- Messages
- 8,346
- Reaction score
- 22,907
- Points
- 862
- Location
- Northern Vermont Lake Champlain
- Boat Make
- Boston Whaler
- Year
- 1995
- Boat Model
- Other
- Boat Length
- 18
Definetly use spring lines and crossing stern lines, they were missing in last years setup. As far as docking in windy conditions or in a current, we have found these very useful. We use them on our bigger Beneteau and they take the stress out of docking. Very easy to set up on a spring line and once around a cleat you use the line and stearing/reverse engine power to your advantage, to glide right in. https://jetboaters.net/threads/docking-stick-boat-hook-adapters.19009/ They work great for us, removes anxiety at docking. We use 2. Up here there are few pilings to tie to at slips, so in lew of a piling, you put a line on the port side midship cleat and run aft to cleat at pos. 6 on dock will keep the bow from drifting into the dock. Tied up correctly, she should sit in the slip without the fenders rubbing on the dock. This may put the boat out where it is uncomfortable to board, but you can shorten a line while boarding.The port aft of your boat must have taken a beating last year. The new plan will be good for the boat once tied off, but ... and I can’t stress this enough .... it will be difficult to get your boat into the slip that way with any moderate wind or wakes coming off the water towards land. Even with fins this is challenging. The trick here is patience and actively working the throttles and wheel. Padding the pole and using it to arrest the movement towards land will be a big help in this regard.
Two more tips. Given a fixed dock and rough water leave just a bit of slack in the lines. Last tip to ensure ropes don’t come lose is to make sure you are tying to the cleats correctly. It only takes one half wrap and three tail under loops for each line to tie off a yacht indefinitely and that is no different for our boats.
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