Dockhands and Docking

[Four Suns]

I was going to post this in my thread on cruising the bay but I’ll put it here since not everyone is reading that bore of a writeup.

One of my pet peeves when coming into a marina are dockhands and their handling of dock lines. Most of these people, both kids and older people, probably don’t have that much boating and docking experience and when they feel like they have to help, they tend to just mess things up.

For example…

When we come in to dock, I want my crew that is on the boat to have control of the lines. The loop end of the rope goes to the dock to loop over a pole or loop on a dock cleat. It seams everywhere we have stopped this summer, my crew ends up in a brief argument with the dockhand wanting my crew to loop the rope on the boat cleat and just tossing them the rope so the dockhand can tug and yank on it for some reason. Not happening. It’s my boat and I’m docking it and I’m not giving rope control to someone who probably never docked a boat before. I’ve even had to come off the bridge a few times and tell the dockhands to just put the ropes on the pilings and let us control them to dock the boat. They always seem upset by this. I think it’s because they don’t have to do much but stand there and watch. We can dock this boat in 5 minutes or less.

We have a pretty simple routine when we dock. If we are in a slip, we criss-cross the ropes on the stern and snug up to the finger pier with one bow line, one (maybe two) spring lines, and 2 fenders. If we are on a t-head, it’s a bow line, a spring line, and crossed-over stern line with 2 fenders again.

I’m thinking maybe next time I’ll loop the rope on the stern cleat and toss the dockhand the line and then as he’s playing tug-o-war with me, I’ll yank his butt in the drink.

 

[Asureyez]

More hurt than help at times

I hear ya brother. I don't call for assistance at my home dock and when traveling I ask for my slip assignment and rarely ask them for their help. It makes our life simple.

The Admiral and I can dock Asureyez which is 50" overall in six or seven minutes in all but the most difficult winds and tides. We have the power cables and bumpers on in another five and adjusted just once for the tide. If you know your boat its a snap.

Helpful onlookers offering assistance are not thrown lines, in 9 out of 10 times. We thank them and assure them were okay and do our jobs.

 

[Bridog]

I'd be happy with any help. They are probably used to people with less experience than you and your crew. Side note. I hope your wife doesn't find you filling in page after page of your ships log......"all play and no work makes Gary a dull boy"..... "all play and no work makes Gary a dull boy" :smt101

 

[fwebster]

I gave up on this non-sense several years ago, and don't argue any more. I just let them do their thing. After they go back into the air conditioned hiding spot they located, we just fix the lines the way we want them.

Also, if we have enough line length and the situation allows, we put the eye of the dock line on the cleat on the boat, pass the end around the piling then secure the bitter end to the same cleat the eye of the line is on. That way we never have to get off the boat to cast off when we depart......just loosen the end and pull the line around the piling.

 

[comsnark]

I think Frank has an important key: Arrange dock lines so you can easily depart.

Honestly. . . I will take any help I can get when docking! I like to dock on the leeward side of docks, and I have a heck of a time balancing (1) Coming up short and missing! vs (2) slamming into dock. Much better to throw a line to someone. My "crew" is not as experienced as Gary's. . and they struggle to get lines around poles QUICKLY with the boat surging towards, then suddenly away from the piling.

Fortunately, my favorite watering hole has a paid dock hand. Sure. . the quality varies. . .but I like the help.

All the dock hand has to do is get the fore and aft secure and I get the engines down. Once that is done, I take a sip of a drink THEN inspect all the moorings and ensure it is set up the way I want.

 

[Converse48]

Gary, you must have enjoyed the docking procedure at the Hyatt. they like to send a whole army of people out to "help". That place can be tough because it is more exposed, plus the slips are generally wider than they need to be for the length, but come on now... five guys? When we go there, we call for our slip assignment and then sneak in while they're "helping" someone else.

I too have the benefit of a good crew in my wife and son. Our trick is to actually discuss our plan BEFORE we get into to docking situation. I inform the crew what the M.I.L. is (most important line), and one of them puts full priority on getting that line secured. And I agree completely that the looped end should be on the dock and not the boat!

Another thing I'm going to do is to get some blue spring lines so they can be easily identified by the crew. I have all black "travelling lines" and sometimes the crew has a tough time identifying the longer lines from the shorter ones.

Lastly, if a can't shoo them off, I do what Frank does.... let them do their thing and fix it later!

 

[water rat]

People are trying to be helpful; don't be so harsh on folks that want to give you a hand. A polite no thanks should suffice. Be glad that other boaters make kind gestures - the world would be a better place if everyone was courteous and tried to lend a helping hand to others.

 

[dad's turn]

Hi All- Being alone boater most of the time this is what I have found to work. At my home slip I leave the lines attached to the dock when I leave. and I have added colored tape to each line that matches the color tape on each cleat. Works like a charm, I have to have my boat in the slip before anybody can reach and pull and the lines alway match.

When I travel prior to entering the marina I put out my bumpers and attach one line at mid ship. Then when I pass it to the dockhand I instruct them which cleat to tie off to. A long time boating friend told me never throw the contro of your boat to a dock hand.

 

[CSR_Admin]

I fall into Frank's category somewhat too. The local docking expert is usually the guy that greets me no matter where I go, it usually is a no-win situation. If I insist on doing it myself they get all pissy and stand there with a dirty look while I do my thing, if I let them do it there is no doubt some uncomfortable moments while they do things differently than I normally would. I am very comfortable keeping multiple steps ahead of their moves, and know when what they are doing transitions from inconvenient to dangerous and am ready to "yell" at them when that happens. So I basically will let the local expert do their thing without insulting them, but as soon as they do something wrong, like grab a sternline first, or not criss-cross a stern line on a fixed pier I will relieve them from their duties.

 

[Four Suns]

People are trying to be helpful; don't be so harsh on folks that want to give you a hand. A polite no thanks should suffice. Be glad that other boaters make kind gestures - the world would be a better place if everyone was courteous and tried to lend a helping hand to others.

Don't read my post wrong. I'm not being harsh on fellow boaters that offer a meaningful helping hand. I'm referring to the people on the dock that want control of the ropes and start telling the crew how to dock. It's insane... and when I tell people "no thank you", they should return the courtesy and not argue. I've even had a guy jump on my boat once and start telling the crew what to do. I should have thrown him in the water.

 

[comsnark]

Don't read my post wrong. I'm not being harsh on fellow boaters that offer a meaningful helping hand. I'm referring to the people on the dock that want control of the ropes and start telling the crew how to dock. It's insane... and when I tell people "no thank you", they should return the courtesy and not argue. I've even had a guy jump on my boat once and start telling the crew what to do. I should have thrown him in the water.

Oh that's different. . . and over the line.

To emphasize what I said earlier: The goal of a dock hand is to get the boat secure enough to last five minutes while you secure engines. Nothing more.

 

[Turtlesboat]

I don't get much help. i'm usually in and secure before anyone realizes that i'm there. When i'm coming in and see several people coming towards me, I point over in another direction and say "Oh look, a baby wolf". This usually gives me a enough time to secure the lines.

 

[Converse48]

A polite no thanks should suffice.

You're absolutely right, a "no thanks" should suffice. I think we're talking about situations when it does not!

 

[water rat]

People jumping on your boat! That is way out of line... totally uncalled for.

 

[Stray Cat]

Another thing I'm going to do is to get some blue spring lines so they can be easily identified by the crew. I have all black "travelling lines" and sometimes the crew has a tough time identifying the longer lines from the shorter ones.

Great idea...function over fashion!

 

[islandhopper00]

I'm with four suns on this on. I like to dock my boat myself. I single hand my boat 90% of the time. Unless there is a gale force wind or a super current please let me do my own thing. I've seen to many times captains use their family as human bumpers, skin and bones don't measure up to wood and fibergalss. There is no substitute for learning how to handle your boat in varing conditions. Before ya'll jump on me for having a 24ft boat I've owned up to 52 ft. I think a helping hand is only a helping hand if the skipper wants it. Otherwise it's dog gone rude, specially if I have gone out of my way to say no thank you for the help.

 

[Sea Ray 300]

People are trying to be helpful; don't be so harsh on folks that want to give you a hand. A polite no thanks should suffice. Be glad that other boaters make kind gestures - the world would be a better place if everyone was courteous and tried to lend a helping hand to others.

Don't read my post wrong. I'm not being harsh on fellow boaters that offer a meaningful helping hand. I'm referring to the people on the dock that want control of the ropes and start telling the crew how to dock. It's insane... and when I tell people "no thank you", they should return the courtesy and not argue. I've even had a guy jump on my boat once and start telling the crew what to do. I should have thrown him in the water.

We have a core of perhaps 5 or 6 "great" boaters, that I and a friend started about 12 years ago.
When a boat comes in, we go to his slip to catch a tossed line, and when the captain has his boat in his slip, we will fasten said line to a cleat to secure the boat, temporarily, as we usually have a pretty steady current or winds that affect the boat. The captain will adjust the lines to his liking after shutting down.
We are only there for support, and usually offer no verbal advise, unless it is a complete novice, who is having difficulty.
It is great that the "assistance" is contageous, and many newer boaters not only appreciate the help, but pitch in when they are there.

 

[Four Suns]

Well... Not to drag into a boring thread but I posted a description and some photos over here:

http://www.byowneryachts.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3956&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=75

Scroll down and look at the dudes jumping on boats and playing tug of war with the boat captains.... ridiculous.

 

[comsnark]

OK. . .that is really insane. I can't imagine needing more than TWO people for any size boat: one to grab bow line, one to grab stern line.

Five people on the dock is like having three people on the wheel. It ain't gonna work.

BTW: My local watering hole uses ONE dock hand. Works perfect. wraps bow line over one piling: then steps over to grab the stern line and put that over the piling. DONE. $5 tip in general after he tugs the boat close to the dock to help the ladies climb off :thumbsup:

 

[downeast320]

I can attest to the dockhand idiocy firsthand. still, the skipper prefers to use them when we need them, (usually when wind and current is pushing us into the transient megayacht situation.) One time, I threw a dockhand a stern line, and watched him grasp it then went about shuttign down and whatnot. somehow after he had the lien in his hand it was dropped and enterned our runnign gear while the stern drifted into a conveniently placed outboard prop. nice gouge in the blue hull there. Still it was our fault but the kid just shrugged it off like whoops and walked away. But he didnt last too long at the marina. With all these posts about you hardcore diy dockers I am thinking we must not know what we are doing because we use them. Today for example, 6knot current+25knot wind going the same direction pushing us away from our slip. 2 feet between us and the boat next to us. I think we need some practice.

However, as a competent boater and a good crew member for our own unassisted docking endeavours, I think that it is courteous to offer help to people, and I would like to think i know what to do when a line is thrown to me, depending on the skipper of course, most guys i ask them for their preference, but I have saved a few novice boaters by instructing them as how to shift. Not bad considering I never dock our boat.

but hey, how hard can it be? :lol: