Engine warm up.

[jac]

Always start it when we start doing anything serious with lines and turn off when all lines secure.

Not so much from an engine perspective, more from feeling uncomfortable if the boat is lying to a single slip line held by crew with no engine on.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Med mooring, stern on, usually come in under just enough power to slide slowly into the berth. Stop engine as soon as the first line is on (providing the wind isn't howling and I need power to hold her straight). My reasoning ..... I rarely do the last 500m on more than tickover as the crew are sorting lines and fenders, no need to rush, so the engine has had a while to stabilise. I shut it off immediately because it's easy to accidentally operate the throttle lever while climbing round the cockpit with entertaining consequences, e.g. wrap an errant line.

When leaving, start engine, check water, bit forwards, bit backwards, drop lines and tootle off. Rarely run at more than tickover in harbour, and at anchor I need the engine to operate the windlass. I use forward at tickover to relieve the load on the windlass as it winds the chain in.

Once under way, run at a speed that sounds right - between 1750 and 2000rpm, I like it to get hot 'cos it heats the water for the shower etc.

Funny how idiosyncratic habits develop......

 

[Wandering Star]

I like it to get hot 'cos it heats the water for the shower etc.

Posh Git!

I do as most others, start the engine then make all the usual checks, get the lines ready to slip etc all of which takes a few minutes, then chugga lugga away, usually hitting a few boats and other solid objects on my way out for good measure.

Cheers, Brian..