I found mooring up difficult.

[Warpa]

your berth would be easya to go into in the coditions you describe in reverse. Drive in fairway go past your berth and then reverse up wind and into your berth flicking the bow up against the wind to break it.


to go in forward, you will have to go down fairway forward, but start the turn into your berth at the first available chance, and keep the bow pointing at the boat up wind from your berth, keep the bow pointing at that boat untill the stern is a little down wind from your berth and then push upwind and into the berth.

or

to go in forward, you will have to go down fairway forward, but start the turn into your berth at the first available chance and push the boat into the berth aiming to park again the boat next to you or the middle of the berth, the wind will push you down onto your pontoon.


Hope this helps, I am much better verbally explaining things than by the writen word I am afraid.

I do actually understand what you are saying I pick things up very quickly but having only had 8-10' inflatables in the past monovering in any weather was not an issue. I should have stopped at the entrance and seen how the wind and tide took me, then taken that into account when going in.

In hind sight knowing what the wind and tide were doing i could have probably turned in as though i were going to hit the boat to my left, knowing the tide and wind will make up the difference.

At the end of the day its a lot of trial and error, only the most experienced will make it everytime possibly, but we all know the wind has a mind of its own and a receding tide is not an exact science.

As this was my 1st trip with the boat i just enjoyed the day, my plan was to find a quiet spot near an unused bouy (speel checks) and just practice manovering, trying to get different parts of the boat to kiss the mark.

 

[AndieMac]

only the most experienced will make it everytime

Don't believe that, most of the time maybe.

Things/issues that used to cause emotions like..."OH CHRIST"!! then become, "Oops" and finally, "oh well" as complacency sets in.

As you've just said, just keep on practicing.

 

[rubberduck]

http://www.d-fenda.co.uk/Dockfenders/

 

[alant]

very difficult to control a boat reversing down wind with a cross tide, if the wind is stronger and the bow breaks one way or other and the wind gets hold of it you will be sideways to the wind very quickly, and that can be difficult to recover from.

reversing into the wind is ok, it helps.

Yep, you have to put much more power on & that could be 'fatal' in close quarters.
Always attempt to reverse into wind, rather than downwind,because of the weathercocking effect.
Can also do the same with tide, but thats another issue..

 

[timbartlett]

What Now (WNS)

Folks -- just to let you know that I reckon Warpa has earned himself a free subscription to Motor Boat and Yachting for this thread, because I intend to use it as a "What Now" in Motor Boat and Yachting at some stage in the not too distant future.

So if anyone does not want their words of wisdom to appear (credited to their YBW name) in print in the magazine, please PM me.

If you do want to appear in print, all the usual guidelines apply -- short, to-the-point contributions are more likely to be used than long or irrelevant ones or "in jokes", and even contributions that are used may need to be edited for spelling, grammar, lack of space, or to fit the "flow" of the feature, but will not be "distorted".

 

[Warpa]

Great stuff, even if i do already have a subscription

 

[cem]

it has been said so many times already, practice practice practice, "borrow"an empty berth away from other boats and obsticles and do it until you find what works best for the boat in the conditions

embarrasing moment on saturday when i really struggled to get along side (into a pretty tight space) as the wind kept gusting and taking the bow out, and i was very concious of not being blown onto someoen elses boat..... that is when the guys running the dry stack are great at just stopping what they are doing and grabbing a line to help you in

 

[NoviceRod]

As I am still lnew at this, and sometimes have similar difficulties getting onto the berth (more likely if there is an audience!), I invested in dock fenders. A bendy one for the nasty sharp corner of the finger and some straight ones for the sides. There was already a fender for the end left by the previous tenant of the berth.

A great investment in terms of reducing the stress for me, SWMBO and 'Panacea'!

 

[Warpa]

http://www.d-fenda.co.uk/Dockfenders/

Ill definately get some of those when i have some more pennies

As I am still lnew at this, and sometimes have similar difficulties getting onto the berth (more likely if there is an audience!), I invested in dock fenders. A bendy one for the nasty sharp corner of the finger and some straight ones for the sides. There was already a fender for the end left by the previous tenant of the berth.

A great investment in terms of reducing the stress for me, SWMBO and 'Panacea'!

As above There needs to be some protection as its not an exact science

 

[Tom Price]

Am disappointed

that you consider Warpa's inexperience at parking his little boat comes anywhere near a WNS issue. Or has this forum become an evening class?
Certainly OP needs some tuition PDQ, and who could resist Julie waiting in the wings?

Much more thought-provoking IMHO is the question raised in the recent post "Hypothectical Marina Full".

C'mon Tim, get your teeth into that one please, not waste our time in the nursery school!

QUOTE=timbartlett:
"just to let you know that I reckon Warpa has earned himself a free subscription to Motor Boat and Yachting for this thread, because I intend to use it as a "What Now" in Motor Boat and Yachting at some stage in the not too distant future."

 

[oGaryo]

not waste our time in the nursery school!

tactfully put as always Tom

 

[NoviceRod]

[QUOTE= Or has this forum become an evening class?

I am a novice, and I find the forum and MBM useful for advice. I like the way both can provide info for a wide spectrum of experience. Everyone was a novice once.

 

[Croc]

Having recently aquired a 35ft boat with outdrives and a bowthruster all of which should cope with most conditions and might if I can get the hang of it without wiping out my bow and half the boats in the marina I can tell you all advice is welcome.
Half a century of small sailboat handling has not prepared me for the complexities if mooring a motorboat in strong winds in a crowded marina. The rapidity of going from in to out of control in a modern planing sports cruiser is causing me more than a little anxiety and smart arses talking about nusery classes contribute nothing to the learning curve.

 

[cem]

Having recently aquired a 35ft boat with outdrives and a bowthruster all of which should cope with most conditions and might if I can get the hang of it without wiping out my bow and half the boats in the marina I can tell you all advice is welcome.
Half a century of small sailboat handling has not prepared me for the complexities if mooring a motorboat in strong winds in a crowded marina. The rapidity of going from in to out of control in a modern planing sports cruiser is causing me more than a little anxiety and smart arses talking about nusery classes contribute nothing to the learning curve.

good point very well made, 100% with you...if the novices are not wanted round here i am happy to take myself to another forum where we are more welcome!

 

[timbartlett]

that you consider Warpa's inexperience at parking his little boat comes anywhere near a WNS issue. Or has this forum become an evening class?

good point very well made, 100% with you...if the novices are not wanted round here i am happy to take myself to another forum where we are more welcome!

Gentlemen please!!
Could I remind those with "less experience" that the thing that prompted Tom's comment was my post in which I said I was planning to use this thread in Motor Boat and Yachting -- one of the two motorboating magazines that is behind this forum. I've already discussed it with the Editor of MBY, who has agreed, and will be providing Warpa with a free subscription. So although I'm only a freelance writer, I think I can confidently say that you are are definitely "wanted"!

Tom: I, for one, found this "nursery school" boat handling problem quite thought-provoking.

And a What Now needs experience people to contribute answers, as well as less experienced to read them. Maybe you'd be one of the former?

 

[rbcoomer]

I am a novice, and I find the forum and MBM useful for advice. I like the way both can provide info for a wide spectrum of experience. Everyone was a novice once.

+1

Probably a few years before I look at any kind or berth, but I for one still found the thread very informative. I suspect there are many others new to boating and probably a few with more experience who did too? There are threads and sections of the magazines dedicated to boats way beyond the budgets of many/most (in my case probably all of them! ) - but that doesn't mean they aren't informative and interesting or that we won't gain anything from them. Something for everyone seems to me to be the key to success in magazines.

 

[Kawasaki]

Exactly
During my formative boating years I used to devour all the boaty tips in MBM that were usefull for a novice.
I found the Forum in 2004
I had a leccy problem that nobody in 'real life' could advise me about
But the Good Peeps, real or not, of this place sorted the job no sweat.

1984, despite Orwell an that we found ouselves living on Anglesey
Although I had mucked about with boats as a kid, never really got into it till we found ourselves surrounded by water plus the unique Menai Strait
So a boat was bought!
6 years of bashing into things followed
Till I met a bloke who new what was what
Then another load of years practicing what the bloke who new what was what had passed on to me
I will always be gratefull to the bloke who new what was what and now I Know what is what {mostly) I pass it on to those that do not know what is what
What is what I wanted to say
What is wanted, is a bloke who knows what's what or a man who knows a bloke who knows what's what to give you a few ours of His experience in parking your boat in adverse conditions.
Or cop for a local Instructor bod who knows whats what
Yep, I read all the articles in various publications as well as MBM
Tried to practice them
It did help
But--- did I say-- I met a bloke who knew whats what

Seriarsley fer a mo
Cop for a Pro Instructor for a day (or a bloke that knows)!
Then --- Practice Practice Practice
Yer I noticed the OP has mentioned He realised He should have hung about a bit and sussed the wind and tide stuff out first
Good thinking -- well done that Man
I,m lucky
Over the last 5 years I have helmed all sorts of Motor boats
Single outboards
Twin outboards
Single shafts
Twin shafts
Single outdrives
Twin outdrives
Jet drives!
Planing Hulls
Semi displacement Hulls
Displacement Hulls
RIBS
Plastics
Woodens
Steel
Aluminium
And some that are a mix of all the above!
But I tell yer with Motorboats, all shapes and sizes
Taint like cars and stuff
Every which one is a bit different
Even those that are the same make and should be the same!!!
In a way, thats what makes boating interesting
There have been many good tips and advice in this thread
Can't add to those
But can add this Forum helped me tremendously in the early years
And still does
Plus it has elped me spellin an queyborad skills too no end as you can apreshiate from this helpfull attempt at aidin a newbie , innit

 

[Warpa]

good point very well made, 100% with you...if the novices are not wanted round here i am happy to take myself to another forum where we are more welcome!

Thumbs up to you, as pointed out the size of boat is irrelevent, a tight berth in adverse tide and weather conditions will still cause the same issues. There are topics on here i dont bother to read, as are there topics in the magazine i dont read, but they both cater for all types of interests and needs

 

[Boatinglifeaway]

Yes, that wind

That wind can be an enemy but as mentioned if you use it as a brake it will work much better in your favor. Definitely don't use it to accelerate in that case.

 

[Warpa]

Exactly
During my formative boating years I used to devour all the boaty tips in MBM that were usefull for a novice.
I found the Forum in 2004
I had a leccy problem that nobody in 'real life' could advise me about
But the Good Peeps, real or not, of this place sorted the job no sweat.

1984, despite Orwell an that we found ouselves living on Anglesey
Although I had mucked about with boats as a kid, never really got into it till we found ourselves surrounded by water plus the unique Menai Strait
So a boat was bought!
6 years of bashing into things followed
Till I met a bloke who new what was what
Then another load of years practicing what the bloke who new what was what had passed on to me
I will always be gratefull to the bloke who new what was what and now I Know what is what {mostly) I pass it on to those that do not know what is what
What is what I wanted to say
What is wanted, is a bloke who knows what's what or a man who knows a bloke who knows what's what to give you a few ours of His experience in parking your boat in adverse conditions.
Or cop for a local Instructor bod who knows whats what
Yep, I read all the articles in various publications as well as MBM
Tried to practice them
It did help
But--- did I say-- I met a bloke who knew whats what

Seriarsley fer a mo
Cop for a Pro Instructor for a day (or a bloke that knows)!
Then --- Practice Practice Practice
Yer I noticed the OP has mentioned He realised He should have hung about a bit and sussed the wind and tide stuff out first
Good thinking -- well done that Man
I,m lucky
Over the last 5 years I have helmed all sorts of Motor boats
Single outboards
Twin outboards
Single shafts
Twin shafts
Single outdrives
Twin outdrives
Jet drives!
Planing Hulls
Semi displacement Hulls
Displacement Hulls
RIBS
Plastics
Woodens
Steel
Aluminium
And some that are a mix of all the above!
But I tell yer with Motorboats, all shapes and sizes
Taint like cars and stuff
Every which one is a bit different
Even those that are the same make and should be the same!!!
In a way, thats what makes boating interesting
There have been many good tips and advice in this thread
Can't add to those
But can add this Forum helped me tremendously in the early years
And still does
Plus it has elped me spellin an queyborad skills too no end as you can apreshiate from this helpfull attempt at aidin a newbie , innit

Im not embarressed to ask for help, or even if i think i know what im doing and see someone do it different ill ask why. Its what i have done through life, if i think their way is better ill do it that way, if not then there was no harm in asking.

Having said that i did meet a bloke that knows on the pontoon, he asked me if all was ok when i were trying to tie the boat down and adjust the fenders as it had never been moored there before. I had to admit i didnt really have a clue and he showed me to tie the stern 1st then take the same rope to the tie down point on the pontoon at the bow end....obviously i dont need to give details as you ar all aware of how to do it here, but im a bloke who knows that part now