Marina Berthing... without the stress?

[prv]

I guess that would be an improvement on the type usally seen in the UK http://www.nautequipe.co.uk/size-1-bow-fender-378-p.asp

I've never understood the thinking behind dangling one of those loosely under the bow like a horse collar - the way they are invariably seen. It would seem to require quite a bit of luck to hit something in a way that the fender actually provides any protection rather than being pushed out of the way, or simply missing.

I believe they're intended to be rigged similar to http://charles.hamel.free.fr/knots-and-cordages/img/Dickey-fender_s.jpg , which is fine for small craft bumping against dock walls and ships' sides but not usually appropriate for yachts.

Pete

 

[DipperToo]

I've never understood the thinking behind dangling one of those loosely under the bow like a horse collar - the way they are invariably seen. It would seem to require quite a bit of luck to hit something in a way that the fender actually provides any protection rather than being pushed out of the way, or simply missing.

I believe they're intended to be rigged similar to http://charles.hamel.free.fr/knots-and-cordages/img/Dickey-fender_s.jpg , which is fine for small craft bumping against dock walls and ships' sides but not usually appropriate for yachts.

Pete

These seem to possibly provide better protection than the 'dangly' things. http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/11807/majoni-bow-impact-protector-

Sometimes, with a strong breeze aft and a marina that has metal edged pontoons, bow fenders can be prudent if you are short handed. I did see a very experienced skipper (solo) using a bow fender, with a wind from aft, who gently approached the berth and let the boat 'rest' against the bow fender while sorting out the lines. Many marinas have wooden rubbing strakes, but metal does focus the attention, however much you have practiced!

 

[prv]

These seem to possibly provide better protection than the 'dangly' things. http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/11807/majoni-bow-impact-protector-

No "possibly" about it - that should actually do the job.

Sometimes, with a strong breeze aft and a marina that has metal edged pontoons, bow fenders can be prudent if you are short handed.

Oh, absolutely. I didn't mean to suggest that the whole idea of a bow fender was worthless, just that if you're going to have one then the "dangly dewlap" style is not an effective choice.

Pete

 

[PaulMcC]

When I'm doing things that way, I pass the line through the hole in the middle of the cleat (under the forward horn would work if there's no hole) and back to the sheet winch. This lets me adjust the length very quickly from the wheel.

Pete

Genius idea.

 

[Robin]

+1

A day or a half day, dedicated to marina handling on your own boat, will be worth it's weight in gold. Why reinvent the wheel by practising the wrong thing. Get someone who can do it in their sleep, and who is trained to pass on that knowledge and skill, to show you.

When our UK YC marina first opened the members hired a trainer to give lessons to some of the new to marina berth holders. We had just that morning relaunched after a spell of bottom painting etc and the so called 'experts' demonstrating parking methods into vacant berths on the opposite pontoon behind us managed to demonstrate how to cock it up completely and crush our stern ladder whilst we were not there to catch them in the act. The club paid for the repair as the truly guilty failed to own up:disgust: but it was not until the following winter's lift out that we could actually replace the ladder as it's lower mounting bolts through the vertical transom on our then W33 ketch were underwater. I thought about hanging a sign off the badly mangled ladder to say 'sculpture provided courtesy of **** ***** sailing school, bit like marking 'his' and 'hers' on dents in the car.