Springing off

snooks said:
You do have to steer towards the dock, and be a bit patient as it's a relativly slow but steady process
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It seems logical to steer away from the dock, ie point the tiller towards dry land. Am I wrong?
Sorry to be a bit thick on this one - but I do intend to try it....Thanks
 
Leighb said:
An alternative technique shown to me by a fellow club member also works well, especially in a boat with a relatively beamy transom.
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I'm pretty sure that was a technique used by Harry Butchers launch skipper in Portsmouth when I was the 'boy' on board, but it was a long time ago and my memory fades!

I'll definately try it, though. It sounds a good one.
 
doug748 said:
It seems logical to steer away from the dock, ie point the tiller towards dry land. Am I wrong?
Sorry to be a bit thick on this one - but I do intend to try it....Thanks
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Another top tip! Think of it this way:

If you are going to spring the stern out, you propel slowly ahead. The wash from the propellor hits the rudder so if you put helm on to put the 'well fendered' bow towards the dock, you will increase the turn. Straighten helm before you go astern to leave the dock.

If you spring the bow out, keep the helm central. Prop wash is going away from the rudder so makes no difference. Then when you propel ahead the stern wont ding the dock, fenders again!!

Its worth practice in many situations, I am lucky I get to do this loads of times a week so can spot what may be going wrong. Think minimum power, especially on motor boats with big engines.

Happy springing!!
 
Slow_boat said:
I think doug748 was commenting on LeighB's method of going slow ahead against a line from the offside quarter.

At least, I think so!

Good points though, capnsensible. Thanks.
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I think he was as well. :D

I will try to explain it better. If in this method you steer away from the dock as would seem natural, the prop wash will swing the stern against the dock, where it will scrape along as the boat moves ahead and the bow swings out.

By steering slightly towards the dock, this keeps the stern out while the bow swings away, thus avoiding any contact aft.
 
Slow_boat said:
I think doug748 was commenting on LeighB's method of going slow ahead against a line from the offside quarter.

At least, I think so!

Good points though, capnsensible. Thanks.
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A further thought on your post. In yachting circles does "offside" always mean the side of a vessel furthest from the dock?

In equestrian circles - in which I grew up - it has exactly the same meaning as starboard on a vessel. i.e. the Right hand side when facing the sharp end. :D The origin of this is that you always mount a horse on its Left (or near) side, the Right side is therefore the "offside".

So the "offside" might be the side nearest to the dock if you were starboard side to. :confused:
 
Leighb said:
So the "offside" might be the side nearest to the dock if you were starboard side to. :confused:
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Think of it with cars, you can't say driver side, as it might be a left hand drive, so it's always near side (to the kerb) and offside.

I suppose if you want to make it boaty you could say dockside and seaside :) then it wouldn't matter if you were port or starboard side to(wards the dock)

I like a good day at the seaside:D
 
Blueboatman said:
Impressive.
There is a reason why there is no decent pic of my boat on this here site: When it goes wrong I would wish to at least try to retain a slight degree of anon !
Cant be much fun being TC etc all the time, I imagine
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Well we'll have to put that right :D

P1030724-1.jpg
 
Any RYA syllabus.

OK guys….. is the technique of springing on and off a pontoon berth included in any RYA syllabus….. because!.... I rarely see it used even if it would be the only sensible way to access a rather tight space, or in helping against unfavourable winds and / or tides.

Or do I just need to get out (sailing) more?

And yes I can and do use this technique.

And anyone who would like to practise this & need crew around the Clyde areas, my price is tea & bacon rolls.... :)
 
Old Glow In The Deeps said:
OK guys….. is the technique of springing on and off a pontoon berth included in any RYA syllabus….. because!.... I rarely see it used even if it would be the only sensible way to access a rather tight space, or in helping against unfavourable winds and / or tides.

Or do I just need to get out (sailing) more?

And yes I can and do use this technique.

And anyone who would like to practise this & need crew around the Clyde areas, my price is tea & bacon rolls.... :)
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Deeps,

RYA logbook G15/07 Day Skipper syllabus

11 Yacht handling under power

Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide


....is where its taught as a technique.

No eggbeater. :D
 
Quite a good example.

Quite a good example of what we have all been discussing:




 
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Some of them have one... now.

capnsensible said:
Deeps,
No eggbeater. :D
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I’ve seen the video (just can’t find it at the mo) where some modern yachts have a directional sail-drive / leg with a programmable automatic mooring system….. whatever next! :eek:
 
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After spending two weekends ago in portavadie marina during some strong winds it is definately a technique that not alot of people know how to use or even consider.
I watched numerous boats try to get out of the marina in the strong winds and helped a few more from our row and the next few. A large % of them were unaware to how their boat will manouvre and drift in the wind. 4 boats hit a boat calles Stravaigan or similar sitting on the row c hammerhead pontoun. All tried to reverse out of their berths and into the main channel, the time they reversed out and tried to go forward they had been blown accross and hit the above boat. There were many other close calls and it certainly made me realise how lucky i am i dont keep my boat in a marina.

Another boat, and i cant stress this enough keep well away from it as they dont have a f***ing clue about what they are doing is called Able2sail, the crew dont have a clue. (i know its a sailing boat for the disabled but the crew running it should be able to sail). Hit the hammerhead pontoun about 4knots with the wind behind, fenders rolled up and scratched right along the hull one crew member jumped off to tie the boat to a cleat, the boat then sprang around the end of the hammerhead and almost hit a yacht, they then cast it off as the wind had got hold of it, and it was then blown accross into the above mentioned steel hulled boat where it was tangled for a second. Thankfully a couple of bystanders who were looking at the steel boat jumped on board and took the boat in for them. It then took them 45 minutes for the marina manager and some others to be able to get them off the pontoun to get out the marina.
 
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