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 due to a dry dock system 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.

 

[[2068]]

I'd come to pretty much a dead stop maybe a boat length off (to the starboard side, bow off the end of the pontoon).

Pulse forwards on the port engine to kick the nose around into line with the pontoon.
Then just keep pulsing in reverse on the starboard engine and let the wind do most of the work for you as you approach slowly, braked by the application of reverse thrust.

On mine, reverse doesn't really swing the bow around if it gets out of shape: I need some "forwards" to rotate.

Then forwards into your dry dock when lined up.

.

 

[ProDave]

How does that dry dock berthing system work? I've never seen that before.

I still don't see why that could not be turned around.

 

[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 due to a dry dock system 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.


View attachment 42976View attachment 42977

Is this a double post?

 

[PEJ]

I am no expert but I think I would go past and turn 180 in the fairway by the gap between the pontoons where there is most space and if I am blown it will blow in to open water. Then come in forwards in to the wind and if necessary go a little past the end of the finger and be blown back. I prefer to be head on in to the wind so I can drive against it and let it push me back.

 

[[2068]]

I am no expert but I think I would go past and turn 180 in the fairway by the gap between the pontoons where there is most space and if I am blown it will blow in to open water. Then come in forwards in to the wind and if necessary go a little past the end of the finger and be blown back. I prefer to be head on in to the wind so I can drive against it and let it push me back.

I think if you do that, you'll end up "backwards" on the dry dock thing.

 

[ProDave]

I think if you do that, you'll end up "backwards" on the dry dock thing.

I'm still waiting for someone to explain / show how this dry dock thing works.

Can't it be turned round? if the wind is usually in that direction then always berth starboard to?

There's something to be said for turning round on entry. If not you only have to turn round on exit.

 

[hlb]

I can not enlarge your pics. I used to have a similar problem, when visiting Carnarvon, some times the HM would give me a berth that was normally used by a berth holder. There was so much **** on the pontoon that backing in was the only option. Going in forwards is much easier. To get in I would suggest that you let the boat go broadside to the wind, then scoot in at the last minute.

To get out is easy. You need a big round fender on your bows. You push on this with one engine forwards and the other in reverse. The back end will come out. By doing this, you can achieve 90deg without the boat touching the pontoon. Back down the avenue, taking care to be on the up wind side. If the wind is sending you to the down wind side, fight it early, if you get to far down wind, you will crash into other boats and there is little that you can do about it.

 

[professionalservices]

How does that dry dock berthing system work? I've never seen that before.

I still don't see why that could not be turned around.

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.

 

[PCUK]

I think I want one!

 

[matm]

I think I want one!

Looks good.

Bit OT but how does it open the back, by remote or is it just left open when you leave? I.e. Always flooded unless the boat is in it.

 

[professionalservices]

The pen can be operated manually or by remote. Not trying to push their product but being a dry pen when raised I find it perfect for stern drive legs to keep them out of the salt water and also cuts down on the need to antifoul.

Looks good.

Bit OT but how does it open the back, by remote or is it just left open when you leave? I.e. Always flooded unless the boat is in it.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

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

Don't see why you can't turn it round and moor it to your berth starboard side to though - it looks like you've got cleats on both sides in your picture?? If the stern of the dock were facing the other way the bows wouldn't get blown off by the prevailing wind so much when coming in and Hurricane's (and others) theory of going past and turning round would work surely? Guess I'm missing something.

 

[professionalservices]

Another boat is moored in front of my current berth that prevents the scenario you are suggesting.

Don't see why you can't turn it round and moor it to your berth starboard side to though - it looks like you've got cleats on both sides in your picture?? If the stern of the dock were facing the other way the bows wouldn't get blown off by the prevailing wind so much when coming in and Hurricane's (and others) theory of going past and turning round would work surely? Guess I'm missing something.

 

[matm]

The pen can be operated manually or by remote. Not trying to push their product but being a dry pen when raised I find it perfect for stern drive legs to keep them out of the salt water and also cuts down on the need to antifoul.

Thanks for that. However is it totally dry? Surely there's a bit of residual water in there that can go a bit slimy in the "pen" that basically just transfers to your hull when it fills up again or is it totally hypo-allergenic (or whatever) such that the slime washes off ever time you enter/exit.

Looks neat, just wondering what the downside of this would be and why we don't have lots of them in the UK?

I also see the floating dock stuff in the US and here where you drive in and air lift the boat out of the water. Good for smaller boats i.e. sub 30ft but not sure of ROI

Apologies for thread drift but interested as to why we don't have more of this stuff in the UK.

Cheers

Mat

 

[professionalservices]

Thanks for that. However is it totally dry? Surely there's a bit of residual water in there that can go a bit slimy in the "pen" that basically just transfers to your hull when it fills up again or is it totally hypo-allergenic (or whatever) such that the slime washes off ever time you enter/exit.

Looks neat, just wondering what the downside of this would be and why we don't have lots of them in the UK?

I also see the floating dock stuff in the US and here where you drive in and air lift the boat out of the water. Good for smaller boats i.e. sub 30ft but not sure of ROI

Apologies for thread drift but interested as to why we don't have more of this stuff in the UK.

Cheers

Mat

Yes the pen is totally dry after you drain it. A pump similar to a bilge pump will pump water from the pen and will drain any rain water that enters.
I recommend you have a look at their websites that I posted earlier. That will explain how it works. The Sea Pen will take larger boats over 60ft and they have a new product that will accommodate deep keel yachts.

They are now are common sight her in Australian marinas and their popularity is rapidly spreading.