Using a Marina for 1st Time - Advice Required

[Phoenix of Hamble]

But Vyv, you are taking the comments above to mean 'never use much throttle'... whereas, I took them to mean, 'only use enough throttle'... (which may not mean very little throttle).

I completely disagree with you about the charter yacht company employees. They have IME absolutely no regard for the mechanical integrity of the boat, and limited concern for its aesthetic protection. They use lots of throttle out of machismo rather than neccessity.

 

[vyv_cox]

I completely disagree with you about the charter yacht company employees. They have IME absolutely no regard for the mechanical integrity of the boat, and limited concern for its aesthetic protection. They use lots of throttle out of machismo rather than neccessity.

My son was one of them for several years. He was (and is) nothing like you describe, having much regard both for the mechanicals and appearance of his charges. Not only was he taught the preferred method of moving and parking their boats but they were assessed regularly by external examiners, one of whom I recall was John Goode. My son told me that JG used exactly the procedures that they did.

 

[prv]

Having watched real experts in yacht handling, the charter yacht employees who move them constantly for fuelling, cleaning, etc., I note that they always use lots of throttle, forward and astern.

I'd also mention the guys driving harbour launches, water taxis etc in places like Fowey. When maneouvring up to moored yachts, quay steps, etc they tend to use powerful bursts to swing the boat about.

Pete

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

So you are telling me that the best way to drive a boat around a marina, as approved by John Goode is with lots of throttle... hmmhh.... OK.

 

[peterb]

In general I agree with the gentle approach; the slower you hit something the less damage you'll do. But remember that when going astern you have no prop flow over the rudder, so you need to get steerage way quickly, then shut off the drive to the minimum needed to keep the boat moving.

One point not yet mentioned is pontoon cleats. Usually nowadays they are the conventional shape, with two horns, but you may find the dreaded hoops. And some pontoons have two cleats, some have three; some pontoons are only half boat length, and some will only take one person's weight at a time. It often helps to do a little exploration, either from the land side or from the boat. Some marinas will let you use a hammerhead (the outside berth with nothing in the way if you overshoot), at least temporarily while you explore. Just ask; at the worst they can only say no.

 

[ianat182]

As you are going to the marina to have some work done - is it being done by the marina people or your own repairer, as some marinas only allow their 'approved' contractors to be used on their site, read 'commision' to the marina.
Most of the advice given above fine, and as you'll notice advance preparation makes things so much easier. Just keep a roving fender handy that can be grabbed easily if needed, also when leaving the berth.

ianat182

 

[Slow_boat]

I must admit to not being keen on marinas as a destination but they can be handy. I used to be a perfecfionist but now realise that all you need to do is get a line ashore and not hit anything. Good enough is good enough.

My top tips are;

Give yourself plenty of time to prepare warps and fenders and don't head in until they're definately all ready.

Use a breast line on the first cleat then you can hold the boat in place with the engine.

Hang a pair of fenders horizontal across the bow, one above the other just above waterline and tied off on the pulpit base. It's nice to know you've got a bumper!

A burst of astern is good for turning but to take the way off her gently ease the revs astern. Take an hour to practice engine manouvers in open water get used to how she handles both ahead and astern, up tide, down tide, up wind, down wind, cross wind, etc

If in doubt, ask for help. Most people are more than happy to help (rather than get their gelcoat ding-ed)

BTW, I have sailed mostly single-handed for the past ten years and giving yourself time is the best thing you can ever do.
That and have a plan B ready!

 

[flaming]

As someone who has spent quite a lot of time working as a charter boat skipper, this thread has slightly irked me.

There is no "always right" method of berthing in my opinion. In quiet conditions absolutely use small amounts of throttle. But in more boisterous conditions (and remember very often we were moving boats in conditions that had the rest of marina's occupants getting extra warps out) that approach will leave you in trouble as you'll lose stearage at a much higher speed than you're used to. In those conditions you need to drive in at speed and then stop the thing quickly.
And no, I have NEVER put a hole in a boat, charter or private, moving it around a marina.

Being unable, or unwilling, to use either approach when it's justified leaves a bit of a hole in your power handling skills in my opinion.

 

[mikemonty]

I completely disagree with you about the charter yacht company employees. They have IME absolutely no regard for the mechanical integrity of the boat, and limited concern for its aesthetic protection. They use lots of throttle out of machismo rather than neccessity.

The guy who took me through my day skipper practical both preached and demonstrated that plenty of throttle was the way to go when using prop walk and prop wash to swing a 36 foot fin-keel through 360 on the spot (in Rothesay harbour as it happens), and I suggest that swinging the boat through any angle in a confined space should be done with similar verve - the idea is to generate the side thrust before the boat starts to make way.

Pussy-footing about would not do it.

(Since then I bought a contessa 26 and funnily enough I've never been able to pull the full 360 thing again...)

 

[guernseyman]

I can only add that the commonest little problem is to find yourself drifting towards the neighbouring boat, whether through prop walk, wind, current or plain mis-judgement.

If you are fendered on both sides, then you should not panic and, rather than indulge in potentially dangerous manoeuvring, it is probably best to let your fenders bring you to rest alongside the other boat. You can then pull yourself into the intended position.

 

[Babylon]

Spanking not good

(Since then I bought a contessa 26 and funnily enough I've never been able to pull the full 360 thing again...)

I'm surprised at this. Yes, the trick is easier - quicker and tighter - with a modern fin keeler, but I'm able to 'rotate' our long-keeled Vancouver 27, clockwise being the favoured turn, using the technique with no more than the usual 2-3 bursts (three-quarter revs at most) of forward/astern, within a turning-circle diameter of no more than 1.5 boatlengths.

Re the need to apply sufficient throttle to maintain way in windy conditions, as other posters have said, I totally agree with this. But spanking the engine for short bursts or crashing the throttle from forward to astern without giving the gearbox time to slow down doesn't do the engine any good.

If conditions are light, then I favour the calm and slow approach.

Off for a peppermint tea now...

 

[xxyyzz]

Aside from the complexities of the amount of power needed to turn a boat round, Google maps will give you an aerial view of marinas which will help give you an idea of the layout.

 

[gandy]

The guy who took me through my day skipper practical both preached and demonstrated that plenty of throttle was the way to go when using prop walk and prop wash to swing a 36 foot fin-keel through 360 on the spot (in Rothesay harbour as it happens), and I suggest that swinging the boat through any angle in a confined space should be done with similar verve - the idea is to generate the side thrust before the boat starts to make way.

Pussy-footing about would not do it.

(Since then I bought a contessa 26 and funnily enough I've never been able to pull the full 360 thing again...)

I guess the moral is to practice tight manoeuvres with your own boat and see what best suits it. Personally I short-turn without going much above tickover in ahead, and only tickover astern. More revs means much more time spent in neutral waiting for the engine to slow down before selecting reverse. Different boat, engine and propeller would no doubt behave differently.

 

[arfa]

Having just spent a couple of nights in a south coast marina I think the local watering holes should all be renamed along the lines of "the clanking halyard", "the irate seagull" or the "barstool voyager" just to play to the local stereotypes.......

 

[dslittle]

Not on my yacht!!!

Hmmm, Yes but.... they're probably better at it than average Joe punter & also (and this makes a large difference) it's not their boat and they're not paying for the insurance.

My son is one of them. He is very good but I won't let him take my boat out...

 

[BruceDanforth]

I guess the moral is to practice tight manoeuvres with your own boat and see what best suits it. Personally I short-turn without going much above tickover in ahead, and only tickover astern. More revs means much more time spent in neutral waiting for the engine to slow down before selecting reverse. Different boat, engine and propeller would no doubt behave differently.

My boat has the prop astern of the rudder so going ahead starts it into a clockwise circle due to propwalk and going astern is more or less random until it's decided which way it is going to go. Steering it in a particular direction needs bursts of revs to propwalk it into an appropriate direction for it to fall away from until it starts to pick up some way and steer. All great fun and ideal for making me look incompetent.

 

[l'escargot]

...If in doubt, ask for help. Most people are more than happy to help (rather than get their gelcoat ding-ed)...

But likewise never be afraid to refuse help - I have had a number of berthings made more difficult by an enthusiastic helper pulling hard on a rope and sending the boat in totally the wrong direction! Never assume the person offering to help you necessarily knows what they are doing.

 

[Lucky Duck]

So you are telling me that the best way to drive a boat around a marina, as approved by John Goode is with lots of throttle... hmmhh.... OK.

Didn't John Goode showcase the use of the anchor within marinas in Sailing Today a while back?

As identified by other posters, in benign conditions berthing can be completed without judicious use of the throttle while at other times it is probably the best bet.

 

[Spartan]

Thanks for all your tips and advice guys (and gals). Much appreciated.

It looks as though I will be heading to the marina this weekend and am now looking forward to it - armed with all my new knowledge.

Cheers.

 

[Oceanis]

One point which I don't think has been mentioned. Watch the height of your fenders as some marina pontoons and very low.....caught me out once but the gelcoat survived.

If you need to get out and have another go then short but powerful blasts of astern to get some way on but minimise prop walk is a trick I learnt with a very good delivery skipper. The other approach I've used to good effect in a tight marina with a fin keel was to go in astern as long as you keep moving.....cos if it all goes wrong it's easier to get out going ahead than astern.

I would certainly agree with the view that taking your time is the best approach but if it's blowing old boots or there's a lot of current I think I would tell the berthing manager that you haven't done this before rather than going in "full speed ahead".

Whilst I have a lot of respect for many charter boat staff and their boat handling skills in marinas. I was once told by one of these guys to come in stern-to in a charter boat and give the engine loads of revs to drag the boat over the bottom in order to reach the pontoon....the smell of hot engine was frightening and he kept shouting give it more revs!!