I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose first..

[Thajeffski]

As some may have seen my other post, I ordered a swim platform.

here's the dock where I have a slip, that's my boat in it.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_EhTE6BDsbts/S7kfWw5xk8I/AAAAAAAAbIA/KFngLTk7jTA/s720/IMGP3917.JPG

Now it's a freakin pain in the butt to go nose in because the finger parts of the dock are so bouncy.

With the new swim platform I'm thinking it'll be great to go bow OUT rather than in.

What do you think? will there be any negatives to doing this? I'm trying to figure out how I could get the front of the boat (assuming bow out) to stay off of the dock. Say the wind is coming from the right of the picture...... the nose is going to want to push to the left......

 

[Lrider]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

I think I would be concerned about catching my platform under the dock. But nose in or nose out is going to take practice

I am learning this wisdom in my coast guard basic boating course

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

I'm not worried about that. You use something called a spring line for that.

I'm worried about how I'd keep the nose pointing strait out in all wind conditions.

 

[Lrider]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

Heh PRACTICE

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

Read this on another forum, might try it

I use a 4 line setup stern to (i.e. I back in to the slip):

One line from the front of the slip back to the mid clean to prevent the stern of the boat from contacting the back of the slip. We put this on first

A second short line from the starboard aft corner of the pier to the aft starboard cleat (our dock is on the starboard side). This stops the boat from moving either fore or away from the dock

A third line from this same point crossing behind the stern to the port aft cleat. This stops the stern of the boat from drifting away from the dock

A bow line from the front of the pier to the starboard fore cleat to keep the bow from swinging away. Ideally where the line is attached to the pier should be aft of where it is attached to the bow.

 

[capt sam]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

use spring lines, we dock like that quite often, you may have to adjust your lines according to tides, main concern is the outboard cowling getting squashed.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

I'm worried about how I'd keep the nose pointing strait out in all wind conditions.

We use crossed aft lines to prevent the boat from moving side to side at the slip: Aft port to the dock's starboard cleat and vice-versa. A spring line prevents the stern from hitting the dock. A bow line holds the bow to the dock.

Unfortunately, short of dropping a mooring anchor, in this setup there is no way to prevent wind from pushing the boat into the dock. We bought some oversized fenders.

Hopefully the flag in the background is indicating the direction of prevailing winds. If not, see if you can get a leeward dock.

 

[amanphoto]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

I'm thinking that if you go bow out, then the boat will ride the waves better from passing boats. Less chance of water washing over your transom. But, being backed in, people can look inside your boat.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

I have never had a boat, or been on a boat put in bow first.

 

[Bliner175]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

This is my first season owning a boat, and we've done nothing but back into our slip.

It takes a bit of getting used to, but I use three dock lines:

- One spring line from the stern cleat tied very tight.
- One line from the bow cleat tied tight enough to keep the nose facing forward, but not super tight.
- One line from the tow hook to keep the boat from floating straight out if my two other lines fail.

 

[arks]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

I've docked stern-to for the past 8 years. I've had no real problems and prefer it.

There's a lot of variables involved (current, wind, tie points) so it's hard to give specific help without being there, so my best advice is to see how others are doing it in your marina and try to do something similar. Use fenders if necessary to keep the bow from touching the finger pier.

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

Looks like a floating dock. Just tie it up nice and tight. Use a spring line to keep the stern from coming too far back.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

well I know that dock....you are mostly protected from the common NW winds.. and there is little wake activity down in there.... as well as little current.. you are maybe 200 yards from the end of the bay...cant be any current there!!

those are pretty skimpy catwalks!!!!

seems to me that lots of good bumpers are needed, you dont want to be banging the other guys boat!!!!!

I wonder how much give those little skinny fingers have themselves!!!!

Dont you love those Norwalk Islands??

those Norwalk Osyters are shipped all over America!!

good luck...

bob

 

[Shamus O'toole]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

/\/\bumpers!?!?!?! Did he just realy say "bumpers".......

 

[bob johnson]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

bumpers bumpers bumpers bumpers

rubber thingies, fenders, future trash, and floatsam,

its all the same...


bob

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I want to put my boat backwards in the slip......but everyone else goes nose firs

Bow in / Bow out. you should be using a spring line either way. dock your boat any way you wish, in - out, both are proper. Bow out makes loading easier.