[danstanford]

Dhays, you know what I worried about from the time I docked till I got out then! In my case the big power boat on the windward (starboard) side prevented me from getting a line onto that other side (twin slip) but I think if it happened again I would try to get that done prior to leaving. In actual fact, backing in was pretty easy since I was on the leeward side which I did the first time I returned to the slip but then while I was out sailing that power boat left and another took my side leaving me to take the windward side the next time. Having already backed down the fairway I tried and successfully steered into the slip but then before we could catch it the bow blew down onto the leeward boat with the stern already in. Mostly I am trying to figure out how to get swung into the windward side of the slip when backing down and I think the answer is ...don't do it! Dan

 

[danstanford]

In the end, all of your kind responses equal what I knew or had thought of. As proven by how we did it, nose in-back out was the correct procedure here unless the wind had been lower or the other way. As long as I get a good push, and am careful with the throttle, she tracks nicely out of the slip which most times allows me to turn the bow downwind and drive out the fairway as needed.
I have just bought a 40' length or dock line which I plan to connect to the fore and aft cleats at the two ends of the line when entering or exiting the slip. I figure starting her out I will have control over the bow and coming in I will have control over whichever end needs it. In addition, I plan to ask whoever jumps onto the dock to drop the line over a cleat limiting how far we can drift if it all goes wrong with the warps.

Will keep you posted if this works as described by others.

Dan

 

[danstanford]

This was a one time slip and fortunately it worked out fine, I was just looking for suggestions to control the bow when swinging in to this kind of situation. On the lee side of the slip I was able to glide in with not too much issue and with the help I made it out just fine too. I was thinking about how I would approach it if it happened again, or something like it and wondering how to make it safely. My home slip is quite similar but I am on the windward side of the slip, I come in upwind and my neighbor to windward does not stick out....I guess it is only kind of similar. I have been thinking about trying to come up parallel to the end of the slip and hook my mid-ship cleat to the end of the pier and let her rotate in clockwise using the cleat to keep the bow from swinging down into my neighbor to lee. Not certain at this point that I have the space necessary for half of my boat to swing.

Enjoying the discussion and ideas,

Dan

 

[danstanford]

Trying once more to attach the sketch. To be clear, I can control the stern as I enter, it is the swinging bow that is the issue.

 

[danstanford]

Here is a sketch

 

[danstanford]

Backing out was what we did and was successful but I think it was made so by my strong buddy pushing us out so the rudder would bite to make the turn to windward. My wife was scared to run the wheel and not strong enough to really give her the push needed if we were by ourselves. If I just tried to back out the prop walk would have made the exit impossible because we would just have drifted/be drawn to port into the other big power boat. Mostly we are by ourselves and the backing part is always the challenge (either in or out). Since she has a walk through transom, and the fact that I can drive out myself with immediate steerage, backing in is preferred most times but control of the bow is tough.

Will post a diagram,

Dan