New sailors iso private instruction Pasadena, MD

[rconn2]

I thought I was sending PM's, but I need 15 posts... this is 14.

[rconn2]

And this is 15.

[painkiller]

Hey, rconn. There's no shame in pulling bow-in, either. That's often a much less stressful way of coming home as long as you can get off the boat onto the finger pier easily enough.

Don't worry too much about coming in under power. The Catalina 27 should be light enough for you to muscle in. Run guide lines from your outer pilings to the dock and just guide the boat in close enough to grab on to something with a boat hook. Then walk her back. Do that for as long as you need to and practice in the meantime.

Also, that Catalina should take a lot of abuse. Discover the joy of the rubrail. Don't be bashful about laying her against a piling with that rubrail and pivoting into the slip.

Another thing to consider is your slip. If it's awkward, see if you can get one that might be a little easier to manage. A slip out closer to the end of the pier is better than a slip deep down the fairway because if you run into trouble, it's not too far to back out to clear water. Think about your prop walk and plan for it. A slip on your left side as you come down the fairway might be great for a bow-in arrangement because when you reverse to come out of your slip, the prop walk will naturally start your turn down the fairway in the right direction.

I can't tell you how many times I've botched dockings and departures. I still do regularly! Operating a single-screw vessel at low speed in restricted areas is just hard, especially if there's any kind of wind or current. Just accept it, do your best, and keep at it.

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by painkiller

Hey, rconn. There's no shame in pulling bow-in, either. That's often a much less stressful way of coming home as long as you can get off the boat onto the finger pier easily enough.

Don't worry too much about coming in under power. The Catalina 27 should be light enough for you to muscle in. Run guide lines from your outer pilings to the dock and just guide the boat in close enough to grab on to something with a boat hook. Then walk her back. Do that for as long as you need to and practice in the meantime.

Also, that Catalina should take a lot of abuse. Discover the joy of the rubrail. Don't be bashful about laying her against a piling with that rubrail and pivoting into the slip.

Another thing to consider is your slip. If it's awkward, see if you can get one that might be a little easier to manage. A slip out closer to the end of the pier is better than a slip deep down the fairway because if you run into trouble, it's not too far to back out to clear water. Think about your prop walk and plan for it. A slip on your left side as you come down the fairway might be great for a bow-in arrangement because when you reverse to come out of your slip, the prop walk will naturally start your turn down the fairway in the right direction.

I can't tell you how many times I've botched dockings and departures. I still do regularly! Operating a single-screw vessel at low speed in restricted areas is just hard, especially if there's any kind of wind or current. Just accept it, do your best, and keep at it.

Who the hell are you?

[painkiller]

Hah hah! I'm new around here. Came to dispense the wisdom of my years.

[smackdaddy]

Great to see you around Pain. Dispense on my friend!

[rconn2]

painkiller - I'm not ashamed to dock bow first... in fact I insist on it . Reverse... not so good... I got stuck in a corner confused by the boat handling... I think my gf was trying and I took over and made it worse... someone saw our plight and managed to jump on board and dock for us.

I've gotten lots of generous replies and PM's and think we'll get some boat handling instruction Sunday or Monday.

All the responses here are much appreciated and I've read them all and want to reply... been a little busy at work but will get around to it.

[rconn2]

"Run guide lines from your outer pilings to the dock and just guide the boat in close enough to grab on to something with a boat hook. Then walk her back. Do that for as long as you need to and practice in the meantime."

That's a great idea. Someone we met suggested running a V line... a single line from one outer piling through a looped rope extending a few feet from the middle of the dock (the point of the V) and back to the other outer piling. When taut, this would form a kind of cradle for the boat.

[bvander66]

Highly recommend joining MRSA (Magothy River Sailing Association). Lots of great folks there who will help you. Their website is www.Magothysailing.com. They have a cruising fleet, racing fleet and jr fleet as well they have great parties and seminars throughout the year.

[arknoah]

All of this stuff does take practice. I dock stern in, but with an outboard, it ain't so tricky. Using the lines to pull yourself in or out of the slip for that matter is often a good practice. I use it when I can.

I am sure that a couple of days of good one on one or one on two instruction will give you great tools you can use to feel more confident in and around your slip. And if you think people are being entertained by your antics (I'm sure they have watching me at times) -- remember that at one time, they were providing entertainment, too. I never let that stuff bother me.