laughing stock

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Well, thank God, we thought we were the only ones making fools of ourselves this weekend.

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I'll add myself to those who have "made a fool of themselves".

As soon as I bought Rogue, I promised myself a day of marina handling tuition ASAP.

ASAP was when we got to Lagos and I made a bit of a hash of berthing - the bowthruster shearpin sheared as I was turning into the berth. The adjacent boats' skipper was a bit arrogant and critical and gave me a leaflet, (which I already had), of an instructor.

Did the days tuition, learned all about prop walk and prop wash, and havent touched the bowthruster in anger since, (may be different with a high flybridge, but there will be a way).

Doing a weeks own boat prep' for Yachtmaster at the end of May and have specifically asked for loads of marina handling and a fair bit of anchoring... both things which still make my bum twitch, even after 30+ years.

The funny thing was that the arrogant and critical neighbour came steaming in one evening, turned into his allocated berth, and ended up side on to his new neighbours stern. I went to help and, when he was secure, returned to Rogue to laugh my c*ck off!!

The moral is "never ever criticise anyone for making a cock up with anything to do with boating - tomorrow the roles will be reversed"

Good Luck!
 
Not just Mobos either! I just knew there was trouble ahead after one of my crew commented favourably on my boat handling. Sure enough I dinked her in her home berth just 2 weeks ago and donated a coin sized lump of gel coat to an unprotected bit of metal on the pontoon

And why is there never an audience when you berth her all peachy in really difficult conditions?
 
I had a RNLI Skipper Trainer onboard once returning to my berth. Wind off of berth but not really blowing it. No Bow Thruster and have to go astern in as the finger pontoon isn't long enough to go in ahead.

I just kept getting blown off at the bow just as I got within a metre of being there. After three attempts, he decided to have a go, after three more attempts it was a case of "Yeah impossible, just go in against nextdoor's boat and step off safely then pull her back with ropes".

As long as your fendered and if someone is on the boat you are going to rest against then it's nice to say what you are going to do there's no shame.

Worst I've done was with a full pontoon at Yarmouth everyone watching. Going in to berth alongside, crewmember stepped off with rope but the boat kept going. Panic made me forget which way the helm was and just a jot of power sent me away from the pontoon. Head through roof shouting to crew to let go of the rope so they didn't get pulled in ensured my humilation was complete. The next time around there were plenty of helpers at the pontoon who grabbed ropes as I passed the gap! I departed for the pub sharpish after a quick "Thanks!".
 
MBM or was it MBY did an article last month, or was it the month before. On backing into finger pontoon mooring, the photos showed them doing it perfect each time, with all the instructions, something about open side and blind side. Made it all look very simple.

Mind. Dont know how many photo's had to be edited out. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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Sure enough I dinked her in her home berth just 2 weeks ago and donated a coin sized lump of gel coat to an unprotected bit of metal on the pontoon

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That's one of the joy's of a wooden boat,,,just slap some more paint on /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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