Single Handed Heros

[Guest]

Re: Bow or stern first

I would always go for bows first, but that is what I am used to, and anything but bows first in a Contessa is inviting trouble. I would suggest going for whichever you are most used to doing, and find easiest on your own boat, but in 98% of cases I think that this will be mooring bows first. Even a boat that can turn on a sixpence astern will, I think be easier to control when going ahead, and the last thing that one wants is unnecessary complication.

Having said that, if there is a very good reason why stern-to is required, and your boat is sufficiently manoeuvrable, then there is no reason why stern-to should not be done - the main thing is making sure that one way or another you end up alongside the pontoon.

If choosing a permanent berth, yes it's much preferable to ensure that prop walk helps push the stern into the berth. Also, as the boat turns into the pontoon, she tends to skid sideways, so a pontoon where you skid 'into' the berth, rather than out of it, helps. So assuming prop walk in astern pushes your stern to port, the easiest berth is one where, heading down a row of pontoons, you have to turn to starboard to get into it, and come alongside the pontoon on the port side. If the wind is also from starboard, then you're laughing. If from port, you'll have to secure quickly by whatever method is chosen, but prop walk + skid effect will give you valuable extra seconds.

 

[Guest]

Another aspect

is the speed of approach, especially on a windy day. Too slow, and the keel will lose grip and the boat will be blown sideways. Too fast, and you will have to apply hard astern for several seconds once in the berth to take all way off. The latter is disastrous if prop walk is in the wrong direction and/or wind is blowing you off - these are the seconds when you should be tying off the boat. Having a 3-bladed prop so you can stop quickly helps.

The approach should have this ideal of being positive, not too tentative, but at the same time not too fast. As a very rough starting point, 1.5 knots is often about right in the final approach, with way being taken off steadily in the last few metres, but this will vary from boat to boat.

 

[tcm]

Re: quick stopping

i think that one of many keys to singlehanding is knowing how to stop the boat dead in the water, pretty smartly. This needs some practice, i think, so that from a given speed you know how much throttle to stop the boat dead in the water. Being good at stopping massivley extends the amount of rope twiddling time that you have. The best berthing types aren't nec. quick at driving but they are pretty brutal on the stopping, no sort of drifty drifty drifty ooer "quick, take a turn!" rubbish - the helm parks the thing, and the crew shouldn't really need to move before it's stopped - the same most certainly applies singlehanded - hence, fast stopping makes that crossover from helm to crew as quick and decisive as poss. all imho

 

[pvb]

Never get off the boat until...

Agree with most replies. One point I'd suggest you should bear in mind is never to get off your boat until you've got at least one line fixed to the pontoon. I usually singlehand my 35-footer, and I always come in to the pontoon berth bows-first, and drop a pre-tied loop of line from a centre cleat on to the cleat at the end of the pontoon, then simply motor gently against it, steering as required, to hold the boat against the pontoon. Only then do I get off with the bow & stern lines.

 

[starboard]

Your first consideration should be for the cosideration of others and that is to make sure your well fendered....BOTH SIDE's. I singlehand 1000 plus miles per season and you will find you will soon find a routine that suit's you, infact now I find it a pane in the arse if there are people around to help...i.e. do things you dont expect.
The main criteria is to chose a berth that the prevailing wind will blow you onto.The wind is both your friend and enemy!!!... If you find one day the wind is blowing you off...dont try to be a hero and fight it you will probably lose, just make sure you are well fendered, and drift slowly onto your neighbour wth no fuss, then with time you can pull the boat across to your own berth. The main thing is to plan well ahead....have a plan "B" ready for when it goes wrong as for sure it will. The more you practise the more confidence you will gain. The final thing is speed...as slow as possible whilst maintainig control, prefer final approach in neutral then any prop walk shoul be negated unless it is of use. I find single handed sailing will make you totally aware of what is happening around and when a crisis arise's you should be on top of it as soon as it happens....in my book it definately makes you a better sailor.

Enjoy yourself

Paul.

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: Single Handed Hero\'s

If you are trying to get back onto your own permanent berth, make up docking lines that you leave laid out on the pontoon. Use a boat hook then you don’t have to leave the boat till it is tied up.
Maybe you could construct fore and aft poles on stands with Y tops that are left on the pontoon, then you just reach over and take the end of the line.

 

[jimi]

Re: Single Handed Hero\'s

Have you cosidered large electro magnetic magnets that will attract your boat to its berth?

 

[Deleted member 478]

Re: Single Handed Hero\'s

Can't do that Jimi, coz his compass will always point in the same direction. He's gonna have to rely on good old fashioned seamanship.

 

[jimi]

Re: Single Handed Hero\'s

Aye .. but it'll show him the way home as well ... what more do you need?

 

[Deleted member 478]

Re: Single Handed Hero\'s

That's true as long as home is anything that he happens to collide with.

 

[jimi]

Re: Single Handed Hero\'s

Listen up dumbo, the friggin magnets are on his berth, the electro one's are on the boat so he can switch them off .. savvy?

 

[Deleted member 478]

Re: Single Handed Hero\'s

Who's your dumbo, you short, under nourished pigmy and since when can you rely on anything electical for berthing?

What's more, don't you know that when magnets are left lying about they eventually have a permanent effect on any surrounding items i.e. they will put a permanent bias into the compasses of all the surrounding boats near his berth.

Now when are you going to buy me that beer that you owe me?

 

[jimi]

Re: Single Handed Hero\'s

well loads of peeps rely on electrically powered bowthrusters for berthing ...

 

[Deleted member 478]

Re: Single Handed Hero\'s

Thought it was common knowledge that people with bow thrusters are not real sailors

 

[AngusMcDoon]

You can make something similar for single handed mooring for a few pounds. Poke your normal mooring line down 2-3m of water pipe of sufficient diameter, the clear plastic stuff that's usually used for boat's freshwater plumbing. Then tie (or splice) the end that comes out of the pipe into an eye. (You may need to use a mouse line to get it through.)

Because of the natural stiffness of the pipe, this forms a nice eye that is always open. It's great for throwing over cleats as you come past using the bow or mid-ships spring method. It's cheap, works, and doesn't damage anything if you're a bit over enthusiastic with your throw and hit your boat, your neighbour's boat, or even your neighbour.