Horizontal Docking

AKBASSKING

AKBASSKING

Active Member
Apr 13, 2008
4,649
SE Alaska Summer/Columbia River winter
Boat Info
1988 Yacht Fisher
Engines
Twin 375hp Cat 3208 T/A
Need some advice.

We had to do a pumpout yesterday. The pumpout station was at the beginning of the dock. Meaning as you enter you have docked boats on both sides. Approching the dock was not a problem. I just used one enigne slow and easy. At idle with both engines in gear I am going 5mph, so I use one engine unless I need more power.

So here was my delima. I was tied up at the pumping station and finished. I had about 20-30 feet in front and back.

Question: How do you maneuver away from the dock without hitting the boat in fron or back and without taking out your swim platform?:huh:

BTW: The admiral found out a 20gal holding tank doesn't last long......:smt021
 
I push the stern out from the dock and then add a little outside engine power in forward and a little inside engine power in reverse and slowly bring the bow to the center of where the boat was tied up. As soon as possible, I back out and then true things up with the boats that are tied up and then then continue backing or put it into forward gear and motor out.
 
AKBASSKING said:
Need some advice.

We had to do a pumpout yesterday. The pumpout station was at the beginning of the dock. Meaning as you enter you have docked boats on both sides. Approching the dock was not a problem. I just used one enigne slow and easy. At idle with both engines in gear I am going 5mph, so I use one engine unless I need more power.

So here was my delima. I was tied up at the pumping station and finished. I had about 20-30 feet in front and back.

Question: How do you maneuver away from the dock without hitting the boat in fron or back and without taking out your swim platform?:huh:

BTW: The admiral found out a 20gal holding tank doesn't last long......:smt021
Click to expand...

Use a springline tied to a forward cleat on the dock side of the boat and the other end running back to a dock cleat near the stern. Have one of the dock kids hold the line on the dock cleat while you put the opposite engine in forward gear. This will pivot the stern off the dock, without moving the boat forward. Make sure you leave a forward fender down to keep the bow off the dock. Once the stern is clear you can back out. You will need someone on the bow to retrieve the line once you have pivoted out.
 
Wow thanks! We performed the naming ceremony today and we meet a buch of folks from the Tomahawk Yacket Club and were invited to a "Dingy potluck." They invited us to jopin and get together once a month. It is a mixture of big boats, blow boats and other crafts. Looks like fun.
 
Creekwood said:
Use a springline tied to a forward cleat on the dock side of the boat and the other end running back to a dock cleat near the stern. Have one of the dock kids hold the line on the dock cleat while you put the opposite engine in forward gear. This will pivot the stern off the dock, without moving the boat forward. Make sure you leave a forward fender down to keep the bow off the dock. Once the stern is clear you can back out. You will need someone on the bow to retrieve the line once you have pivoted out.
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I agree with Creekwood. I have used this method many times getting out of tights spots. See if you can find that docking simulator game and practice the concept on that first.......just a thought.
 
sfergson727 said:
You know, it just occurred to me. You could also attempt vertical docking.

It's very easily achieved, by merely flooding the boat from the stern via a method of your choice. When completed, the bow cleats should still be accessible and you can tie off, thereby minimizing the footprint of your boat. Problem is, I've only seen this method used once per boat, for some reason people change boats after utilizing this technique.
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True:lol::smt043
 
sfergson727 said:
You know, it just occurred to me. You could also attempt vertical docking.

It's very easily achieved, by merely flooding the boat from the stern via a method of your choice. When completed, the bow cleats should still be accessible and you can tie off, thereby minimizing the footprint of your boat. Problem is, I've only seen this method used once per boat, for some reason people change boats after utilizing this technique.
Click to expand...

Funny, we were rafted out with 26 other boats last weekend and a blow boat, in their dock behind their own house sunk overnight. It turns out the owner connected a fresh water hose to pressurize the system then opened a valve to allow it to fill his water tank. He proceeded to go into his house and fall asleep! Great call to the insurance company I bet!
 
Doh!

061.jpg
sfergson727 said:
Perhaps, but that requires a pre-built structure, whereas the method I mention can be done by anyone.
Click to expand...
 
On my 320DA, without having dinghy on the platform I could take off anyway I wanted (bow away from the dock or stern). But, since 99% of the time I had the dinghy on the platform I had to use the method sbw1 described, otherwise the dink would hit the dock due to the angle.

When I had lost one engine and had to take off on one engine with a river current pushing me in to the dock, the knowledge of springline method came in very handy. BTW, you don't really need extra person at the dock for this. When I had the stern out far enough, I brought the bow close enough to the dock so my wife could easily get on the boat from the bow.
 
lol how i aged 5 years in 15 minutes. 268 Sundancer X new to big boats + being in a desert for 2 years + anxious to play on the water with new toy= Americas funnies video winner lol

i was using a rack storage marina on a small tidal river with a nasty disposition. so after a doc boy showed me how to put it in gear ( i read the owners manual from cover to cover missing that page lol) i looked at the current and off i went not to bad leaving. but what goes out should come back right :). we were out for my maiden voyage and i could not find the easy dock button sooooo upon my return the tide changed along with the river direction and the easy departure turned into a nightmare of my first docking. i hit nothing but a little bottom.. thank God, but i know he was laughing, he will do anything to get ya to pray lol.

so i applied my basic rule when i would go fly small aircraft, i always practice some emergency procedures of some kind to keep the procedure fresh in mind. so i took a few hours and my son and went to a big river (the cooper where i saw a flippin whale) and i practice small maneuvers and emergency procedures as well, and then had my 14 year old son do the same (he still talks about driving the boat that day). and i got to know my 268. i suggest it to everyone so "when" something happens and it will, that you and your first mate know what to do (just a thought, when was the last time you inspected your fire extinguishers?, where are they?. i had 5, 3 were bad). i still have to laugh at myself but it was great education and it only cost my embarrassment. God knows I cant wait to put that beast back in the water and have a weekend trip with my kids. be safe
 
Docking along side in tight quarters requires some practice. Walking a boat sideways using both screws is a practiced art. Finesse is more important than brawn in getting the boat moving then backing off and reversing the gears and rudders and the check any moving that is counter productive, then back again. once you're out past the boats fore and aft, move out in to the fairway with ease. The more wind and or current, the more caution.
 
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