[C320-list] Backing into slip

[Jeffrey Hare]

Hi Adam, 

   My marina is on a tidal river about a mile from open ocean.

The predominate current is about 2-2.5kts max, downstream, but it reverses
at about 1/2 (1kt) speed up river (where we are) on an incoming tide.

The main docks run from shore, out towards the center of the river with all
the slip fingers pointing up and down river to keep boats aligned with the
current.

If you have a slip on the upriver side you really should back in because
otherwise, any river debris will collect and foul your rudder/prop shaft.


If your slip is on the downriver side like ours, heading in makes the most
sense.  When docking under an incoming tide at max flood, we have to crab in
by pointing downriver then make a quick 180 and hit the brakes. Gori 3-blade
to the rescue.  :)

Because river currents are a little squirrely, backing against a current can
be really difficult if there happens to be a slight cross current compounded
by wind at your slip.

Typically our marina assigns slips on the upriver side to twin-screw
stinkpots who can easily keep the bow upriver and scoot the stern around
while maneuvering while sailboats usually opt for downriver slips.  Al
Ahlman used to have an upriver slip and backed in for years.  Heading in
wasn't really an option.  Chris Holt (Wine Down) backs in for similar
reasons I believe.

Cheers!
-JeffH

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Adam Weiner
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 11:20 PM
To: 'C320-List'
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Backing into slip

Yes, well the best part of my slip is that it can be used 12 months of
the year.  I will bite.  What water conditions require backing in?

Adam

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Hare
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 7:01 AM
To: 'C320-List'
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Backing into slip


Oh, how easy it would be if we all had slips just like Adam's. 
Unfortunately, slips come in all kinds of configurations.  :)

Re: #1 Marina conditions frequently determine how you "park".  :) 30% of
the slips in my marina require back-in approach due to water currents.

I also come in slowly enough to make the dock hands start to pace when
possible.  
That's good advice, but you have to have enough speed to maintain
steerage to counter wind and currents, which isn't always as slowly as
you'd like.

It's "docking" when I dock it.  It's "parking" when my wife docks it.
Occasionally we call it "Crashing". 
After all, whoever has the helm chooses the terms.

-Cheers
-J



-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Adam Weiner
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 11:00 PM
To: 'C320-List'
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Backing into slip

Number one:  Why do you back into the dock?  Why do you make life
difficult for yourself.  It is easier to dock bow in and then back up
into the fairway.

Number two:	I come into my dock so slowly that you can feel the
slime growing on the bottom.  This isn't a speed race.  My crew jokes
that they can read a Harry Potter book in the time it takes me to dock,
but hey I don't have fenders down and I dock have any scrapes on the
boat.

Number three:  I put my boat into neutral anywhere from 20 yards to 200
yards from the slip depending on head wind.

Number four:  If you want to practice drop a couple of fenders connected
to light anchors in an empty spot of water and practice docking between
the fenders.

Number five:  It is called docking not parking.  



-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Randy Averill
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 7:42 PM
To: 'C320-List'
Subject: [C320-list] Backing into slip


Another new owner question.

I've had my 320 for less than a month and my biggest problem right now
is parking.  My previous boat was much smaller and lighter, and I
learned to maneuver it into the slip rather easily with its outboard
motor and tiller. Now I would greatly appreciate the voice of experience
helping me out.

I approached my first couple times into the new slip with the 320 with
great caution.  This boat can coast a long way and I can't afford to
overshoot my slip (I'm at the end of the runway) so I slowed to a crawl.
I used a "Y" approach in that I came forward down the runway to my slip,
turned hard to port (away from the slip), and then backed in after
completing a 90 degree turn to port.  I actually parked fairly well, but
it took forever because I was going so slowly.

Last time out was my first problem because there was some wind blowing
me into the dock.  I think if I came in faster the wind would have less
effect (i.e., it would have less time to blow me around), but I don't
know how fast is too fast.  Does anybody have a rule of thumb you could
offer?  If you're coming in a idle, how early do you put your
transmission in neutral?  How much time to stop the boat with reverse?
Any good way to get a better feel for this on open water?  I'm not sure
I trust my ability to transfer the open water experience to the marina
because it's so tight.  Any good stories to make me laugh and relax?


Randy Averill
Tesoro (#29)