Preparing to berth?

[Liz_I]

How prepared are you to either come alongside, say a wall/quay. Or even go into a lock. Enter a marina either a new/strange one or your own berth? Just what do you do? Cat amongst the seagull time I think!!

 

[bigwow]

Being an ex boy scout I'm always prepared!

 

[Liz_I]

Ha Ha, thanks for replying; Am still fascinated how boats, motor & sail retain their manufacturers recommended shape & finish. The vast majority of boats arrive without lines attached & if they are, only on one side. Fenders likewise, perhaps boats only posess one fender? If they are deployed, like the lines it is only to one side. Inveriably it is the 'wrong' side. Panic ensues as crew rush around re-attaching or in the case of no fender or lines out - just attaching, still running round. Then a mass of 'knitting' is lobbed at the unfortunate helpful person standing on the quay etc etc. I have to say this observation is generally of French/Belgian/German & Dutch vessels.

 

[Lizzie_B]

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
I heave to about a mile off the coast and send SWMBO into the marina/berth in the dinghy armed with a video camera.

She records all the approach into harbour and berth and does a video recorded interview with the harbour master (just in case he gives us wrong information or the four berthing assistants he promised fail to materialise).

SWMBO then returns and we spend hours examing the tape and planning our entrance and abort strategies.

Finally, I drink half a bottle of Pusser's Rum and go for it on a rising tide at full throttle /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I particularly like coming into places where all the berths are already well padded such as Annapolis City Dock. It makes life so much simpler. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[HoratioHB]

Well I always, survey the berth first, accurately assess wind and tide, brief my crew, get all lines and fenders properly laid out - fenders on both sides and then go in too fast, mis judge the tide and wind forget which way the prop walk works, hit the boat just short of my berth bounce out back into the stream, half spin around and come in backwards. Normally one of my crew has done the world famous 'death leap' from the shrouds and is now standing on the quay holding the end of 50' warp and being pulled into the water. At this point the shouting and acrimony are such that SWMBO goes below in a huff. About ten minutes later job done snug alongside and I realise we're the wrong way round a gale is now blowing down the hatch.

Same for evryone surely ?? - whats the the problem???? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[steveallan]

Easy get the wife to do it. If she does a good job its because you directed her. If she gets it wrong!!!!

 

[Bejasus]

Met a couple in St. Petersburg in Florida earlier this year and we got chatting, mainly about their new set of Raymarine instruments. His wife said, "Yes, they were hubby's Xmas present last year". I smiled and asked what she had received, and she replied, "a bow thruster". Apparently she did all the mooring and at that point he was the crew. She said everything was much calmer that way.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Just remember all the bits that have to be prepared before entering - it's SAFER.

S - sails, stowed (unless you're using them to get in!)
A - anchor, ready to be dropped (unless you're sure you won't need it!)
F - fenders deployed - at the right height in the right places
E - engine running, water coming out at the back . . .
R - ropes attached, routed correctly for throwing

 

[HoratioHB]

Or:

S - Slurp another G&T to improve the concentration
A - Abrogate responsibility to SWMBO so you can blame her when it all goes wrong
F - The letter that begins the word you will say the most as you cock it up
E - Yes this is Engine but it means the thing that will stop and not restart just when you need it most
R - Rage of the boat inboard of you who's now got a lovely scrape down the side as you forgot to put the fenders out.

Don't you just love these helpful acronyms

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[paulineb]

I just shout "JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON. Park the boat please" .... and hey presto !!!