Help leaving the slip. - Page 5

sailingdog · #41 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009

.38 Special.

Quote:

Originally Posted by L124C

15-20 knot dock side winds are common in the Summer afternoons. Thats why I've learned to work with the wind. Everything I've posted here has served me well. If I haven't been clear, feel free to ask.
"Hold on loosely, and don't let go. If you hold too tightly, you gonna lose control" Who was that band anyway?

KeelHaulin · #42 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009

While I don't have the same situation; I have had difficulty with the boat backing correctly due to an offset prop (massive walk). Here is a procedure that works for us backing the boat out of our narrow double finger slip without handling the boat while standing on the dock.

I first turn the rudder hard to port; as the boat backs hard to starboard with the rudder centered. This keeps the boat backing fairly straight. In the OP situation he would turn the helm hard to starboard to counteract the walk with the rudder.

Before we cast off I have the bow pulled in so it is close to the dock and let the stern line loose so the boat is angled a bit in the slip. All lines are doubled and pulled aboard when we cast off. When we cast off I engage reverse and as the bow blows down it blows down to about the middle of the slip before the boat gets enough way to back up straight.

If my bow is turning left I add a bit of throttle to counteract; if it turns right I hit neutral to kill the prop walk and allow the rudder to work.

In the case of the OP he would want 2-3 kts of velocity in reverse so that when you go into neutral the flow across the rudder will over-power the ability for the bow to blow down. Depending on your rudder you might not need to be hard over; some rudders tend to stall when turned hard to port or stbd.

Once the bow crosses the eye of the wind you will want to go into forward; turn helm hard to port and let the wind blow the bow across so you are motoring out of the slip.

You might try this procedure with the boat walked back one cleat first; so bow line is at the dockside spring cleat. Have some good boat hooks onboard that have good padding on the ends so if you need to push off of your neighbor you can without doing any damage to his boat.

sailak · #43 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009

A fellow a few slips over is docked port side to/bow in as I am. He single-hands his cutter frequently. I noticed he was about to leave so the wife and I watched to gain from his experience. He was able to back out and get the stern a bit to the right. Once as far back as he could go he shifted to forward and applied a considerable amount of power. I'm guessing his cutter is a full keel boat as it just didn't turn very well even with the good amount of speed he had. He missed the bow platform on the first powerboat but got the teak platform of the next boat tearing it away. We've scratched his method off the list.

What we did was ask the owner of the powerboat next to us to walk the bow out (he was motivated to assist since it was his boat in jeopardy. Worked well.

Thanks

sailingdog · #44 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailak

A fellow a few slips over is docked port side to/bow in as I am. He single-hands his cutter frequently. I noticed he was about to leave so the wife and I watched to gain from his experience. He was able to back out and get the stern a bit to the right. Once as far back as he could go he shifted to forward and applied a considerable amount of power. I'm guessing his cutter is a full keel boat as it just didn't turn very well even with the good amount of speed he had. He missed the bow platform on the first powerboat but got the teak platform of the next boat tearing it away. We've scratched his method off the list.

What we did was ask the owner of the powerboat next to us to walk the bow out (he was motivated to assist since it was his boat in jeopardy. Worked well.

Thanks

LOL... That's probably a good choice.

L124C · #45 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailak

A fellow a few slips over is docked port side to/bow in as I am. He single-hands his cutter frequently. I noticed he was about to leave so the wife and I watched to gain from his experience. He was able to back out and get the stern a bit to the right. Once as far back as he could go he shifted to forward and applied a considerable amount of power. I'm guessing his cutter is a full keel boat as it just didn't turn very well even with the good amount of speed he had. He missed the bow platform on the first powerboat but got the teak platform of the next boat tearing it away. We've scratched his method off the list.

What we did was ask the owner of the powerboat next to us to walk the bow out (he was motivated to assist since it was his boat in jeopardy. Worked well.

Thanks

If the other sailboat was as you described, you probably would have learned about as much from watching him leave as from watching your dock mates powerboat go out! Totally different animal than your boat, especially under power. 36' is a large starter boat IMO. If you are really that unsure of yourself (good to admit it!), contact your owners association in your area and see if one of them will spend an hour working with you at the dock. Or, find a similar boat in the marina (NOT a full keel cruiser!) and ask the owner if he will work with you (most I know would be happy to do it). The yacht club might also be a good source. You might also want to find an empty slip that points down wind and practice. You may come back to your slip one day to find the wind has shifted 180 degrees, then what?

Your dock mate might not be around

sailak · #46 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009

I'm not so much unsure...it's more that I'm very aware of my lack of experience. As it turns out I'm now in a slip facing the opposite direction.

How dare the wind switch!!! I'm just starting to get this one figured out.

The reason my starter boat is 36' is because I couldn't afford 41'.

Boasun · #47 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009

For a heavy vessel you may want to drop and anchor straight out from your slip and heave around on the anchor rode to haul out from the slip. Just be sure that your winch or your back is up to hauling that vessel clear from the slip. Also helps if your guests do the grunt work here.

L124C · #48 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailak

The reason my starter boat is 36' is because I couldn't afford 41'.

Oh, I thouht you actually wanted to learn! Silly me...OK, I'm out!

sailak · #49 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by L124C

Oh, I thouht you actually wanted to learn! Silly me...OK, I'm out!

I do want to learn...I am learning more and more each time I go out. The ideas you and others have posted all go into the "knowledge bag" to be used if/when needed. I appreciate the knoweldge I'm able to gain here from other peoples experiences.

My remark about the 41' was somewhat in jest. Frankly, I don't have the time to start with a Sunfish or Laser and work my way up. While learning on a larger boat my be somewhat more difficult it's far from impossible. As a single-engine Cessna pilot I stepped up and was quickly checked out to fly a 4-engine WWII bomber (B-24 for those that know). I'm not afraid of a challenge.

Respectfully

Mipcar · #50 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009

[QUOTE=sailak;504442 As a single-engine Cessna pilot I stepped up and was quickly checked out to fly a 4-engine WWII bomber (B-24 for those that know). Respectfully[/QUOTE]

Sorry to hijack your thread.
Your comment about the Liberator caught my attention as my mate is working with the volunteer group here in Werribee, Melbourne, restoring a "Lib" for ground running display.

Mike