[C320-list] Docking Tool

[W. Neale Bennett]

I have also evolved to Chip's technique.  We tie up with the finger on the starboard side.  I have bow and stern lines ready.  We are usually on the boat together and my wife has  learned this technique very well. Once she gets us alongside the pier, I just step off to secure bow and stern, then adjust.  Practice steering in reverse before you head down the fairway.  Blunt end first, with rudder now in front makes things a little different.  Also, gaining steerage going from forward to reverse takes more time and initial prop walk must be considered.  I also go to the other side of helm rather than steer over the shoulder.  All in all, it is a very comfortable way to dock with two or single handed.  It also makes for some great comments and you cruise down the fairway with people watching.
Cheers,

Neale BennettLady LoRee #275502-445-6898
 

    On Sunday, April 25, 2021, 8:06:32 AM EDT, ptormey at 4square.net <ptormey at 4square.net> wrote:  
 
 Read

Stress-Free Sailing: Single and Short-handed Techniques

Book by Duncan Wells

Great technique for landings

Pat Tormey

________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Jeff Smith <svsailmates512 at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2021 7:30:09 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Docking Tool

Tom,

I am not an orthopedist but I can’t imagine they will think it is a good idea to have your wife on the bow with her arm in a sling. My wife is what I like to call “vertically” and “athletically” challenged. We pull stern in to our slip. She drives us out of the slip and out of the marina, which works well because I am going to raise the main anyway. Coming in, she uses a boat hook to grab the windward bow line if possible. I have a dock line attached to the stern port cleat (our finger pier is on the port side) that I run outside of the lifelines. Once we are close to the finger pier, my wife grabs a bow line and I step off with a line on the stern in my hand, making sure I am in neutral first.

I am sure there will be people who say this is unsafe, so caveat emptor. Once I am on the dock with a line on the boat, though, I can keep it in the slip if the tides and wind are extremely strong. I use this when I am single handed.

You might also watch this video. It is similar to the docking stick though you would do all of the work using a continuous line with a loop attached to the boat at your pivot point. I have also used this procedure when single-handed. It has the added bonus that you do not leave the boat without a line on a cleat on the dock.

Good luck to you and your wife. I had shoulder surgery 11 years ago and it still bothers me to sleep on that side.

Jeff
S/V Sailmates, #121, 1994

> On Apr 24, 2021, at 5:50 PM, Tom Grass <tgrass462 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> My wife is going to have rotator cuff surgery next month.  I'm looking at
> products that might help US to come into a dock under more control.
> Usually I am at the helm and she is on the bow.  Here is a product I saw on
> facebook (youtube video:  https://youtu.be/zi936rcrZCY) that could possibly
> assist us.  The initial thought is that my wife would use the pole to
> capture the cleat and I would then pull the line tight from the helm.
>
> Have any of you had a similar problem?  What are your opinions of this
> product (on the youtube video? )  Any ideas of what else might help during
> her recovery.  Thanks in advance.
>
> Tom & Tracy Grass
> S/V Bucket List
> 2008 Catalina 320 MK II
> # 1135