EP 32 Improving my solo docking technique with the 'Docking Stick'
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- Опубликовано: 27 июн 2018
- I demo an alternative to running to midships and trying to lasso a cleat, with the simple but efficient 'Docking Stick'. I use this in two docking approaches 'parallel to pontoon', and one 'reversing into slip' docking.
Wonderful video (as usual!) showing the rest of us how you approach sailing challenges with curiosity, persistence, and humility. I'd like to compliment you also on your thoughtful camera positioning that makes it possible for us viewers to see what's happening so well. Your purposeful conversation and thrifty editing (and the summary text list at the start) ensure a meaningful experience for us, too. Thanks.
Welcome back John. Far too kind as usual.
It is no wonder you are so good at driving your boat, you actually practice. What a novel idea. Love your videos. Thanks.
Many thanks David. I practiced lassoing technique too --- but to no avail! :-)
Great idea!! I had a lot od joy seeing you docking with this clever tool!
I have used a spring line for docking for a long time and the docking stick is certainly a handy tool, which I purchased about the same time you did. Similar to your experience, the bow of my boat swings into the dock when motoring forward, which is easily explained because the line is attached to the boat forward of the "pivot point". That is of no particular consequence if the bow is protected with a fender. In my case I tried to change the mid-ship cleat location further aft, but the result was a shorter spring line so as to avoid hitting the dock with the bow, and also less time for my crew to attach the line. As always, I enjoy seeing you in action and giving practical tips. Many thanks!
The next video (very short) shows the simple solution to the bow swinging in Walter. Many thanks for commenting.
seems to do the job very well !
enjoying your sailing adventures, takes me back down history lane.
Thanks Patrick, my docking has improved thanks to your tuition, less stress as well. You continue to share very practical information and technics in all your videos, thanks once again.
Much appreciated John. Fair winds.
Thank you so much Patrick ,I am resuming sailing on the river Shannon in Ireland, and this is exactly what I was looking for ! Very best wishes ,down ' every sea road ' from Claire Roche.
After your video on the Efoy fuel cell generator this is the second really handy product you’ve introduced to me. Since I retire in 30 days with the plan on being a single-handed live aboard sailor soon these are big reasons why I watch and enjoy your videos so much. Please keep them coming and keep teaching. I also really enjoyed your commentary on route planning across strong tides in a recent video.
Congrats on the imminent retirement Big Orb. It's fantastic when every day is Saturday. Fair winds to you!
Perfect and simple solution! 🙏
Hi Patrick, I”m a solo sailor & my boat (Hanse385) is in Marina San Miguel, Tenerife, Canary Islands. I have been totally inspired and convinced by your demonstration of the “Docking Stick” and bought one a couple of months ago. I’ve now practiced with it several times exactly the same way you use it and can confirm that it is certainly the answer to docking as a solo sailor. I’ve used it in “little to no wind” conditions, but also with winds of 20knots (pushing me off the pontoon)... & the maneuver works well every time. Thanks again Patrick and of course to the guys that invented and developed the Docking Stick. Please keep up the good work. I look forward to your postings. -Rob
Glad to hear you are as satisfied wit the Docking Stick as I am. It has saved quite a number of difficult arrivals for me. I should ask them for a commission!
You probably don’t need the cash, but they are certainly getting a lot of mileage from your videos...
Hi Patrick -- Very solid dockmanship. The one place where everyone is a hero or a zero.
Thanks for the kind encouragement Jay. Much appreciated.
What an awesome journey ! Thanks for sharing
Thanks Patrick, as a fellow singlehander, I appreciate this type of video.
Thanks for the great feedback RedSnapper. Cheers.
That is fantastic, I will practice that at my earliest opportunity
Nice! A great use for the "tiller" that's now on my sailing kayak/trimaran. Thanks for the idea!
Many thanks for watching Gary.
Thanks for posting, looking forward to your next episode.
Many thanks (again) Nixon.
Another great video, Patrick. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback Kleman.
Fabulous! I learned two excellent skills in this video:)! I hadn't thought of running a spring line through the forward cleat and using the aft crank to snug! Brilliant and it's going to be our next experiment. Also, I love the docking stick AND one of your followers mentioned something about a hose creating a stable loop in the docking line...that's definitely going to be tried. Also, I had a bit of a victory the other day...we had to turn the boat around at dock so that we could apply the name of the boat to the other side of the bow section. So I said to my husband that there's no problem doing that if he stands on the dock and secures the forward dock line, that was moved to its proper cleat, and I simply reverse engine quarter speed which will bring the boat neatly around. He said that would not work and actually said it's impossible. So I pressed him into at least trying. There was no wind I might add. So he relented and I manned the helm as he manned the dock line and the experiment ensued with great success. He said, with a very blank and vacant expression on his face, it worked...we have not spoken of this since and probably never will. I was banking on the prop walk in reverse walking us over to the dock. I also had the helm turned hard to Port...I think it was to port lol. Perhaps you could comment on his and tell me if I was just crazy lucky or was my thinking on the right track?
Congrats on the successful '18' maneuver Frances. I once did a weekend of maneuvers with a group and a pro, and he made us reverse a boat against a pontoon just using lines; then again using lines and the engine; and finally, just using the boat's engine. Very instructive. It sounds like you have nailed that technique on your own. Bravo. Many thanks for the kind feedback.
Thank you for sharing. Just ordered a docking stick. Can't wait to go practice.
I really think I'm going to like this new (for me) tool. As Humphrey Bogart once famously said, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." :-) Thanks for watching.
Patrick, thank you for this, a definite improvement from the half-length-hurdle you, and I, usually complete. Being the inveterate maker of things I am I will probably make my own from some plastic pipe and glue, can’t wait to try it.
It sure seems promising Stephen. Once my confidence grows that I can reach the cleat with the Stick/gaff, I'll probably just do it from the stern cleat on the boat in the future and then drive the boat forward. (Reaching the pontoon from the stern of my boat is a bit difficult due to narrower stern than midships and bimini frame--- which is why I did the midships spring this time.) I'm tired of demonstrating my poor lassoing skills for the onlookers. :-)
@@patricklaine6958 Your guts to account for failure is what inspires and advances the rest of us. Thank and fair winds.
Thats cool for single handed makes the job much easier. Good video Patrick cheers sir.
It sure made a good first impression on me George. I'll keep using it over the coming months, and then do a quick update. Thanks for commenting.
good vid as usual, keep them coming Pat
Thanks for the encouragement William.
Good method Patrick. Can't wait for your future videos.
Thanks Steve. The more I used the Docking Stick, the more I liked it!
Now thats very fine. I'll bet I could have watched a 100 sailing Videos and never ounce would have seen or heard of a Docking Stick let alone seen one used..
Much appreciated Stephen.
Today I got my boat launched, used one of the "Patrick Laine" tricks with a little more power on the throttle so I don't loose the ability to steer. Worked perfectly so again thanks for your videos, appreciate them. Greetings from Tino :)
Terrific Tino. Delighted to hear you and your immaculately maintained boat are out on the water now. Let the adventure begin!
Dear Mentor: I am moving aboard my Catalina 42 & will be solo 90% of the time. These videos are invaluable- THANK YOU!!!
Made my day KH. Thanks
Patrick Laine hello sir have you seen josh post? I really like your service to country but also your sailor ship! Josh post had this journey and was a tough one I was wondering if you had known him or sen it! When he tried going from Maryland to California but ran in trouble if you could have given ruclips.net/video/YoOxRHmYes4a/видео.htmldvice I’m trying to send the link it seems he was really real of the ordeal he was a naval officer
Great video!!! Thank you. Gave me a little more confidence that I can start single hand a sail boat.
Terrific. Delighted to hear more people wanting to get out there on their own. Thanks for the feedback Pro Driver.
I consider your videos very interesting and instructive. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks (again) for commenting Jose.
I love yours videos. Amazing. Please continue doing it
Thanks for the great feedback Wander N. Much appreciated.
That's a really useful tool! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jamie. I was delighted with its performance the first time out. I'll keep using it, and maybe do an update in a few months. Thanks for watching.
Superb! I did not know of this! Great even if not solo
Impressive, great teaching !
Many thanks Brikers. Episode 33 cleans up some of the messiness of Ep 32. ;-)
C'est bon! Looks like a great piece of kit. I'll add it to my armoury of single-handed bits and pieces! Merci beaucoup
It made a very positive impression on me Marsupial. I'm certainly going to continue experimenting with it over then next few months.
That seems to be very helpful. Docking is stressful enough. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Darryl. Trying something new, after admitting a weak lasso technique.
Thanks for the tip. I will definitely order a set. Along the same lines, you might like the Robship Hook and Moor. Makes snatching the ring on a mooring ball easy. I do it off the stern.
Many people just make them using hose, a line, and some velcro. That works just fine too. :-)
I like that docking stick ! It reminds me of the old days when we had to hoop up train orders to the engine man and also the conductor in the caboose. The operator on the ground tied the orders to a wooden hoop with a handle that could reach up to the engine and the engineer scooped it up with his arm , took the orders off and dropped the hoop back out the window to the operator in three feet of snow. Then they smartened up by using a stick that resembled a wye instead of a hoop they had 3 clips one at each triangle point. Now the engineer just used his arm to scoop up the string hoop attached to the 3 clips that let the string slip free of the stick. So the crew ended up with the string with the train orders attacked and the operator didn't have to walk a mile for his stick. I like the Idea of the 3 clips on the triangle of the open Vee on the end of the pole.Makes it much easier to snag a cleat on shore. I'm going to make a couple of those. Thanks Patrick !
Thanks Robert. Building a better mousetrap. Always great fun experimenting. :-)
So two large pegs would do. André
That looks good. If you can be that successful with it at first attempt, imagine how good you will be with practice. I forgot to comment on your non return valve syphoning tool (on an earlier video). Good stuff! Simple is always best. In fact I think I will copy it for fueling my trackday motorbike. I usually get petrol everywhere using a funnel.
Good job,many thanks for sharing video.
Thanks Rimas. The next short video shows how I improved on this slightly by adjusting the attachment point. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the lesson, I like this option
very good video as always.. thanks for your time..
Much appreciated Repla.
Very educational vlog Patrick. Small price to pay for the success of the product for docking. It'll pay itself off in no time for someone like you, with the amount of sailing you do.
It's interesting what you say Dave. There is a port about 50 NM from my home base that I like to visit, but always dread, because the wind is always blowing directly off the pontoon at 15 knots. You have about 5 seconds to get the lasso around the cleat. Very high stress. I now look forward to visiting that port again. The Docking Stick has already paid for itself in reduced stress and increased pleasure. :-)
I knew a guy who tied a spring line from the bow to an 18 inch metal or wood hoop at the cockpit, and a stern line to the same hoop. After making initial adjustments to the lengths of the lines at the dock and marking them accordingly, all he had to do was pull up to his slip, and toss the hoop over the cleat near the stern, and leave the motor in gear at low speed. He didn't even have to winch himself in. Using your stick idea with the hoop, would mean never having to winch in afterwards, and landing the hoop in place every time.
That's a clever solution. I've since changed boats, and my new one behaves very differently due to twin rudders and the prop wash does not touch the rudders. I'll give this idea some thought...... Thanks.
I love it. I shall certainly give it a go. Thanks Patrick.
My current technique is to make two coils (one for each hand) and throw them forward and outward (slightly left and slightly right) so that a big loop opens up. It is great when it works, but I love the Docking Stick (of course, I need to buy a new boathook after dropping mine in the Irish Sea)
Yeah, I hear you -- I'm tired of missing with the lasso technique (two hands, two coils, etc.). Last week one of the most respected, and most experienced sailing couples on RUclips missed the cleat lasso also (perfectly executed with two coils). (If you have time, watch my Ep 33 which refines my new technique a bit.) It's funny what you say about your gaff. I tried to pull a mooring ball in in high seas with my gaff. The boat went up, the ball went down, and the force of 10 tonnes pulled the gaff right out of my hands. I watched it float away......donated to King Neptune. :-) I now use a detachable hook device to capture the mooring ball, and when I have to pull it in in high winds, I put it on the winch. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks very much Patrick!
Wow I held my breath with the off shore wind docking. I find docking and getting into slips easy UNLESS there is a lot of wind. I was in the baltic. Offshore wind. The dock higher. We were drifting off dock and the captain yelled jump off ( we were already 3 feet away.).dock above like soap from rain. I did nothing. Not going to fall between ship and dock. You are GOOD.
Yeah --- I agree completely. If you need to jump, everyone should just settle down, and circle around again. Jumping is far too dangerous.
Nice Idea and good video footage/editing too, Thanks for Sharing.
Very kind of you. Much appreciated.
@@patricklaine6958 I'm just about to watch Episode 2 Sailing Solo to Azores: How to Sleep on a Sailboat at Sea, kettle on and looking forward to it Patrick
The sound quality is exceptionally bad in some of the early episodes. Apologies in advance.
Hi Patrick, Just watched upto Ep13 and thoroughly enjoyed it, Thankyou for sharing your seafaring experiences. Have just subd and look forward to watching more adventures. Keep up the great work, Greetings from Crete, Greece. Carl
Nice work!!!
Thanks Montgomery. Much appreciated.
So a great pilot and ship's captain but a lousy cowboy! Another great video. When I first got my sailboat (decades ago), I practiced approaching a race buoy (not much more than a fender on an anchor) out in the river stream away from the marina (but still where I'd have to deal with the current and winds) from any direction plus forwards and backwards so that I could bring the boat alongside on my chosen compass heading without actually touching the buoy but so that I could easily grab it. Once I got good enough at that and knew the turning circle of the boat in both directions - especially when "assisted" by winds and currents, I would try it against the docks in the yacht club. One of my favourite spots to watch the "fun with docking" is at the local marina gas dock which is in the river channel between two large lakes. There is often a 4-5 knot current and it's fun to watch boats try to pull up to the gas dock coming from upstream. They are furiously turning the wheel (and of course nothing happens because their boat isn't moving through the water even though it's moving at a real clip over the ground). Lots of yelling and screaming by the crew and captains. The marina should probably have a sign up to tell the skippers what to do but I'm guessing it's cheap entertainment for the dock rats.
I actually find current much more difficult (and deceptive) to deal with than the wind Brent. On my recent trip to Shetland, I went to the refueling station in one port in dead calm wind (but failed to notice 3 knots of current). It was a very ugly approach. Fortunately, only the seagulls saw it, and they found it amusing. :-)
As a US based private pilot and a somewhat equally proficient sailor, I believe that nautical navigators with indeterminate destinations are at a deficit compared to aviators who indulge in explicit meteorological description of their destination. In other words, a pilot shooting an approach to an airport is better off than a sailor attempting to dock or anchor at a vaguely documented mooring field.
Yeah -- what he said. :-)
Yeah, the only thing worse than trying to approach a dock under wind in current in a sailboat is to do it in a floatplane. You can't really power up to it as you'd chop up the dock and/or dockhands and so have to shut down and hope for the best once you commit. They weather cock the second the prop wash is gone so it can be "fun". I learned to dock floatplanes when I was 16 before I ever tried it with sailboats and I think it has made me much more proficient at that. I always spend a lot of time thinking about it before I make the approach to the dock and try to have escape plans. Doing approaches to minimums was a lot less stressful to me because I always felt there was an easy out on the missed approach if things weren't going well even if I couldn't see the runway that was down there somewhere. That said, I think you Navy guys always had the toughest job... landing on a pitching deck at night in crappy conditions after fighting your way out and back to the boat. Makes docking seem like parking at the mall in comparison.
I have never flown a float plane, but now that you mention it, I can easily envisage the great complexity of docking the beast. Wow. Lots of variable to deal with, and no reverse gear! Degree of difficulty '10'. I tip my hat to thee.
your videos are great! I love watching them and learning more. Just one point here, your pivot point is further back closer to the stern, so if you do your spring line for docking from the stern, instead of from midship cleat, you won’t get your bow to the dock. no need for fenders on the bow. keep doin more!! and thank you
ups sorry! I just saw you already got a new video refining the technique and having into account the pivot point! that’s awesome. sorry for being annoying. and thanks again for your docking videos
Your reaction was the same as hundreds of others. No problem. I learn something each time I go out! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Amazing stuff Patrick! Thanks for the exploring the options and posting videos, They def help alot. keep them coming! Would you do one where you explain reverse docking into your marina slip & how you do it?
To be honest Matthew, I don't reverse in that much, so am far from an expert at it. (I don't back in because 1) line handling in that mode is often challenging for a solo sailor and 2) in my home port, you lose a lot of privacy by backing in (on my pontoon). I'll film a couple more though --- can't promise that they will be great.
Bill Clark
Interesing video on a much neglected aspect. Good to see you addressing it.
Actually I use a very slightly different approach which I got from a book.
I have a temporary mooring line set up from a mooring cleat on the boat just in front of the cockpit and passed loosely back through the rear side rail to a jamming cleat. I bring the boat into the pontoon and stopped with appropriate use of reverse. I then drop the line over the cleat (lasso it!) and pull the portion through the side rail tight and secure it in the jamming cleat. I then put the motor on again at slow ahead. The alignment of the mooring line causes the boat to turn into the pontoon and be held there. At this point I am able to get mooring lines on deck and step ashore when necessary to moor the boat. When lines are attached the motor can be stopped.
This works for me and much better that my earlier methods - basically variations on crash landing!.
The use of the docking stick would prevent the embarrassing situation of failing to lasso the cleat first time and perhaps drifting off pontoon. I will seek out one. My proposed method only differs from that in the video in that the mooring line is attached much further aft and the engine is put slow ahead to cause the boat to neatly hold itself to the pontoon.
Give it a try - solved my problems.
I don't think there is any difference in our approaches Bill. I am very familiar with this pontoon so used the mid ship spring rather than the aft line (which would have been easier and pulled the boat in very nicely --- and it is a technique that I use regularly --- and even filmed in episode 18). I fully understand the theory of using the various spring lines and motoring forward or aft ----- that is not my problem. I become a clumsy idiot when I try to lasso a cleat --- even one that is VERY close. (And I have watched every video out there about taking two loops, and throwing wide like an angel's wings …..) I just struggle with the 'lasso' part. I'm hoping this Docking Stick tool will take that problem away. :-) Thanks for the great comment.
William Clark
l ike yourself I will source a docking stick to make the process more slick - keep the videos coming - I like your style and attitude and being comfortable sharing it all with us.
I'm pretty good lassooing...but then when I'm doing it, there's someone else actively helming us near the dock. I've never tried lassooing knowing I have to pull in, tie off and run back to the helm right after.
Great comment. When I practice lassoing I never miss, but combine that with maneuvering to get in the right position, stopping (or nearly stopping the boat with the throttle), then running to midships to grab the line and then turning and spotting the cleat you want to lasso ----- well, I miss 20% of the time --- and usually when it is very windy and blowing my boat into danger. I'll think I'll try the Docking Stick for a few months. :-)
Thanks Patrick for demonstrating how the docking stick can help. Sometimes the 'better mousetrap' actually works. :) Please do let us know in future updates how much the 20% failure rate improves when using the stick.
That's a promise Jack. I purposely didn't come out and say, "This is fantastic, everyone should get one." It seems very promising at first view, but I want to test it very thoroughly in numerous scenarios. I'll give more feedback after more experience with this system.
Hi Patrick
We do a similar thing but rather than winch the boat in we just hook onto a cleat further back and then motor forward to bring the boat alongside. We then just leave it sitting in gear which holds her in position while we sort everything out.
Yeah, exactly -- my focus was on the Docking Stick this time. I can easily move the spring line back 1.5 meters, and I'm sure the boat will pull in nicely when in forward gear then. I really do think the Docking Stick is a vast improvement over trying to lasso. Think I'm going to like this. :-)
We’re starting to use a loop on docking stick as we changed home port and the rear cleat is 10 further away than we were used to. Husband uses that whilst I step off with bow line
Sounds like you have a patentable process in place! Fair winds.
I know this was a while ago but if you set a shorter line through your midship fairlead and back to the winch, you can motor against it and pull the boat in. It means a walk to midships and back but it gives you more control once you're hooked on.
You lost me there Darkroom. The line does run from the midship fairlead to the winch, and I motor against it to pull the boat in. It may be clearer in my short Episode 33 where I refined the technique a bit.
@@patricklaine6958 I'll check that video, but motoring against a midship line pulls the boat into the pontoon. You're right though - armchair skippering is easy! I've enjoyed your videos very much. Hope you can get out again but covid has messed up everything
Well done, sailor!
Thanks for the kind encouragement.
I love your videos and share your 'interest'in docking solo. My prefered method, after much trial and many errors, on a parallel pontoon is to slowely back into to the pontoon on a angle of about 45 degrees. I have a big round fender at the back of the boat. I get the boat to stop very precisely (after practice) next to the cleat i want. Simply drop over the line, tighten it and secure it. Then i put the gear in forward and the boat wil slowely and controlled push itself against the dock so you can do the rest of the lines. I love this method because you have so much control and I stay behind the wheel until the boat sits firmly against the pontoon. My boat is pretty low, so i just drop the line on the cleat. With a hight boat I can imagine the docking stick could be usefull in the manoeuvre as well.
Completely agree Edwin. If you look at my Episode 18 (the one with docking examples), you'll see me do exactly that (back in at 45 degrees, stop one foot from the cleat and drop the line over it, then motor forward). (I also filmed doing this in a very tight docking situation in Scarborough, England, but I forget the episode number.) It works very, very well as you say, but there are times when it is not practical to do, and for those times, the Docking Stick will be a nice addition to the tool box. Thanks for commenting.
That was one of the very few episodes I didn’t watch completely for some reason. The technique you showed there was exactly what I meant. Thank you for responding and keep up the great work. If you ever plan a trip to Holland let me know and maybe we can practice together ;-)
You are a genius. Thanks a lot.
Glad it helped
Hey Patrick, nice gadget! Got to get one too. As for parallel docking ... I use a different technique that might be easier. I back into the (parallel) jetty at an angle, preferably jetty to starboard because that's where my throttle control is. Then I throw a stern line over a cleat on the jetty and adjust the length. No walking required - I am there at the wheel anyway. Then cleat off at stern and put engine in forward. The bow will come around and finally the boat will kiss the jetty. I can then walk off the boat and tie other lines while the engine is still in forward. Once tied off the engine goes into neutral. I specifically use this technique if the spot is tight, as I can take my time to adjust the stern line in step 1 to be as far back as desired. Great for solo!
Thanks Rob. If you watch Ep 18, I do exactly that maneuver. I use it from time to time, but not as often as I probably should. I have also had three 'memorable' docking events doing that. The wind was blowing very hard off the dock, and I reversed in a bit steep, probably 40° rather than my preferred 30°. I got the line over the cleat and motored forward, but there was no way to bring the bow in, no mater how much power or reverse rudder I applied. I ended up 90° to the dock, and the only way out of that was to release the line and try again. Lesson learned: combinations of wind and/or current can make that reversing in technique very challenging.
@@patricklaine6958 Agreed! I had a similar experience. I prefer the midship cleat approach much better.
I'm impressed by your docking skills Patrick. I'm not sure how their patent went because we have been using very similar methods for a long time. One is a $6 clam cleat screwed into a $10 aluminium tube. Just put a loop in the end of your line and wedge it in the cleat, bring the line back through the fairlead. The other "the dog catcher" I copied from a sports power boat owner. Simply thread your line through about 5 feet of electrical conduit pipe tie a loop in the end and bring the end through the fairlead to your winch. Once the loop is on the cleat you just let it go, no need to deal with the conduit, just haul in on your cleat. It is also very useful for catching dogs and keeping the biting bits away from you. Cost $4.
Ha! Yes, two great alternatives. Ladies on another channel I watch just use a piece of hose and some velcro and it seems to work just fine. The KISS principle. For info, the first gadget like this I bought (quite expensive), had a bit of a complicated rotating hook and line to capture the cleat. I practiced in my living room and it seemed to work OK. On my very first docking with it, the rotating hook device broke. The very first use! I love your simple solutions.
I love the Docking Stick it look like a great improvement on my homemade version :-) One thing I did with mine was to fit a block at the pivot point. That way I could adjust how far forward or back the pivot point was which meant that the bow didn't dive into the dock when you applied power. each boat is different but it is rare for the centre cleat to be the best pivot point.
Exactly Graeme. Exactly, exactly! In my dream scenario, I get comfortable with using the Docking Stick from the helm position (despite the bimini frame, despite the narrower stern -- and greater distance to the pontoon cleat). I'll then just attach the line to the aft cleat on the boat, and drive smoothly forward. If I can't get comfortable from there, I will experiment with a block at various potential forward pivot points. Great comment.
Even in my 14’ Jon boat, docking in any wind can be challenging
Nice one Patrick
We find leaving our birth
And coming back to our birth
And locking in and out at the beginning and end of the sail the most stressful by far ....
Crazy but true
Thanks for sharing
In a later episode I show my first locking in/out (in Wales). It takes a lot of practice to get comfortable with these maneuvers when you are single-handed. I'm getting there, but not quite yet.
Patrick Laine I watched last night, great stuff my friend. Please keep sharing
Great Idea and a good device for the docking. We should be able to make it from PVC pipes, probably at a lower cost. Thanks for the video.
It isn't a high tech device --- so am sure variations on a theme could be easily built at home Marc. I'm too lazy (and not clever enough). :-)
Another outstanding video, the importance of spring lines can not be over emphasized, Fair Winds!!
Many thanks Chris. Much appreciated.
I use a similar technique, but with less elegant hardware. I think I need some of those. When doing longside docking, I have the spring attached much further aft. That will balance out the boat far better. On most boats I think about one third of the boat length from the stern is the best, about where your winch is. Then the boat will move in parallel to the pier with the rudder about in the centre. Gives much better control and less risk of scratching the freeboard.
EDIT: I see now, in the next video, that you have already done what I suggest here. However, moving it further aft will give significantly better control. The goal is the rudder close to centre. Then you can use the engine to push towards or away from the pier, just by turning the rudder.
Watch the next episode. Great minds think alike. :-)
Thanks Patrick. I had a Lowestoft flashback for a moment......
Unfortunately, I have a relatively long list of published and unpublished videos of that same outcome -- missing the lasso. :-)
For me just a nice long telescoping gaff will allow you to pull close. The first attempt you still pulled away quite a bit though it might just be something you will fix with practice. I have seen these thanks so much for the demo!
Yeah -- it's an easy fix William (that I'll probably film the next time out). I'm a bit nervous about depending on a gaff to pull it in. We do have 4-5 meters of tide, so the current can get a bit tricky there. And, I have already lost a gaff once by trying to pull in a mooring buoy in rough weather. The 10 tonne boat was much heavier than I am strong. :-)
Wow 4-5 Meter tides, no wonder your docks mostly seem like floating docks there :) - in the Keys we have a couple of feet max. Yeah the gaff pull is not at all a perfect science either. We have had some spectacular issues a couple of times but we found having the wife up front with 1 gaff and me with the option to use one back at the helm worked. Of course you are single handing it so I totally understand the complexity you face. Always enjoy watching your exploits and appreciate you sharing the good and the bad as well as your reviews on products that might be of interest to us all.
Cool trick, but personally the far bigger lesson I got from this is to spend a day, or afternoon and practice things like this. Pilots do it constantly, to get a drivers licence you have to practice parking, when the hell wouldn't I practice docking my boat. This will definitely be an activity this summer. Pick a quiet weekday and spend a couple hours doing touch and go's and maybe even a few launches and retrievals with the trailer. My GF has zero experience with boats so it would be a good way to also get her comfortable with it.
Yeah -- nothing beats practice. I still do it --- very early in the morning when no one is awake. I go over to the visitor section of our marina and practice backing in, parallel approach, and into and with the wind landings. It's a great way to get to know your boat better, and build confidence. (For every landing I made on the aircraft carrier during my career as a fighter pilot, I'll bet I had 100 done ashore as practice.) :-)
Good tool.
I like that. The very worst predicament I ever saw was a 20-25kt wind coming across the Frederiksted pier on St. Croix. Single screw, 414' frigate docking to leeward. Missed the 1st attempt. Fortunately it was a very long pier. Got a bow and stern line off on the next run in. Ended up hanging off it 120 meters out. Took nearly two hours to winch that boat in.
I found myself hanging off one line once in very high winds (at the same pontoon I was at in this video). Nothing I could do to bring the bow back in. I finally just released the stern line after 5 embarrassing minutes and came back for a second attempt. :-) Thanks for commenting.
Nothing good ever comes of a sailor who gets themselves on wrong side of the wind. :)
Thanks for this video, great device for any sailor.
That looks like a very useful accessory to have on board. Very important to stay back in the cockpit - although I have been very lazy on occasions and jumped off the middle of the boat with a centre line in hand. I tend to use a loop (bridle) from the centre cleat back to the winch. I can then throw the loop in a wide arc from the cockpit onto a cleat. I can then tighten it up. However, if it did go wrong there would be a lot of line in the water quite close to the prop, so possibly a bit risky.
Thanks Paul. Yeah -- it's too early to say definitively, but I really enjoyed this first experience. I'm tired of racing to midships only to miss the lasso. I'll tweek the location of the fairlead pivot point so it pulls in a bit more gracefully --- or, if possible, just work from the helm position and tie it off on the aft cleat. This gaff extension also gives more confidence when backing in. Sometimes the cleats on the pontoon are quite a ways off to the side, so this gives a potentially easy way to get a line over them fairly rapidly too. Others have suggested to me to just jump off the boat with mooring lines in hand, but I've never been brave enough to do that. :-)
A couple of pointer to improve your coming along side technique. 1. Come in at a steeper angle and turn later. 2. Once you have the aft spring on a cleat motor forward with the helm hard over away from the dock. In other words, if your are coming in starboard side to, put the helm hard to port once you have the aft spring on a cleat. That will pull the boat along side and bring the stern in.
Thanks Todd. I think I do all of that. In this case (the first time I used the Docking Stick), I ran the spring line through the fairlead, which was too far forward (and caused the bow to be pulled in a bit sharply). I'll move the spring line back 1.5 meters, and it should pull the boat in nicely when I motor ahead with helm away from the pontoon. Thanks for the helpful tips.
Yep. This is what's it all about. Not bikinis and drama but seamanship, skills and practice. Thanks for the inspiration and ideas from a novice. Big expensive boats that don't suffer the mistakes of the ill informed.
A very practical solution. Does your boat prop walk much in the direction of prop rotation? Reason I ask is it could make a difference in which side you approach from if you’re stuck using the midship cleat and can’t pivot well. Any little thing may help or hurt, trying to get the tail in.
Great comment Nate. However, I have a sail drive (prop much further forward than a traditional shaft-prop system), so prop walk is not a great factor. I have a friend with the same size boat and a prop/shaft classic --- and if he just 'thinks' reverse gear, his boat jumps to port. :-) Fair winds.
I notice the ferries on Sydney Harbour always attach the stern line first, while the ferry has a little forward motion, and the effect is that the remaining forward motion then swings the ferry toward the wharf ready for the other lines to be attached. If you did this you could attach the stern line from the cockpit, and leave the engine running forward to hold it against the wharf while you went forward to attach those lines.
And that is a taught tactic in many sailing schools DC. It does require the bollard/cleat on the pontoon to be in the right place, and to have space on the stern of your boat to move around in. (Mine is very cluttered with bimini, back stays, life buoy, davits, GPS, etc.....)
I use the same Teaneck but I have a snubber line cleated midship that way u can drive it onto the dock
I've got a couple of ready made anchor points I can use aft of the fairlead (that I used in this video). I'll move the spring line back to have the same affect as your snubber line next time out. I'm sure it will smoothly pull the boat in. Thanks for watching.
Hello Patrick, love your videos a lot.
Saling single-handed is always a bit precarious, especially docking alone.
I like your dock stick, but don't really understand why you want to use the mid cleat (if not 20 +knots sidewind offshore) on a long pontoon.
I used to pick the rear cleats for this, let the rope slow the boat down as you do too, then use forward throttle (sometimes more than half throttle) to push the boat to pontoon.
On stronger offshore sidewind take the wheel to starbord to force the bow back.
Corresponding bowline led to cockpit.
Rear cleat rope now also function as spring-line so you just jump on the pontoon with your corresponding bow line.
What say you ?
Best wishes, Carol 🇳🇱
Yeah, I understand the technique you describe. My rear quarter is quite loaded with stuff that makes lassoing a bit of a challenge: davits, GPS, life buoy, bimini frame, and the stern is 0.5 meters further away from the dock than midships. That said, I do exactly as you suggest sometimes, usually when I reverse in, then motor forward against the stern cleat.
Reminds me of a dog catcher..lol..Nice vid, practice makes perfect..
:-) I improve on this technique by shifting the line back to the pivot point in Episode 33. I've used it on numerous occasions since then, and it works great (much better than trying to lasso a cleat on the pontoon). Thanks for watching.
Nice work! Good thinking from the solo sailor to deal with a crosswind .
Very kind of you Scotland. Many thanks.
Suggestion on lassooing technique (which I use from 70 ton Dutch barge..). One end of the rope is fast to the boat. Coil the remainder carefully. Hold the tail in the left hand and the coil in the right. Throw the whole line with the right hand in a big sweeping motion. With a bit of practice you can get it to open into a wide, expansive loop. This gives an excellent chance of getting it over the target cleat, at which point pull on the tail and cleat off on the boat when ready. At the distance shown in the video I could probably catch the cleat 90% of the time. The secret is getting a nice wide, but on target loop of rope in the air! Try it - it works. I have never seen sailors do it, but barge handlers also have techniques that work!
Thanks Richard. I get what you are describing (and there are several sailing videos which demonstrate this technique with slight variations). My challenge is arriving at the midship line on the run from the helm. When I pick up the coil, I'll invariably get the bitter end tangled with one of the loops, or will have placed the line on the cabin roof in such a way as it makes more sense to pick the coil up with the left hand, rather than the right, etc. It's always something! :-) Nevertheless, I had a success rate of 75 or 80%, but the 20% I miss could at times be very scary, as the boat will have lost all way and the bow may be headed downwind dangerously toward another (expensive) yacht. Since I made thid video, I have used the Docking Stick a half dozen times in ports I was not familiar with, and it worked perfectly. Stress free docking. That's for me. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks Patrick. Yes the docking stick look like a good solution. I am hoping to solo sail at some point and am watching your adventures with great interest and learning! Hope you keep doing the videos, they get the tone, pitch and yaw just right!
great vids !.. Little question : for (forward) parallel docking why don't you put your stern line first ? It would be less of a bump on your bow wouldn't it ?
thanks !
It's a good question Charles, and that is the recommended way to do it. However, the limits to that are: if going into a pontoon berth, the finger must be longer than the boat (which is not the case where I dock); and when docking parallel, if you have a bimini frame in the way, and davits, and a horse-shoe lifering, etc., they can interfere with free access over the side. In that case, if you haven't placed the boat perfectly, you may not be able to get a line over the cleat. In those cases, you have more options and less need for precise accuracy if you use the midship line. Hope that is clear. Thanks for watching.
Hi Patrick. The Docking Stick will work better if you find your boat's pivot point. It will be somewhere after of midship and closer to the hatch's line. And when you leave it in forward have the helm fully away from the dock so prop wash brings Isabelle's stern against the dock. You can also use it as your last line to release when leaving the dock. I attach a leader line from the loop that I can pull the loop off the dock cleat when in neutral. Experiment.
Yeah -- no problem Lee. I just concentrated on the function of the Docking Stick this time out. I'll shift the pivot point back a meter and a half tomorrow by attaching a block with a snap shackle to an eye near the toe rail. I'm sure that will result in the whole boat being pulled in nicely with a bit of opposite helm. Thanks for commenting.
Nice Patrick, the stick is much better and easier. Most sailors may not know which way the propeller turns when reversing; typically to port. So approach on the port side so the reverse brings you closer to dock. Still; great videos and keep on producing stp!
Good tip Lars! I've got a lot to learn on this boat.
Merci Patrick
De rien Bobby…. :-)
C'est ce bon !!
Hi Patrick
An impressive tool. I admire that you show the occasional mishap which we all have some(me) more than others
L🤣L
On the part where your docking near the fuel pumps I notice that you dock using your forward cleat. If you used your stern cleat (with a generous feeding payout of line to suppress the impact) wouldn’t that pull the boat into the dock plus less risk of lines hung up on staunchions?
That's true Chris. I use the midship cleat for two reasons: the aft quarter is difficult to operate from (reach objects, throw lines, etc.) on my boat due to the bimini, a GPS, a life ring, davits, and the helm; and, if there is no convenient shore cleat next to the stern when you position alongside, you may have to drive forward quite a ways until the next one. By using the midship line, you can easily adjust forward or aft a meter or two to get to a shore cleat. After that lengthy response, I do agree with you ----- if you can get a line ashore from the aft cleat, it is very easy to then just motor forward a bit and the maneuver is over.
@@patricklaine6958 thanks for reply I thought I was missing something. Now I understand. 😊👍
nice. when you drive it forward, are you also (at the same time) turning hard to port?
Nice Video and good idea!
I prefer to enter backwards, cause then I don't have to run...
Thanks for All your videos. Inspiring and learning. Maybe you have mention in some videos, but can I ask what biat do you sail. Looks a Bavaria 40. But can you confirm.
Thanks
Yes, a German-built Bavaria 40 Cruiser from 2008. Thanks for watching.
@@patricklaine6958 welcome. Im 48 now and the idea on owning my first sailing boat is growing. Done around 20 weeks now sailing in greece, Spain and croatia and of course some near shoore in Portugal atlântic. Bad experiences in atlantic when we left withou even looks at the Weathers conditions, very early days but learned my lesson... Also in greece wiht maltemi reaping off the genoa. But still here to tell the story. When you have some free moments if you could Share some advices tips on boat selection would apreciate.
Good sailings.
Pedro
20 weeks of sailing is a strong experience base. That should make the transition to ownership fairly straight-forward. I'd recommend taking a pro out with you a coupe of times after purchase, just to ask for his critique of your techniques. I found that very helpful in my case.
Excellent idea. Thanks. One thing though. If the line was attached to a spring cleat or hard point more towards the rear third of the boat, the bow wouldn't swing into the dock when strain comes on to it.
Many thanks Opus. Please see Episode 33. :-)
Patrick ,while watching your approach parallel to the quay ,I had an idea which might prevent the stern swinging out when holding the back spring, how about placing the stern line with the back spring on the docking stick to the same bollard & pay out together until along side. Great mooring tips, Im looking forward to your next video.
That's a great idea James, but I have an even simpler solution ---- I just need to move the spring line attach point back about 1.5 meters from the fairlead position that I used in this video, to an eye in the deck or a cleat that are already in place. I'll probably film it the next time out. I'm sure it will then smoothly pull the boat in. Thanks for the suggestion (that I'm sure would work also).
We use the mid ship cleat technique almost every time I sail with my wife. The docking stick seems to be a great help to avoid those hero jumps - not that she does it :)
Thanks Szymon. I can never jump from my boat either until at least one line is secured ----- but it is VERY frustrating to run to midships, grab the line, and then miss the cleat. And, I've practiced that throw dozens of times. I'm hoping this Docking Stick will be a nice addition to my solo toolbag. I'll give more feedback after a few months experience with it.
At least you have cleats. So many docks in my area don't. You have to hop off and wrap your line around the top rail
Yeah, I've experienced that bull rail system in a number of places. A nightmare for solo sailors..... Fortunately most European ports use cleats/bollards.
Patrick
I would like to ask you something I have great problems with: it concerns berthing backwards.. I see you came up to your slip against the wind, then turned, having the danger of hitting your neighbor ( if the wind’s are lots stronger) with you bow.. If you had the chance, would you prefer to come from the other side, coming backward from the upwind side, minimizing the change the bow would come over to much or do I see this the wrong way?
Great question Hans. I think most experienced sailors would say that it is always preferable to enter a slip (in either forward or in reverse) INTO THE WIND/CURRENT as much as possible. This allows you to enter fairly slowly, yet under full control. If you enter 'downwind', you risk entering uncomfortably fast (engine plus wind), and if you attempt to slow down, the bow may be blown off by the wind. That said, you often will not have a choice due to the layout of the marina/slip. I have often had to enter slips running downwind because it was just not practicable to enter facing the wind due to the layout of the fairway leading to the slip. I prefer to enter facing the wind, but frequent practice has given me the confidence to enter downwind if I am forced to. Fair winds to you.
Hi Patrick, really enjoying your channel just a tip. IMHO you are coming in a bit fast and turning away a bit too quickly. If you some ways when you have suffcient speed switch to neutral and approach the dock at an even steeper angle and start turning a bit later you should then be able to turn to you almost "kiss" the dock without touching it and almost have no momentum going forward. I then have two lines prepared one shorter in aft (please excuse my english is not my native language and my nautical vocabulary is quite sparse) and quite a long one in bow. I attach the aft line first iquite snuggly to the dock and in this case where the wind is pushing the bow out, and certainly has already started as I attach the aft. I just hop on to the dock with my bowline in hand move to the bow and pull the bow in.
Yes --- and others have suggested the same technique. I am sure that works on some boats, and could work on mine in the right conditions. Complicating factors on my boat are that the stern is .8 meters less wide than at midships. This means 1) the beam usually touches/rebounds first, and 2) the stern is perhaps 2 to 3 meters away from the cleat. Throwing the line over the cleat from the stern of my boat is not simple. The space behind the helm is quite limited. Moreover, I have a bimini frame in the way, along with a life buoy, and davits off the transom, and a GPS antenna. Yes, this technique works fine when there is no wind or current and the boat can be positioned perfectly, but is a bit of a challenge on my boat when wind or current are a factor. The bottom line is that every boat, and every marina will have its own personality. Owners will have to develop a technique that works for them in their circumstances. Thanks for commenting.
Patrick, that's a very good one. I am in a Bavaria 42 and with winds blowing a beam to the boat during mooring (med mooring) I always lose control of the bow which runs sideways, do you have tips? Should I go faster backwards?
I really hesitate to give this kind of advice Tiago. I'm sure a pro could spend 20 minutes with you when you do a Med mooring and work out any bugs. I will say that everyone always chants the mantra, 'Never go any faster than you want to hit something', and I think that is just nonsense. Going slow in a sailboat with strong crosswind or current is a formula for tears. You need to maintain enough speed (way) to give the rudder positive and immediate response. If I had come in too slowly while reversing in in this video, I certainly would have had the bow fall off across my neighbor. Good luck with this tough problem. Again, 20 minutes with a pro could take away a lot of stress. :-)
Patrick Laine, I will do it for this summer. Isn't funny you do all manoeuvres correctly and get trapped to one (med mooring) which you don't do well?
Nice one, the docking sticks give lots of options, I also a bit disappointed in using a midships cleat on most yachts due to their shape it seems to pull the bow in, on a ship with nice parallel sides the sides tend to stop this. Springing in tends to work best with a lead aft of mid ships, and the stern cleat usually used to drive in against but it can be a faff working from that quarter if a narrow stern I find on some yachts as long as stanchions are clear a line direct to an aft winch can be a good place to drive against but looks like your bimini could get in the way. Still you get 2 sticks in the pack so perhaps the midships one plus another docking stick sent out from aft. Enjoyed the video it gets one thinking and practicing , Im working on my fighter pilot approaches :)...
Today I just wanted to see how easy/difficult it would be to capture a pontoon cleat with the gaff/stick Ian. (I was pleased --- quite easy.) I'll now see if I can remain at the helm and do the same thing (more difficult due to narrow stern and bimini hardware) --- and then just tie off the line on the aft cleat and drive forward --- a bit more graceful. The key thing is to avoid having to run to midships and try to lasso a cleat which will inevitably be moving due to tidal current, wind or both. I was happy with this first experience with the Docking Stick. Thanks for commenting.
Well done, docking can be the trickiest part of the whole journey! Have you ever tried stern to Mediterranean style mooring with lazy lines single handed?
I've done 'stern to' docking often Geoff, but never like the way they do it in the Med (no finger). I'm sure many solo sailors have mastered this, but the thought of anchoring, backing down, throwing a line over a cleat and then picking up the slime line seems very challenging for someone alone. I tip my hat in humble admiration to those who can do this. Thanks for watching.