Single handed wharf pickups

[mhalchemy]

I've had a decent read of other threads including single handed anchoring, but haven't found an exact solution for my problem.

I sail a 26 ft triton, and regularly pick up passengers from a local wharf (the boat is normally on a mooring). For certain reasons, passengers are not in a position to assist with the docking, so I need to do it single handed.

Unfortunately the wharf has two poles that sit proud by nearly 1m at both sides of the end - and roughly 30 ft apart.

My current technique is to motor in slowly, with fenders and lines set up ready to go. I idle in for the last 30m or so, and by the time I am at the wharf I am barely moving. Usually I approach on an angle of 20 to 40 degrees (mudflats prevent a more shallow approach).

I rarely have trouble getting the stern line over a bollard, but have significant trouble with the bow - if I tighten the stern, she swings out. If I loosen the stern, she swings in and hits the bollard (which, by some coincidence is exactly where the plexiglass light on the forward rail is) by the time I run forward, we've either drifted out, or started to touch the bow on the poll. Power doesn't seem to make a difference.

The cleats are only forward and aft on the triton, and the only poles one can put a line on are the aforementioned ones 30 ft apart.

This might seem like a super simple problem, but with the toe rail sitting proud and the light in the danger zone, i'm petrified I'll break something .

Any help or ideas much appreciated.

[deniseO30]

I'm not sure I understand the difficulty unless you mean there aren't cleats on the wharf? You could get bow and stern lines long enough that they are both in hand when you step onto the dock tie them both to one cleat until things settle, then move them apart if necessary

[Yorksailor]

Pick up the stern bollard on a short line and motor forwards slowly. She should slowly settle onto the dock held by the stern line and the slow ahead motor.

Step off and get the bow line on and then get back on and stop the engine.

Works great unless the stern line lets go!!!

Phil

[NCC320]

A couple of thoughts: (based on the understanding of your statement that the poles are 1 meter out into the water away from the wharf edge).

1- If you rig a a long stern line tied off on one of the stern cleats, led outside and around the stern, back to the stern cleat on the other side and through the horn of the cleat, with lots of slack in the line (careful not to get it under stern and in prop or rudder), you can drop the line loop over the stern piling as you pass it. Then, quickly take in the line (you can premark it if you like) on the untied side until the line is tight/short enough so you will not hit the piling at the bow, and cleat it off. Now power ahead, as if you were trying to pull the piling along with the boat, and depending on the rudder position you should be able to keep the bow off the wharf and the boat relatively stationary long enough for you to go forward and place lines on the forward piling and any cleat or bollard on the wharf.

2- Assuming that you can back your boat reasonably well (some boats don't back well), first rig a long bow line as follows: run the line through the bow cleat and back to the stern, outside the lifelines and tie a big loop in that end (for placing over the forward piling at the appropriate time). The other end of this line passes through the cleat, inboard back to a stern cleat or winch. Place a second line at/through a stern cleat with a loop in its bitter end that you can tend as a stern line. Now back parallel to the wharf and from ahead of you slip past what will be the bow/forward piling. As you pass, drop the loop of the long line from the bow over the forward piling. Keep backing until you reach the stern piling, now drop the stern line loop over that piling. Stop the backing movement with the engine, go to idle. Take in on both lines, adjust the lengths as necessary and cleat off. You should now be secure between the two pilings.

To work out the exact details and procedure, make a number of practice runs when the wind, and current are minimal.

[sailortjk1]

and by the time I am at the wharf I am barely moving.

regardless of all the other advise you will get, this is not good technique in my opinion. You want to be able to maintain steerage when making the approach. If you are barely moving you will have less control.
With time you will learn to how you boat behaves and it's prop walk. I don't think coming in barely moving is helping. Cross winds or currents will be more of a problem if you are barely moving.

[Yorksailor]

As slow as possible and as fast as necessary...

With my 30 ton boat with a nice paint job I go as slow as possible while maintaining steerage and I do my best to hit hard objects at zero mph.

[jjablonowski]

OP: "The cleats are only forward and aft on the Triton."

Look what I got for Christmas, to fit on the genoa track:

[mhalchemy]

Thanks for the help

I can't step on the dock as the wharf is only one level, and designed for ferries. Typically this requires a bit of climbing (1-2 meters up) and by the time you've done that the boat has coasted past.

What i will try is passing a rope over the stern pole, then motoring slowly forwards as I tie in the bow. If I measure the distance, and tie the stern close enough we simply won't be able to hit the bow.

My difficulty when i tried that before was that the bow swings out as soon as you take up pressure on the stern rope, but perhaps if I am quick about it we won't have any trouble.

Certainly, a line from amidships is the best option, but I don't have any cleat there yet.

Or I suppose I could run a line from the forward bollard to the aft, then bend it to another line amidship.

I'll give it a go

[paulk]

JJ's suggestion is key. You need a breastline- about midships- to throw ashore first. Pulling that line tight will pull the boat sideways without swinging the bow or stern around as much. Getting it tightened quickly will also stop you moving forward or back into the pilings.

Denise's video (following) shows how effective this can be, even with cowboys running the show.

[deniseO30]

well at least yall can smile when you watch this!
[IMG][/IMG]