[C320-list] Backing into slip

[SYC]

The person who rented the slip before I did set up a bridle using docklines.
Granted, this works much better when going into the slip forward (because it
creates a natural V-shape). Quite a few people at the marina take one look
and then go and make one for themselves. All you really need to do is get
the nose of the boat into the slip, going at idle speed, and the bridle
guides the boat right in. It takes awhile to get the rope lengths just right
but it is very nice once it is set. Mine uses 3 lines: the first is hung
from 2 hooks that are attached to the "front" - landside - part of the slip.
The other 2 lines (long ones!) are spliced to the center of the first line,
then they are attached to the pilings at the outer ends of the slip. I guess
it helps to have a center piling between slips. There is enough slack in the
first line so that the other lines pull it out about 3 ft. from the wall.
The end result is a bridle with a built-in "V", attached at 4 points (2 in
the front wall, 1 on each end piling). This is really hard to describe
without pictures!

Joan
C320 #90 Persistence  

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Irving Grunes
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 1:40 PM
To: 'C320-List'
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Backing into slip

A really good way to practice backing is to do figure eights using at least
one buoy to practice on.  Then you can practice using all the different wind
directions to see how the boat reacts to each of them.
Good Luck
Irv Grunes #851

-----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 10:01 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)