wooslehunter
Active member
Another vote for the mid cleat /winch method.
Also if the boat you pick kicks to one side or another in reverse as most do, try to berth on that side. i.e. mine kicks the stern to starboard when in reverse.
This makes it far easier to get into a tight potoon berth. Especially if there isn't a convenient cleat for the mid cleat method. Poke the bow in, then a bit of reverse to stop the boat & bring the stren in.
Getting out's not as easy especially if the wind's blowing on but you can often get some help to push off or spring the stern out.
Best bit of kit in the mark 1 eyeball. With only one person on board, you can't rely on someone else to watch out while you're doing things. Autopilot is the next important bit of kit IMO. Even a lashed tiller is OK as long as the boat's ballanced.
Going away for a few days, I always find boredom a problem for the first few hours. I'm wound up but relax into just being there. Then time passes fine as relaxation sets in. I have a routine of doing the nav every 30 mins or so. i.e. plotting & working out thye tide for real to check against the prediction. I even do this on a trip across the Solent. It's not that it's necessary. I just find it something fun to do. Others have other ways to enjoy the trip.
Also if the boat you pick kicks to one side or another in reverse as most do, try to berth on that side. i.e. mine kicks the stern to starboard when in reverse.
This makes it far easier to get into a tight potoon berth. Especially if there isn't a convenient cleat for the mid cleat method. Poke the bow in, then a bit of reverse to stop the boat & bring the stren in.
Getting out's not as easy especially if the wind's blowing on but you can often get some help to push off or spring the stern out.
Best bit of kit in the mark 1 eyeball. With only one person on board, you can't rely on someone else to watch out while you're doing things. Autopilot is the next important bit of kit IMO. Even a lashed tiller is OK as long as the boat's ballanced.
Going away for a few days, I always find boredom a problem for the first few hours. I'm wound up but relax into just being there. Then time passes fine as relaxation sets in. I have a routine of doing the nav every 30 mins or so. i.e. plotting & working out thye tide for real to check against the prediction. I even do this on a trip across the Solent. It's not that it's necessary. I just find it something fun to do. Others have other ways to enjoy the trip.