Catalina 30 - Docking

capttack · #1 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004

I just purchased a Catalina 30, and noticed a general lack of midship deck cleats for use in docking. (My previous boat, a C&C 25, had a toe rail, making standing on a midship spring line, a breeze.)

If anyone has ideas in either equipment to aid the docking process, or the process itself with the Cat30, please advise.

HHJ · #2 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004

I believe SailNet carries a fold-down midships cleat that attaches to the toe rail that I''ve heard good things about. My boat, a 28'' S2, also has no midships cleat. When docking, I use the primary winch for a spring line, which has worked well for me. I originally intended to buy the cleat I mentioned, but find I have no real need of it.

lgsailor19 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-16-2004

Capttack, I own a Catalina 30 and I have not found the need for the cleat that you are asking about. I have a cleat which slides into the genoa sheet track, for midship use, but have not used it at all for securing the boat. You can use the winch to secure a springline.

Sailmc · #4 (**permalink**) 07-16-2004

My slip neighbor of a few years back had a Catalina 30. He docked with a spring line attached to the bow cleat. The spring line had a loop that extended a few feet aft of the beam. When docking the mate simply dropped the loop over the appropriate dock post and the boat would lay up against the dock no matter the wind direction or strength. We all used that system.

elhanley · #5 (**permalink**) 07-17-2004

Dock lines attached near amidships (breast lines) are something I''ve been preaching for years. Particularly if you solo much they are indispensable. Coming into a dock, a line from the bow willl pull that point right into the dock while the stern swings away, and one from the stern sends the bow out. Toss a breast line to a dockwalker, or leap ashore with it as the boat coasts along parallel to the dock, and the boat will be pulled smoothly and gently sideways right up to it, and you can make up bow and stern lines, plus a forward breast line if you want, at your leisure. The boat will look a lot smarter than it does with spring lines running the length of the boat or more.