When is it too windy to practice docking a flybridge?

Joker66

Member
Apr 18, 2019
66
Michigan
Boat Info
1995 Sea Ray 370
Sundancer
Engines
7.4 L Mercruiser V-Drive
A buddy of mine keeps trying to get me to take him out on his flybridge to practice docking at a local marina that is fairly empty. I'm very comfortable on my boat and I took him on his boat to practice last year. He did well but probably hasn't practiced since. He went out two weeks ago against a bunch of neighbors advice in 20 mph winds and it didn't go good for him at all to say the least. He barely made it out of his well, got right into trouble and had to have another captain help him back into his well. He hasn't been back out since. I'm just trying to help him get as comfortable as possible and eventually he can work up to playing around in the wind. He's got a 38 foot Carver. He has no bow or Stern thrusters. Should we go out when the wind is 10 miles an hour or less or or is 15 mile an hour or less(today's forecast) okay?
 
I would think 10mph winds would be Ok, but like Golfman said, start with a calm day and work your way up.

We live in an area that often has winds in the 20's and gusts up to 40. When we bought Beachcomber I started in calm winds and worked up. A few times I backed her into the slip in those gusty winds.

Successes will build his competence and also his confidence and make him a better skipper.
 
Maybe work you way up. Is he proficient with no wind? I think it’s most important to go when there is no “audience.”
He's not proficient in no wind. I think I will wait for that type of a day. Thank you!
 
We live in an area that often has winds in the 20's and gusts up to 40. When we bought Beachcomber I started in calm winds and worked up. A few times I backed her into the slip in those gusty winds.

Successes will build his competence and also his confidence and make him a better skipper.[/QUOTE]

Duly noted. Thanks!
 
I've only been boating 3 yrs and 20 is my max wind for going out. I have a crusier not a DB but I leave the bimini and camper (just the top) up most of the time, which makes it a tiny bit worse for the wind.

If you're new, and you have a really bad experience, that can destroy your confidence. Better to work your way up like the others said. Is there a place you can practice nearby? At our marina, on weekday mornings the fuel dock is closed and no boats right there so it's been a good spot for me when I need to practice (still working on manuevers)!
 
A buddy of mine keeps trying to get me to take him out on his flybridge to practice docking at a local marina that is fairly empty. I'm very comfortable on my boat and I took him on his boat to practice last year. He did well but probably hasn't practiced since. He went out two weeks ago against a bunch of neighbors advice in 20 mph winds and it didn't go good for him at all to say the least. He barely made it out of his well, got right into trouble and had to have another captain help him back into his well. He hasn't been back out since. I'm just trying to help him get as comfortable as possible and eventually he can work up to playing around in the wind. He's got a 38 foot Carver. He has no bow or Stern thrusters. Should we go out when the wind is 10 miles an hour or less or or is 15 mile an hour or less(today's forecast) okay?
I'm not trying to be a smart ass but...why you asking CSR folks how much wind is OK?

If you're volunteering to be his teacher how good are you? How much wind can you handle?

Start at the beginning with no wind, does the guy even understand the basics? Does he understand rudder position or how his boat responds to forward and reverse and how to use it? You can get into how the boats momentum can be used against wind and currents after he can do the basics.
 
Does he leave his canvas up? That makes a huge difference in wind.
 
It does, but unless he learns to dock it in high winds with the canvas up he'll be missing out on an important skill that he may someday need to know.

Not blowing my own horn, but several times I backed Beachcomber upwind against winds in the 30's that were blowing at a 45* angle keeping me away from the dock. I had to position the boat correctly before I started backing then back it upwind toward the slip opening and flip the boat around when the stern entered the opening using only the props. Only practice gives one the ability to do that.
 
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It does, but unless he learns to dock it in high winds with the canvas up he'll be missing out on an important skill that he may someday need to know.

Not blowing my own horn, but several times I backed Beachcomber upwind against winds in the 30's that were blowing at a 45* angle keeping me away from the dock. I had to position the boat correctly before I started backing then back it upwind toward the slip opening and flip the boat around when the stern entered the opening using only the props. Only practice gives one the ability to do that.
I thought you had thrusters….remote no less….hanging from your neck. No?
 
Bridog, I did, but when it was real windy I didn't even reach for it until I got the stern well into the slip, then I would use the thruster to make the final adjustments to the alignment with the slip. When the wind was really howling the thruster didn't have enough poop to move the bow like I wished it did.
 
A buddy of mine keeps trying to get me to take him out on his flybridge to practice docking at a local marina that is fairly empty. I'm very comfortable on my boat and I took him on his boat to practice last year. He did well but probably hasn't practiced since. He went out two weeks ago against a bunch of neighbors advice in 20 mph winds and it didn't go good for him at all to say the least. He barely made it out of his well, got right into trouble and had to have another captain help him back into his well. He hasn't been back out since. I'm just trying to help him get as comfortable as possible and eventually he can work up to playing around in the wind. He's got a 38 foot Carver. He has no bow or Stern thrusters. Should we go out when the wind is 10 miles an hour or less or or is 15 mile an hour or less(today's forecast) okay?
Has he done anything to protect the boat from the hazards of the “well”? I’m a big fan of the Taylormade dock wheels. I also followed the lead of one of my neighbors and used a corrugated drainage pipe to cover the concrete pilings on my slip. I also use a rope covered with a piece of plastic tubing across the two bow cleats as a safety stop. If you minimize the risk of damage, you can practice and have fun.
31C04AC5-CF16-4032-B1C5-5D677927FC28.jpeg

AlamitosPipe.jpeg

SeaRay450dock1.jpg
 
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Plenty of fenders out and disregard the haters who love to make comments.
Boat poles manned on each side.
Proper lines ready to go and perhaps a skilled assistant on the dock to receive them and apply them QUICKLY to the dock cleat.
I also wrapped my dock pilings in black foam rubber to minimize damage when making contact.
Biggest worry is not so much the damage to your boat, but to the others on your row. Maintain proper liability coverage in sufficient amounts.
 
Has he done anything to protect the boat from the hazards of the “well”? I’m a big fan of the Taylormade dock wheels. I also followed the lead of one of my neighbors and used a corrugated drainage pipe to cover the concrete pilings on my slip. I also use a rope covered with a piece of plastic tubing across the two bow cleats as a safety stop. If you minimize the risk of damage, you can practice and have fun.
View attachment 129501
I agree u need the set up. If not u cannot go boating because there is to much wind.
I have a 44DB in a 15.5' wide slip. The key is to be not going any faster than u want to hit it.
 
Plenty of fenders out and disregard the haters who love to make comments.
My new neighbor to my port had a little chuckle when he saw my drainage pipe covers for the first time. He said he didn't have to worry because he had a bow thruster. There is always a decent current in the channel we are in. He came in a couple of weeks back and to add to the current, we had a 20 knot crosswind. I was there on the dock to help with lines etc. Sure enough, the thruster wasn't enough and he hit the piling covered by the trusty pipe. No damage to anything and he said to me after getting in, "hey that pipe is cool!" :cool:
 
My new neighbor to my port had a little chuckle when he saw my drainage pipe covers for the first time. He said he didn't have to worry because he had a bow thruster. There is always a decent current in the channel we are in. He came in a couple of weeks back and to add to the current, we had a 20 knot crosswind. I was there on the dock to help with lines etc. Sure enough, the thruster wasn't enough and he hit the piling covered by the trusty pipe. No damage to anything and he said to me after getting in, "hey that pipe is cool!" :cool:
Same situation here..other boaters love to make snickering comments on my setup, which I have customized for my situation...that is until they take a deep gouge to their hull from scraping a chewed up piling that looks just ghastly.
 
Open as many windows, zippers as possible, allowing the wind to blow through rather than turning your power boat into a sailboat makes a huge difference.
 
Bridog, I did, but when it was real windy I didn't even reach for it until I got the stern well into the slip, then I would use the thruster to make the final adjustments to the alignment with the slip. When the wind was really howling the thruster didn't have enough poop to move the bow like I wished it did.
I found this to be the case so far. Thrusters are useless in heavy wind/current. Mine is only good for making small adjustments, like keeping the boat off the fingers once you’re already in the slip.

*Disclaimer, I suck at docking in high winds/current so disregard most of what I say :)
 

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