I like the very clear and relaxed way you explain the procedure! Docking with an aft spring is my favorite too. What I don’t like is that someone has to jump from the boat to put the line on the cleat. I personally use a longer line and throw it over the cleat while standing on the boat. That allows also for single handed safe docking. Please keep up the good work.
Thanks for the kind words Dirk. I see too many people jumping from the boat and then pulling on the lifelines and stanchions (creating leaks at stanchion bases). I hope this method as well as yours makes docking easier and safer.
Thank you so much for sharing, it is a great video. Would you be kind enough to share a video regarding a single handed docking stern in please Thank you in advance.
Hi George, thanks for your comment. Making a video for stern-in docking is a great idea. Unfortunately we have a hard water problem this time of year (Minnesota) so it will have to wait until spring. I also would like to make a video on parallel parking a boat between 2 others, such as getting into a crowded fuel dock. This will use the same principal. Until then, warm thoughts!
The short stern loop is a good improvement over the single stem line method which I’ve been using on an 11m catamaran, although I have found success with the single line from an amidship cleat. I’ll definitely experiment with both the short loop and the long one. One question, on a light boat (2500kg) with little underwater and lots of windage relative above water its difficult manoeuvring at slow speeds and with any decent breeze, despite an engine in each hull....you cant just go to neutral and rely on inertia or the boat’s way to take you the last several cables to dock. It would be good to some guidance on that.
Hello Mark. I understand the situation you describe where stopping and keeping the boat in position is not always possible due to wind. To help 'catch' the cleat while still moving forward I tried making a fixed "outrigger" sort of set up to hold the loop in place. As I slowly came into the slip the loop would drag along the dock and catch the cleat. While this works in theory it did not work as well in practice as I have a wheel at the end of my dock which interfered and also small cleats. That said, It might work well with a large cleats or a Sampson post and no other obstructions. Another option would be clip or Velcro the looped line to a pole and snag the cleat on the way in. Similarly, one could slide a few feet of the line through a piece of PVC and hold the PVC out and over the dock and cleat. This actually works well, but you need a dedicated line and piece of PVC for this method. Think outrigger, lasso, arresting hook. Have some fun experimenting and I'm confident that you will find the best method for your situation.
Appreciate the video. Learning some useful techniques for sure.
nice video ... simple and to the point
Thanks for posting this videos. Works well for for me.
Thank you for sharing some great ideas
Beautiful. Well done
I like the very clear and relaxed way you explain the procedure! Docking with an aft spring is my favorite too. What I don’t like is that someone has to jump from the boat to put the line on the cleat. I personally use a longer line and throw it over the cleat while standing on the boat. That allows also for single handed safe docking.
Please keep up the good work.
Thanks for the kind words Dirk. I see too many people jumping from the boat and then pulling on the lifelines and stanchions (creating leaks at stanchion bases). I hope this method as well as yours makes docking easier and safer.
Great ideas and masterfuly executed at 4:50. Congrats.
great videos, thanks
Maestro!!
Very good.....
Thank you so much for sharing, it is a great video.
Would you be kind enough to share a video regarding a single handed docking stern in please
Thank you in advance.
Hi George, thanks for your comment. Making a video for stern-in docking is a great idea. Unfortunately we have a hard water problem this time of year (Minnesota) so it will have to wait until spring. I also would like to make a video on parallel parking a boat between 2 others, such as getting into a crowded fuel dock. This will use the same principal. Until then, warm thoughts!
The short stern loop is a good improvement over the single stem line method which I’ve been using on an 11m catamaran, although I have found success with the single line from an amidship cleat. I’ll definitely experiment with both the short loop and the long one. One question, on a light boat (2500kg) with little underwater and lots of windage relative above water its difficult manoeuvring at slow speeds and with any decent breeze, despite an engine in each hull....you cant just go to neutral and rely on inertia or the boat’s way to take you the last several cables to dock. It would be good to some guidance on that.
Hello Mark. I understand the situation you describe where stopping and keeping the boat in position is not always possible due to wind.
To help 'catch' the cleat while still moving forward I tried making a fixed "outrigger" sort of set up to hold the loop in place. As I slowly came into the slip the loop would drag along the dock and catch the cleat. While this works in theory it did not work as well in practice as I have a wheel at the end of my dock which interfered and also small cleats. That said, It might work well with a large cleats or a Sampson post and no other obstructions.
Another option would be clip or Velcro the looped line to a pole and snag the cleat on the way in. Similarly, one could slide a few feet of the line through a piece of PVC and hold the PVC out and over the dock and cleat. This actually works well, but you need a dedicated line and piece of PVC for this method. Think outrigger, lasso, arresting hook. Have some fun experimenting and I'm confident that you will find the best method for your situation.
Catalina 36 Mk II?
Catalina 350
@@gonesailing2552 thx. Some resemblance. Sold my 36MkII in 2005.
Smooth