marina.

The port side tie berth is at the end of a marina finger, no boats starboard but a boat directly in front of me tied also to the end of the finger.
I have to berth bow in and usually the prevailing breeze is downwind i.e. pushing me down to the dock. As I carry a bit of windage with the flybridge can anyone give me some advice as to best handle the approach to the dock.

Different boats have different behavior, my best advice is to find a better place to try out the effects of your use of engine & rudder combined with wind & current.

Find a free mooring buoy with room around it, approach the buoy downwind pretending the buoy is the point where your first fender is supposed to touch the dock.

Having twin screws it should be possible to control the orientation of your bow and speed using throttle & gear while you let the wind "sail" you down.
I would leave the rudder amidships while doing this (Do you have stern drive or shaft mounted propellers?)

 

[alant]

Different boats have different behavior, my best advice is to find a better place to try out the effects of your use of engine & rudder combined with wind & current.

Find a free mooring buoy with room around it, approach the buoy downwind pretending the buoy is the point where your first fender is supposed to touch the dock.

Having twin screws it should be possible to control the orientation of your bow and speed using throttle & gear while you let the wind "sail" you down.
I would leave the rudder amidships while doing this (Do you have stern drive or shaft mounted propellers?)

I drive 'big' local ferry boats from time to time & control into tide & control into wind, is usually better going astern when using twin screws (going slowly bows first, may just get the bows blown off & loss of control). Just try it first (on a buoy rather than something very 'hard') & see if it works for you.

If you are in Solent area, happy to come out with you.

 

[prv]

I drive 'big' local ferry boats from time to time & control into tide & control into wind, is usually better going astern when using twin screws (going slowly bows first, may just get the bows blown off & loss of control).

I was thinking much the same in relation to sailing boats - if the bow's already downwind with the boat "hanging" from the prop, then it can't be blown off. I didn't know if motorboats would behave the same (especially without a rolled genoa on the front) but it sounds like at least some do.

Pete

 

[professionalservices]

Sorry I am in Australia and have been subscribing to PBO for many years. The best way to explain the Sea Pen is to post the link to their website. It is a dry docking system.

http://www.dockpro.com.au/

http://www.seapen.com.au/

In my configuration it can not be turned around as the stern of the 'pen' submerges to allow entry.

Can you explain to me what that is / what it does please?

It could still be turned round the other way though?

 

[ProDave]

Thanks for that explanation. I have never seen anything like that before, but now I understand why the stern has to face the open end of the pontoon.