[QUOTE=Lazarski;6176]- I’m a one month Catalina 36 owner and trying to master getting into my slip and looking for thoughts/options for getting my boat safely into my slip…
- The wind blows straight down my fairway at a steady 10-12 knot winds (my first docking was blessed with 15 knots of wind...).
- My slip is about 50 yards down the fairway on the left
- The slip has 2 berths, and mine is to the left/upwind side, my slipmate on the right/downwind side (lucky him)
- The best approach to my slip seem to be:
> drive straight in at approx 1 knot, as I’m passing my slip turn 140 deg to port prior to approaching my slip (goal is to have the bow pointing at the outer corner of my slip), and this turn this kills my speed. If I don’t’ get my bow around, I’m destined for lots of fairway/close quarters maneuving..
> assuming I get my bow around I keep working the boat slowly forward with right rudder, and I need to get someone on the dock immediately to help pull my stern close to the left slide of the slip (slipmate on stbd has on ominous outboard with its screw looking right at me) and with wind blowing me down on my slipmate combined with the sternwalk to starboard I get very close to the outboard’s screw. A couple of large fenders have saved both me and my slipmate so far.
> if I do not get my bow around (gusts of 15 knots) I guess my best option would be to attempt to back into my slip at this point?
- any other thoughts/ideas/options that I’m not thinking of from those who have been maneuvering Catalina 36s for a while?[/QUOTE]

I have the same configuration. Usually I back into the slip by going past it several slips and and get enough boat speed to have control to back against the wind. If it's truly windy, I might go in head first. This means coming down the fairway with enough speed to maintain control, turning hard to port while aiming at the upwind corner while scrubbing off speed. I use the port prop walk to bring the stern into the dock. Seems to work a charm.

The good news is that the Hunter 41 that was the downwind boat (big ass) has moved out.

You'll get used to it.

Bruce

It sounds like you're going in bow first. If that's the case you probably just need a bit more speed to make the turn and not try to let the wind carry you into the slip. Try carrying a tad more speed slipping the transmission into and out of gear to maintain a comfortable speed. Starting a 90 plus degree turn with 1 knot of speed is going to leave you dead in the water with no steerage and you've turned control over to Mother Nature. With a tad more speed you should be able to drive into the slip fairly easily. If you're a bit fast, you can stop yourself with a burst of reverse, then quickly grab some lines before you get caddy whumpus (technical term) in the slip.

If you decide you do want to back in it sounds like both prop walk would help counteract the prevailing wind. Prop walk works to port on C36's so the stern would try to go to windward in you case.

I have the same issues you do except I'm the lucky person on the downwind side of the dock. I just moved a few weeks ago into this slip and have found I have to come in pretty hot to be able to make the slip without getting blown down too far. The avg wind in the harbor is 15kts.

Also, try using a mid-cleat line which will help keep you from getting blown into the other boat. Most of the upwind boats in my harbor do this and has saved quite a few boats from getting hit.

Good luck! It does get easier the more you do it.

If I'm understanding this correctly you are tying up on port? Use the prop walk in reverse to help you. If I'm docking on port side the wind is irrelevant. I come in at a slight angle with decent speed and at the appropriate time put it into reverse and give it a stout shot of fuel, that will walk the stern over 3 feet every time (unless you're docking in a hurricane!). Then step off onto the dock like you been doing it perfectly all your life. The key is that without some forward speed you've got no steerage way at all.

If you're docking on starboard it's a whole 'nother ball game. We got stuck on a starboard dock this year and it's not fun but the method we use to adapt to it can be useful regardless which side you dock on, upwind or down.

We use a short spring line attached to a cleat on the outboard genoa track, the cleat is positioned at the forward end of the lifeline gate, you need this cleat positioned about 2/3 of the way towards the stern of the boat, definitely not forward of half way. My wife stands at the gate with that spring line, I get as close to the dock as I can and she jumps off and puts that spring on the very end cleat of the dock, one wrap around the cleat and we now have control of the boat. The short spring will stop forward motion and you can walk the stern in easily if necessary with the engine and rudder though having the cleat in the rear 1/3 of the boat will do that by itself. Then it's just a matter of putting the other lines on. That method was demonstrated by Evans Starzinger in an issue of Cruising World 3 years ago and it works very well, especially when your prop walk works against you as it does for these boats when docking on starboard side.

It sounds like your dock arrangement is the same as mine. We have a mid-ship cleat just forward of the actual mid-ship point on deck. We use a 5/8" three strand aft spring line with the length made up specifically for docking and a loop on each end . I try to approach the slip slowly at 30 degrees or so and as the bow approaches the end of the slip, I start to straighten out and my wife steps off amid-ship and hooks the loop over the first cleat on the dock and the spring arrests the forward momentum of the boat. Then I put the wheel to starboard and give it a bit of throttle to swing the stern in. Once there, I leave the wheel hard starboard, transmission in forward and the throttle at idle and the boat will stay snugged up to the dock on my port side until we can cleat the rest of the dock lines.

When you start to make your turn into your slip, if you put the wheel hard port and them give it a shot of throttle, the stern end will come around smartly. Any boat that has a prop/rudder configuration like ours responds to water over the rudder in order to maneuver. That can be from going through the water at 2 or 3 knots, or using your prop thrust to speed up water flow over the rudder when you are at slow speeds or even stopped. Just put the wheel hard over to the direction you want to go, transmission in forward and give a healthy dose of throttle. Don't forget to back off the throttle though once you've initiated the turn. Give this a try out in open water a couple of times to help you get used to the amount of throttle required. It can really help when maneuvering in tight areas. Hope this helps.

We also use the mid-ship cleat with one difference--my wife skippers the boat into doc while I do the jumping to the doc to attach the amidship spring line,
Bob and Suzy Hokanson
C-36 mkI # 78

First, recently I've found that I started going too slowly when docking. This made it hard to turn into the slip, and a couple of times I missed it entirely and had to start over. This is especially so because we have a head wind.

Second, something that I found really makes docking while single handed easy and might also help with a second person: I tie a long line from the forward cleat to the one at the stern, with plenty of slack in between. Then, when I get to the dock, I (or a partner if you have one) can just jump off holding this line. This makes it easy to control both ends of the boat. This is a modification of something I read where the solo sailor ties the same line and tosses it over a cleat as he or she enters the slip. The line then brings the bow into the dock and holds the stern too. My problem is that when I tried this, I missed the cleat and the line got caught in the fenders. Also, in some cases, there is not a cleat on the dock that is handy.

We also use a spring from the center cleat, the difference is I the run the other end around the jib sheet winch. As we come in my wife or myself if I'm single handing drop the center of the line over a post or cleat, with the boat idling forward this pulls her against the dock allowing plenty of time to secure all lines and without anyone having to jump onto the dock. Jack klang has a website featuring a single handed cd for $20. Best $20 I have ever spent

I wrote this for Latitude 38 some time ago.

HOPPING OFF THE BOAT IS UNNECESSARY

In the April 2008 issue, Mark Johnston asked about dealing with aging knees and boat docking in “Senior Sailors and High Freeboard.” He expressed his concern about docking with a potential future bigger boat, noting “…it’s not so easy…for my wife and me to jump down to the dock with lines in our hands.” We’ve had our Catalina 34 for the past 10 years, with a C22 for two and a C25 for twelve before that, sailing all over the Bay, the Delta and up & down the coast. We employ what we believe is the most useful and safe technique for docking that still seems to be a mystery to most sailors. It’s called the midships spring line. Our older Catalina 34s did not come with a midships cleat, so we added one on each side at the forward end of the jib fairlead track. Many newer boats come with them. There really is no reason to ever have to jump off a boat to dock it properly. I recommend that Mark Google “midships springline” – there is a wealth of information available, one of which is: [url]http://www.cruising.sailingcourse.com/docking.htm[/url].

The maneuver is simple: attach the springline to the midships cleat, run it fair outside the lifelines, as you approach the dock loop the springline over the aft dock cleat and bring it back to the winch. Snug it up and keep the boat in low throttle forward and the boat will sidle right up to the dock, no jumping is EVER required. A friend developed an enhanced springline arrangement with a prefixed length of line with a hose holding a lower loop of line open to assure that it catches the cleat on the dock, so that no line needs to be returned to the winch.

I do a lot of single-handed sailing and have found this invaluable in docking in all conditions. I’m sure that once this “trick” is learned and mastered it can be used in a wide variety of docking situations with all manner of wind and currents.

It’s not only safer, it’s a sure knee and back saver. The only drawback is when docks don’t have cleats, but have those nutty rings or the wooden raised runners so prevalent in the Pacific Northwest. I think that’s one reason they invented grapnel hooks!

There's also this: [url]http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15645[/url]

Bud has the great advice of using prop walk to your advantage. Keep plenty of speed up so you have good steerage way and the give lots of reverse throttle to kill the speed. This will also move your stern to port and snug it up against the dock. You will look like a pro, just like Captain Ron.

If I was in your situation (wind blowing down the fairway at 15+ on my stern), I would pass my slip (approx 3-4 slips) and execute a starboard 180 degree pivot turn. Then I would be headed back to my slip into the wind and I could safely carry a little more speed. As I approached the port side dock at an angle, I would bear off and use the midship spring line as referenced by Stu.

[QUOTE=Lazarski;6212]... - my next set of docking/bumper drills is this Friday. ....Speed seems to be key, as is having an "at the ready" docking line/contraption. Docking update will follow the next set of drills....
[/QUOTE]

Ed,

Reasonable speed is the key. We have the wind behind us, too, and have to turn to starboard. Using port prop walk is a breeze pun intended.

Here's another thing to consider: How often do you dock? Think about it...once a trip, right?

Why not spend a half hour or an hour doing nothing but docking? It's called practice. And we all know what practice does...:)

[QUOTE=StephenK;6208]If I was in your situation (wind blowing down the fairway at 15+ on my stern), I would pass my slip (approx 3-4 slips) and execute a starboard 180 degree pivot turn. Then I would be headed back to my slip into the wind and I could safely carry a little more speed. As I approached the port side dock at an angle, I would bear off and use the midship spring line as referenced by Stu.[/QUOTE]

If the situation permitted, this is what I would likely do, as well.

I agree with most of what has been said, however, one thing to remember is never go into a slip any faster than you are willing to hit the dock.

[QUOTE=GloryDaze;6216]I agree with most of what has been said, however, one thing to remember is never go into a slip any faster than you are willing to hit the dock.[/QUOTE]

I think it is sometimes a VERY tricky balance between that thought above, and going so slow that you guarantee no steerage and the subsequent problems. Kind of like stalling an airplane because you feel like you want to go nice and slow to the landing.

Knowing when to goose the throttle or when to carry speed is part of using good judgment, and... "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment."

The midship cleat on the boat and an aft spring line to the dock cleat is the best solution. My aft dock cleat is too far forward of the stern to be useful in stopping the boat using the aft cleat on the boat. I had to splice a special midship boat to aft dock cleat spring line for stopping the boat before I hit the power box that sits right in front of my slip (not that I have... yet!).
Spring lines are wonderful in many situations
John Meyer
Hilbre 2135 San Pedro CA

Lots of great info already presented using spring lines. I guess this would be a modified StephenK method but would eliminate the 180 degree trun in the fairway. This may not be appropriate but you may want to try backing down the fairway past your slip. Then go forward into the wind and enter your slip into the wind using the prop walk to help the turn and bring the stern to the slip using a spring line as previously described. You should have more control moving into the wind and the momentum of the boat is into your finger and not towards you slipmate.

Good luck.

[QUOTE=Lazarski;6247]
and quickly getting a stern line over, but overall things are much safer for both me and my slipmate....thanks all. [/QUOTE]

Ed, good on you! One thing to remember: you do NOT have to quickly get the stern line on. You should be able to sit all day on the spring line with the boat in forward gear at idle.

[QUOTE=mablamb;6300]L This may not be appropriate but you may want to try backing down the fairway past your slip. Then go forward into the wind and enter your slip into the wind using the prop walk to help the turn and bring the stern to the slip using a spring line as previously described.

Good luck.[/QUOTE]

I am all for experimenting on different solutions....practicing docking and boat handling skills are both good things.

I used to back down the fairway in the manner suggested and then proceed in forward. This method was successful (and easy to execute) in lighter winds. I found it much more difficult (if not dangerous) to back down the fairway in heavier winds with the wind off my bow. To maintain steerage, you have to use more throttle and hence more speed. If a strong wind shift pushes your bow, things can get out of hand quickly ...and according to Murphy, it usually does at the wrong time.

I still favor going down the fairway (in forward gear) with the wind on your stern and execute the 180 degree pivot turn...which you should be able to do (with practice) inside a fairway. Practice it away from the dock in open water to get good at it, then try it on a light wind day inside your fairway. I am much more relaxed at the wheel using this maneuver vs. backing down in higher winds. Try both and see how you feel.

I concur with StephenK regarding backing in differing wind strengths.

We have had almost the exact same slip configuration but are much further down the fairway and most often have 15knots of westerly wind blowing down the fairway. I have found either reversing down or steaming forwards down the fairway past the slip and then returning to the slip forwards with a starboard turn always works out best. If the wind is less than 15knots then we will reverse down past the slip and then motor forwards into the slip and if it is 15knots+ we motor forwards past the slip, execute a pivot turn, and then motor fowards into the slip. Either way we are making a starboard turn into the slip and the wind will almost always blow the bow to starboard just as we want it to. The big benefit of this approach is you can turn to starboard aiming just upwind of your slip and the wind will bring your bow around nicely so you can almost always be pefectly lined up parallel with your slip plus the hull has port side momentum which will carry you to your port side tie; any reverse thrust you need to apply to stop your boat will also assist with this port side momentum. A midship stern spring, engine/gearbox in idle forward, and wheel fully starboad should keep you nicely tucked in until you can get all your mooring lines in place :)