[C320-list] First time out and QUESTIONS!

[Andrew Santangelo]

Hello Brad,

Actually our approach to docking is very simple.

When pulling into the slip we always tie off with the stern line first  
as the boat goes forward into the slip.  We typically come in at 0.5  
kts, depending on wind, etc.  The boat then tends approach the dock on  
the side you tie off the stern line on as you go forward. The stern  
does not swing out and the bow does not drift around.  Then the crew  
member (or myself even) jumps on the dock and easily handles the bow  
line. Sometimes I may do a simple pulse in reverse to cut the speed,  
but typically docking goes smoothly.

We have gotten so good with the docking that once when the engine did  
not start (wiring harness came apart), we docked under sail with no  
problems.

Practice and try out the technique.

Either way we find the C320 very easy to maneuver in forward and  
reverse, and she turns on a dime.

Batteries - we run a starting battery on Bank 1 and three deep cycle  
batteries for the house on Bank 2.  A Link controller manages the  
charge.  Under power and in port (when plugged in) we run the switch  
on BOTH for charging.  Note, I run an 80 amp alternator off the engine.

I hope this all helps.

Best Regards,
Andrew

C320 "Dawn Treader"
#333


On Aug 2, 2009, at 5:17 PM, Jon Vez wrote:

> Hopefully there won't be a next time, but if there is, one way to  
> recover
> from your experience is to put the boat in forward and turn the  
> wheel away
> (no more than 30 degrees) from where the bow line is secured. This  
> will
> bring the stern back toward the slip and stay there until you get  
> the stern
> line secured. Because we have such beamy boats with no standard mid- 
> ship
> cleat, this is a fairly common occurrence. We actually use a  
> premeasured
> line that is secured at the bow cleat and dropped on our mid-slip  
> cleat. I
> come in slow enough where there is plenty of time to get the stern  
> line
> secured, but if not, I just put it in forward and use the rudder to  
> offset
> the pull on the bow which keeps the boat straight.
> The problem with this approach is that it is counter-intuitive and you
> really have focus on shifting into frwd when all you want to do is hit
> reverse. You can try this while in the slip with a couple of people  
> at the
> dock holding a loose stern line to get a feel for how the boat will  
> react
> using a spring...as many on this list have mentioned, practice and  
> learning
> how the boat reacts in different conditions is the only way to dock
> comfortably....good luck!
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Vez
> Solstice #582
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Taylor  
> Devlin
> Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 5:05 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] First time out and QUESTIONS!
>
> We are very interested to read this thread.  We too are experiencing  
> some
> 'not very pretty' returns to our slip.  We are pretty inexperienced  
> sailors,
>
> and are getting to know the foibles of our 320, which is our first  
> boat.
> Only recently we worked out that reversing in neutral was a lot  
> easier than
> under reverse power.  Our slip is pretty tight, and requires a 90  
> deg right
> turn followed by an immediate 90 left to get in.  An important  
> lesson came
> our way yesterday.  A friend was on dock and offered to help.  We  
> threw him
> the bow line expecting to deal with the aft spring ourselves.  He  
> pulled
> tightly on the line and of course I lost the stern.  I had no idea  
> how to
> correct things so we backed out and left the fairway to try again.   
> More
> successful this time.  Sometimes it might be best to say no thanks  
> to a
> helping hand.
>
> May I ask about batteries?  When is it best to select BOTH?  I start  
> on 1
> and use 2 for house purposes, so why would I go to BOTH?
>
> Happy sailing and docking!
>
> Taylor and Louise Devlin
> ESCAPE
> 2003 320 #938
> Salt Spring Island BC
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ken Danko" <ken320 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 11:08 AM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] First time out and QUESTIONS!
>
>
>> You want to be careful with changing the range of motion of the  
>> radial
>> drive. If you try to increase it too much the chain will come off the
>> sprocket and you will no longer be able to steer except with the  
>> emergency
>
>> tiller.
>>
>>
>>
>> Brad Kuether wrote:
>>> We (the family) took Independence out for our first sail.  It was  
>>> blowing
>
>>> like snot, and we kept the genny reefed in around 130.  The boat  
>>> handled
>>> exactly how I thought it would, maybe getting overpowered once or  
>>> twice
>>> but nothing drastic.
>>> The real adventure began when we tried to put the boat away, going  
>>> dead
>>> downwind.   It took us three tries to get it into the slip and it  
>>> wasn't
>>> pretty how we did it.
>>>
>>> The problem was that boat simply would not turn to port going  
>>> backwards.
>>> I knew it wouldn't handle like my C&C did, but I mean it would NOT  
>>> move
>>> at all.  And while I was trying I could only get 180 degrees on the
>>> wheel.  It didn't seem right.
>>>
>>> So after the wife and kids left, I crawled down into the aft  
>>> compartment.
>
>>> The wire that keeps the radial drive wheel from over turning had a  
>>> rubber
>
>>> snubber on it, that basically took about 2 inches off the length  
>>> of the
>>> wire.  I think this is what kept me from being able to steer into  
>>> the
>>> slip.
>>>
>>> So based on my first experience here are my questions...
>>>
>>>  1.. Is the snubber standard, or was it put on the by the PO?
>>>  2.. Can it be removed or is 40 degrees really what the turning  
>>> radius
>>> is?
>>>  3.. Has anyone had problems with the wheel getting loose?  (I  
>>> tightend
>>> the piece that hold the wheel on and it just got loose again. )
>>>  4.. If you plug the boat in will it charge the batteries and does  
>>> the
>>> battery switch need to be in the on position for that to happen?.   
>>> (I
>>> know RTFM, but I spent all my time diagnosing the steering!)
>>>  5.. Is there a temperature where the engine can safely be shutdown?
>>> (3GM30) I have never had a gage just knew if I let it idle for 5  
>>> mins or
>>> so it would be fine.  ( I know probably another RTFM)
>>> Thanks and I am sure I will have more questions after we go out  
>>> more.....
>>>
>>> -Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
>>> "Independence"
>>> 2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
>>> Middle River, MD
>>>
>>
>>
>