Handling the wind

[HUMPH]

So, here I was taking the boat out Saturday afternoon late to go to a guest dock at a marina I am thinking of moving to. My current marina is pretty sheltered so you don't notice the wind too much. I start out of my slip (I stern in) and give my 1st mate her marching orders, frankly not paying too much attention since I have done it the same way so many times, when I notice the wind is pretty strong and my bow is being pushed hard to port.

Now, I am only 4 slips in so there isn't much room to port so I start to try and spin her back to starboard to point her in the right direction but the wind has me. Since at the end of the dock we have another dock and not the shore I decide to let her drift into the dock and regroup. This pissed me off since it's the first mistake I have made in the marina and was somewhat embarassing.

I decided to just put my starboard engine in reverse and port forward to spin off off the dock. It worked bu I had a nice dock rash down much of my port side! :smt021

My question is from more seasoned captains, what is the best strategy for leaving your berth bow first when the wind is blowing from the direction you want to travel? BTW, we had huge winds yesterday for my trip back and she handled great in the rough conditions and the wind had changed directions so getting back into my berth was a piece of cake! (I proceded to remove the rash ASAP)

 

[skolbe]

You have the boat in gear to spin - but how much RPM's were you giving the engine(s) - I have found in slight wind - usually giving the reverse engine some power will work - if really windy - I have to give short burst to both engines at around 1000 rpm's at the same time - to keep control.

 

[HUMPH]

If I am half way out of the slip and the bow is already pushed 6 or 8 feet left how do you correct? I am thinking just go left then back up and do a 180 degree spin?

 

[electricaldoctor]

You have the boat in gear to spin - but how much RPMs were you giving the engine(s) - I have found in slight wind - usually giving the reverse engine some power will work - if really windy - I have to give short burst to both engines at around 1000 rpms at the same time - to keep control.

I agree with you 100%. When I head out, I will be turning to the left. I give it a few brief shots ahead on both engines. I have to be careful as there are boats on a wall directly across from me. I then leave the stb engine in fwd and put the port engine in rev. Just as I clear the end of my finger dock, I increase the revs to the port engine that is in reverse. I always increase the revs to the engine that is in reverse. It is far easier to control the boat that way. If I increased the revs to the stb engine that is in fwd, the boat would only go fwd as the wind would be pushing on the port bow and very bad things would happen to those boats on the wall across from me.

~Ken

 

[HUMPH]

I agree with you 100%. When I head out, I will be turning to the left. I give it a few brief shots ahead on both engines. I have to be careful as there are boats on a wall directly across from me. I then leave the stb engine in fwd and put the port engine in rev. Just as I clear the end of my finger dock, I increase the revs to the port engine that is in reverse. I always increase the revs to the engine that is in reverse. It is far easier to control the boat that way. If I increased the revs to the stb engine that is in fwd, the boat would only go fwd as the wind would be pushing on the port bow and very bad things would happen to those boats on the wall across from me.

~Ken

I am with you on the reverse engine getting throttled up. I like to keep my hand on the throttle of the reverse engine always. My issue is once you lose the battle to the wind how best to correct? If I am aware the wind is pushing me that hard and prepare properly I think I have that handled...

 

[Hampton]

Remember, the prop in reverse has about 1/3 the power of the one in forward - may need to add throttle.

We have a similar problem. Our solution is to manually orient the boat in the slip with the bow aimed upwind as much as possible, and the stern downwind. We then release our hold on the boat, put both throttles in gear and add power to get out of the slip with the rudders straight.

Once clear, I maneuver as required to leave the area. On really windy days, this may mean letting the bow swing down wind (the wrong way). Once it stabilizes, it's a lot easier to swing it around into the wind from 180 out than it is to stop it from a direct cross wind - the stern will drift really far down wind if you try to stop the bow. Let it go, then stabilize it down wind, then either back out or spin it 180 and motor out in forward.

 

[electricaldoctor]

I am with you on the reverse engine getting throttled up. I like to keep my hand on the throttle of the reverse engine always. My issue is once you lose the battle to the wind how best to correct? If I am aware the wind is pushing me that hard and prepare properly I think I have that handled...

I would only consider upping the revs to the stb engine (that is already in fwd) if the boat is starting to turn aport as a result of revving up the port engine that is already in reverse. If the wind is that strong that the boat is not starting to turn, then it is time to abort & ease her back into the slip. The consequences are just not worth it to me.

~Ken

 

[billnpat]

I agree with you 100%. When I head out, I will be turning to the left. I give it a few brief shots ahead on both engines. I have to be careful as there are boats on a wall directly across from me. I then leave the stb engine in fwd and put the port engine in rev. Just as I clear the end of my finger dock, I increase the revs to the port engine that is in reverse. I always increase the revs to the engine that is in reverse. It is far easier to control the boat that way. If I increased the revs to the stb engine that is in fwd, the boat would only go fwd as the wind would be pushing on the port bow and very bad things would happen to those boats on the wall across from me.

~Ken

Agree........ engine rev throttle :thumbsup:

 

[Southpaw II]

Tie a line to your midship starboard cleat and use it for a springline. Make sure is is not long enough to get to your prop if it drops in the water. Wrap it to the outside post on the starboard side as you leave the slip and pivot to the right as you leave the slip. As you turn into the wind, release the line. If you have a seasoned mate to handle the line, the better, but you can do this from the helm.

Don

 

[sbw1]

If you lose the bow with little or no steerage in high winds, you can sometimes back down a fairway to a place where you have room to turn around. I've done this a few times when conditions are poor.

 

[HUMPH]

If you lose the bow with little or no steerage in high winds, you can sometimes back down a fairway to a place where you have room to turn around. I've done this a few times when conditions are poor.

This was my thought as well. Let the wind win temporarily and back her up to a safe spot and spin around sounds like an easy low pressure way to go. Just as I have my marina all figured out I am moving into a new one so I get to learn the ins and outs. This marina has several shallow areas just outside so I have been staring at charts quite a bit...

http://www.willowbermmarina.com/

 

[NoThanksDad]

Remember - discretion is the better part of valor. In a stiff wind captains get no credit for style or winning the battle against the elements, but rather, for staying calm - working with what the conditions will allow, and safely maneuvering their vessel from their current location to their destination. IMO there is NO shame in allowing your bow to swing softly with the wind allowing you to exit your slip with little to no stress - under complete control and then making a well planned 180 degree rotation to point the bow in your intended direction. For me, what on lookers "think" about how I choose to safely maneuver my vessel makes no difference to me...they're not the one's that will have to buff out the rashes, or pay for any damages.

That said, if style points are important...SouthPaw has provided one of the things I admire most about turly seasoned captains. The proper use of cleats and lines to maneuver a vessel is something I still practice and aspire to master. Weather using spring lines in a tight situation, or using a well placed mid cleat line as a pivot in another, the ability to use these tools properly is "really neat". Their use require practice (like everything else), and the importance of a good 1st mate can not be understated.


Just my two cents.:thumbsup:

 

[HUMPH]

I did have the opportunity to use a spring line when I made it to the guest dock. The breeze was up and current strong so I told the Admiral what I wanted and also had the power squadron at the guest dock last weekend so I had assistance.

As a seasoned boater he asked before touching and I had him secure the port stern line then shifted my starboard engine forward and she pulled in beautifully. That got those seasoned boaters on the dock to smile & nod. Slow and controlled!

Leaving the next day in 30 knot winds not so good. I took the stern line so I could jump in easily and had the Admiral take midship. I told her to release the line, throw it on deck, come around me and climb in. Before I could release the stern line she took off in wind & current and I got the line off all but 1 wrap and figured it would slide though the cleat..... not the case. I had to take the controls and back up to slack the line putting my swim platform against the wood dock. If I had a knife handy I would have cut the line.

I have to say, 30 knot wind and current going the same direction takes some practice that's for sure! :wow:

 

[NoThanksDad]

Congrats on situation #1 - Sorry to hear about situation #2... Funny that you mentioned the second story, It's amazing how our lines simply don't "slip or slide" around things that they really should..:huh: I still haven't figured that one out yet...I'm still working on some of those pivot moves that require the line to "nicely slide"... seems like one out of every few tries the darn thing doesn't slide...:huh:

 

[fwebster]

Sundancers all have an aft pivot point so once you ever let the bow get away from you it is really hard to pull the bow back thru the wind to regain control. Adding power can sometimes help, but speed in tight quarters is never your friend and the risk of something bad happening goes up with power.

It looks funny, but more than once I've backed a boat into or out of tight spots in windy conditions. Try letting the wind take the bow as you pull out of the slip then pivot stern to the wind as soon as you are clear and back into a more open area.

 

[HUMPH]

Sundancers all have an aft pivot point so once you ever let the bow get away from you it is really hard to pull the bow back thru the wind to regain control. Adding power can sometimes help, but speed in tight quarters is never your friend and the risk of something bad happening goes up with power.

It looks funny, but more than once I've backed a boat into or out of tight spots in windy conditions. Try letting the wind take the bow as you pull out of the slip then pivot stern to the wind as soon as you are clear and back into a more open area.

+1 :thumbsup: Roger that!

In retrospect that is the solution I decided on but not having a plan in advance led to issues. I think it is super important to have a "reaction plan" thought through for leaving your slip or docking your boat as sometimes it's harder taking off than docking IMHO.

 

[Captain Allen]

I had the same situation yesterday, complicated by tapping the port side piling as I moved out of the slip, kicking the stern to starboard. I just let the bow swing to port, and backed it out of the marina. I had no seasoned line handlers on board and my guests were impressed at how I backed the boat out.