[C320-list] FW: Docking

[Irv Grunes]

In addition to all of the good advice you have received.
We tied a line as tight as we could from the finger pier to the outer
piling.
When we start to back in, we clip a carabiner onto that line and pull it up
to the winch as hard as we can.
Then the boat stern just slides down the line and should at least try to
keep the stern off
your neighbors boat.
When you get to open water, try to drive figure eights around imaginary
bouys. It really builds confidence.
Irv Grunes
#851

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com]On Behalf Of Ben Waltuck
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 11:08 AM
To: C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] FW: Docking


Greg,

As a fellow newbie to the 320, I share your problem..

I spent a few hours last week driving around my marina, and I was AMAZED
at how this boat turns on a dime.
It's difficult to get the same perspective out in open water with no
close points of land to reference, but if you make some practice u-turns
in and around your marina, I think you'll gain a lot of confidence and
familiarity with the boat, and you'll quickly build the confidence and
knowledge to get yourself "out of trouble".

I'm still no better at docking, but I'm now much better at
re-positioning myself for another attempt.

You can just about spin the boat on the keel with a little practice, and
there have been some very good points made:
1) the bow definitely catches more wind than the stern, so
overcompensate for that when you set your angle of approach
2) the prop walk is significant only when starting to move in reverse..
once you get moving 1 kt, you can idle along with good control

Also, if there's any wind I still find it easier to just drive in bow
first and wait for the wind to let up.


Walter burnett wrote:

>Greg,
>
>  We all have those "adventures in docking days", so don't feel bad.
>
>  You don't say if you were in a cross wind, but I'll assume you were. I'll
offer a couple of my observations on the 320.
>
>  1. In a cross wind the 320 bow will drift a little faster than the stern,
so you have to steer the stern downwind to keep things straight and allow
for the faster rate of drift.
>
>  2. The 320 will back straight and true once you overcome the prop walk
(to port in reverse).
>
>  3.We have a big rudder, so steer gently. It's easy to overcorrect.
>
>  4.Maintain steerage way. You have to have water moving over the rudder
(about 1 to 1.5 Kts) to steer.  Use boat speed not speed over ground. The
key is not too fast and not too slow.
>
>  I hope this helps.
>
>  Walter
>  Selkie #887
>
>Greg Battersby <gjbattersby at probatter.com> wrote:
>  I recently stepped up to a 320 from a C-30 which I had had for a number
of
>years. I’ve been sailing a variety of different sailboats for more than 25
>years.
>
>
>
>The configuration with a swim platform on the back seemed conducive to
>backing into my slip rather than going in head first as I had done over the
>years with the C-30 and other boats. I share a slip with a 28’ powerboat
and
>when I back in, the finger pier is on my port side and he is on my
starboard
>side. There are no pilings. It’s pretty tight and there isn’t a tremendous
>amount of room between me and my neighbor.
>
>
>
>The first couple of times I came in I was able to back the boat in with
>minimal problems. I approached from the starboard side, slowed down,
>swung to starboard as I was passing my neighbor; came to a dead stop,
kicked
>it into reverse, and backed in with a little help from the dock wheel and
>prop wash that took me to starboard--against the dock. Today there was a
>little more wind than before and it was a disaster. After about 5 tries and
>thoroughly embarrassing myself (Happy Father’s Day!), we finally made it
in.
>Fortunately, my neighbor was out or else the disaster would have been a
>catastrophe.
>
>
>
>Anyone have any sage advice on docking, particularly the backing in type?
>I’m struggling enough with a couple of able body hands on board--the
thought
>of trying to single-handedly dock this boat is now intimidating.
>
>
>
>Greg Battersby
>
>C-320 #210
>
>Windeage
>
>Westport, CT
>
>
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