I used this technique all the way from Seattle to Alaska on a 50 foot Grand Banks - worked like a charm. Often single handed - I had a ring secured on the end of the line that I would lean over and hook over the cleat on the dock as I approached. Once it was hooked on - I edged fwd turning the helm to starboard as necessary. Step ashore - secure my aft lines first - then my bow lines - then back on board and engage neutral. Job done.
Well, I did read only a few posts back, therefore I don't know if anybody mentions the major rules of docking, tying the boat or undocking. I would like to add a few: 1. Always put the loop of the docking line over the cleat on the docks, not on the boat! 2. Make loop large enough (2-6') to cast over the cleat (or use boat hook) if the lack of help from the dock. 3. Always adjust the lines from the boat compensating for the engine push and feed out or pick up the slack of the line as needed. 4. Never jump on the dock and never ever transfer onto the dock from the moving boat. 5. If possible stop parallel along the side of the dock (even few feet of the dock) and deal with the lines having your crew on deck, not on the dock. 6. Besides considering the wind, current, waves, etc always have plan B to pull out nice and easy and do not try to make happen impossible - abandon the maneuver and try it again! 7. The most important: STAY CALM AND SLOW IS GOOD! NEVER ALLOWED ANYONE TO FEND THE BOAT WITH HUMAN BODY (PUSHING/PULLING)! DONT ALLOWED TO PULL YOUR DOCKING LINES FROM THE DOCK AS IT WILL CANCEL YOUR MOMENTUM DURING DOCKING! I hope you will find this comment useful. Ahoy!
This technique also works when pulling away from the dock in a tight quarters situation or "parallel parked". Just turn the rudder in the opposite direction as shown in the video. Bump the throttle and your stern will slowly pull to starboard (away form the dock).
A variation on a UK Yachtmasters course that also solves wind/tide taking you away from the dock & docking single handed. Create a loop tied to the mid-ship cleat. The loop must extend just past the stern by approx 1m. Approach slowly and lock the helm to just brush by the dock before heading away. Lasso the loop around a dock cleat (hard part). Your boat heads away but the stern pushes against the loop/spring pulling the bow back in. Our class all did it against tide+wind, Easier with crew!
the only exception to using as little as possible power is if you're being blown off the dock by wind and sometimes you need all the power you can muster depending on how hard the wind is,blowing you away. Very handy.
I never have a problem getting close enough. Reminds me, I have to put a collision alarm on my boat. So they know when I’m coming in. Actually I still try to loop it but have had to step off. A little unsafe in my case since I'm alone. But it worked every time (so far).
Dear young captain, you tie the boat well, but the last locking turn SHALL NOT be done! Unless you have a special need to do it. Not long ago I learned from the British Navy that it is safer to make several unlocked turns. It might not look beautiful, but makes it safer to untie the boat. Me and probably 99% of all sailors have been tying the boat the way you show here for ages, but unfortunately it can jam. It happend to me in the past.
I agree with warjacare: If you make it fast with a locking turn, and the boat is pulling hard on that line, it will jam and you will not be able to take it off. the way I teach it is by remembering OXO: one full loop around the cleat (or bollard), then a X on top of it, or as many Xs as you wish (the more Xs, the stronger the hold, then another full loop around the cleat. The tail of the line is then free to be undone at any time when you need it, it is not locked. This will hold any boat by using the friction of the line onto itself.
warjacare "Dear young captain, you tie the boat well, but the last locking turn SHALL NOT be done..." I'd say it depends on the type of dock line, the sea conditions, etc. For example, with three-strand laid rope as the dockline a locking turn is usually not needed, but with double-braid dock lines I would use a locking turn.
It cracks me up how you all call yourselves captains over in the US.... still not a bad example and you could also use this to spring the bow off by going astern on the engines!
Why wouldn't the captain of a boat call himself that? I find it funny how Brits renamed all the parts of the automobile, even though they all had names before Brits ever saw one.
Josef I wasn't having a dig at the man, I just find it funny as over in the UK we tend to just call ourselves boat owners with the relevant tickets or qualifications... I find it hard to believe an American would have seen a motorcar before anyone from Britain as the first car was invented in Germany... By the way the language your going to reply in is in fact English, something you yanks have ruined in the short time you have been around!
Maybe it's because the government requires Brits to have tickets and qualifications to use the word captain? I hear they (Canadia) just passed a law making it illegal to call someone by other than their fantasy pronoun...I demand they refer to me as Captain, my preferred gender pronoun. Do Germans say boot and bonnet? The language I'm responding in has nothing to do with Brits making up all kinds of words to replace words in common usage. And they've done plenty of damage to the language as well in the same amount of time, as we were both speaking the same language at the time of the breakup.
Josef in the UK you can use a boat without any qualification and there is no law stating you need one, using a commercial vessel then requires you to have an RYA or MCA qualification... madness really and plenty of people over the years have found themselves requiring assistance! Saying that I've grown up around boats and water and I've seen plenty of boat owners who have sat qualifications and can't handle their boat under engine or sail... There must be millions of examples out there from different countries using their own language to change words so it's nothing new is it? After checking google the German word for boot or trunk isn't the same what either country use so I guess we are both guilty? Did the first German car even have a boot or trunk... from what I can see from a little research is that the word Boot came from when the British were using stage coaches back in the 1600s.... the name Trunk was used when the car was introduced and in the early 1900s the rear seats were over the back axle, because there was no room they mounted a trunk on the rear.. So the word boot has been used long before the word trunk so we use boot and you use trunk..
Not so great Britain once rule half the world but still haven't figured out the concept of central heating. My vessel. On my vessel you're mate, master, steward, crew.....but I'm Captain.
We for safety would spring of out yhe bow cleat does the same thing but you you throw the the the eye on to the dock and secure on the boat much safer for the crew instead of standing on a foot wide gunnel..... 129 foot 300 hundred pax
Great explanation. I’m gonna try this out the next time I need to dock sideways. I’ll see if I can make a video and post it up. Follow my channel and check out videos. I’d appreciate it. I’m fairly new at editing and making videos but I’m making it happen here in Miami, Florida. Thanks.
10 years at see i never saw this ... how can a only rope make and keep one vessel in manouvring..even if was a wire this is not correct get some experience before staring videos like this..
![Gunna - HIM ALL ALONG [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HiCxoDeo0hc/mqdefault.jpg)
Perfect demonstration....very clear and articulate....seeing a model really helps..
Best demonstration I have seen. One has a complete overview.
Thanks captain for creating this useful video
I used this technique all the way from Seattle to Alaska on a 50 foot Grand Banks - worked like a charm. Often single handed - I had a ring secured on the end of the line that I would lean over and hook over the cleat on the dock as I approached. Once it was hooked on - I edged fwd turning the helm to starboard as necessary. Step ashore - secure my aft lines first - then my bow lines - then back on board and engage neutral. Job done.
Best and clearest explanation I have seen of this technique .Well done
Been looking for a vid on this for a while. Thorough and simple explanation. Thank you very much.
Spring Line! We used this technique on the dredge when shifting the barges back and forth along the dredge.
Thank you. No book does this explanation justice.
wow... you explained mooring better than anything ive learned!! well done. Thank You!! p.s. nice model of a boat and the small cleat is awesome
Short and to the point. Nice. Thanks
Well, I did read only a few posts back, therefore I don't know if anybody mentions the major rules of docking, tying the boat or undocking. I would like to add a few:
1. Always put the loop of the docking line over the cleat on the docks, not on the boat!
2. Make loop large enough (2-6') to cast over the cleat (or use boat hook) if the lack of help from the dock.
3. Always adjust the lines from the boat compensating for the engine push and feed out or pick up the slack of the line as needed.
4. Never jump on the dock and never ever transfer onto the dock from the moving boat.
5. If possible stop parallel along the side of the dock (even few feet of the dock) and deal with the lines having your crew on deck, not on the dock.
6. Besides considering the wind, current, waves, etc always have plan B to pull out nice and easy and do not try to make happen impossible - abandon the maneuver and try it again!
7. The most important: STAY CALM AND SLOW IS GOOD! NEVER ALLOWED ANYONE TO FEND THE BOAT WITH HUMAN BODY (PUSHING/PULLING)! DONT ALLOWED TO PULL YOUR DOCKING LINES FROM THE DOCK AS IT WILL CANCEL YOUR MOMENTUM DURING DOCKING!
I hope you will find this comment useful. Ahoy!
I Captain a 55ft 50 ton Head Boat and all of the Rules @griffinsailingschool3220 are correct.
This is logical, anyone who owns a boat should know this , and naval knots ..
Hey Captain, nice to see you on here
This technique also works when pulling away from the dock in a tight quarters situation or "parallel parked". Just turn the rudder in the opposite direction as shown in the video. Bump the throttle and your stern will slowly pull to starboard (away form the dock).
Rotate around the bow fender while pulling away is also effective.
Canna Crazy a
wow...I guess you can always learn something no matter how long you've doing it.
Aint that so true!
Great visual! Thanks
I do this in the ballard locks sometimes using one line for the 100ft landing craft.
Captain Jeff rocks!
A variation on a UK Yachtmasters course that also solves wind/tide taking you away from the dock & docking single handed.
Create a loop tied to the mid-ship cleat. The loop must extend just past the stern by approx 1m. Approach slowly and lock the helm to just brush by the dock before heading away. Lasso the loop around a dock cleat (hard part). Your boat heads away but the stern pushes against the loop/spring pulling the bow back in.
Our class all did it against tide+wind, Easier with crew!
the only exception to using as little as possible power is if you're being blown off the dock by wind and sometimes you need all the power you can muster depending on how hard the wind is,blowing you away. Very handy.
In such a case, all the power you can muster IS as little as possible. Using less would make docking IMpossible. ;-)
capt this was nice and simple, i am new to boating do you have any more videos maybe a series i can follow...?
great video
Nicely explained, thank you
I never have a problem getting close enough. Reminds me, I have to put a collision alarm on my boat. So they know when I’m coming in. Actually I still try to loop it but have had to step off. A little unsafe in my case since I'm alone. But it worked every time (so far).
Excellent!
Thanks for sharing
Well done,
Great to know. Thank you!
Very cool!!
Thanks!!
Nice model! I had to listen a second time to catch the “obviously “.
That’s just how I bring my rubber ducky to the side of the tub!! lol jk Actually, well done. I use this technique often.
awesome ty so much!
good video
thank you
why is he tying up to a duck?
nice
Dear young captain, you tie the boat well, but the last locking turn SHALL NOT be done! Unless you have a special need to do it.
Not long ago I learned from the British Navy that it is safer to make several unlocked turns. It might not look beautiful, but makes it safer to untie the boat. Me and probably 99% of all sailors have been tying the boat the way you show here for ages, but unfortunately it can jam. It happend to me in the past.
Could you provide a picture of video of it being done this way? How is the line made fast after the unlocked turns?
I agree with warjacare: If you make it fast with a locking turn, and the boat is pulling hard on that line, it will jam and you will not be able to take it off. the way I teach it is by remembering OXO: one full loop around the cleat (or bollard), then a X on top of it, or as many Xs as you wish (the more Xs, the stronger the hold, then another full loop around the cleat. The tail of the line is then free to be undone at any time when you need it, it is not locked. This will hold any boat by using the friction of the line onto itself.
Peter Jorgensen za
warjacare "Dear young captain, you tie the boat well, but the last locking turn SHALL NOT be done..."
I'd say it depends on the type of dock line, the sea conditions, etc. For example, with three-strand laid rope as the dockline a locking turn is usually not needed, but with double-braid dock lines I would use a locking turn.
if you are close enough for one line just jump off with both or Ross the other over and you don't risk breaking the horn
It cracks me up how you all call yourselves captains over in the US.... still not a bad example and you could also use this to spring the bow off by going astern on the engines!
Why wouldn't the captain of a boat call himself that? I find it funny how Brits renamed all the parts of the automobile, even though they all had names before Brits ever saw one.
Josef I wasn't having a dig at the man, I just find it funny as over in the UK we tend to just call ourselves boat owners with the relevant tickets or qualifications... I find it hard to believe an American would have seen a motorcar before anyone from Britain as the first car was invented in Germany...
By the way the language your going to reply in is in fact English, something you yanks have ruined in the short time you have been around!
Maybe it's because the government requires Brits to have tickets and qualifications to use the word captain? I hear they (Canadia) just passed a law making it illegal to call someone by other than their fantasy pronoun...I demand they refer to me as Captain, my preferred gender pronoun.
Do Germans say boot and bonnet? The language I'm responding in has nothing to do with Brits making up all kinds of words to replace words in common usage. And they've done plenty of damage to the language as well in the same amount of time, as we were both speaking the same language at the time of the breakup.
Josef in the UK you can use a boat without any qualification and there is no law stating you need one, using a commercial vessel then requires you to have an RYA or MCA qualification... madness really and plenty of people over the years have found themselves requiring assistance!
Saying that I've grown up around boats and water and I've seen plenty of boat owners who have sat qualifications and can't handle their boat under engine or sail...
There must be millions of examples out there from different countries using their own language to change words so it's nothing new is it?
After checking google the German word for boot or trunk isn't the same what either country use so I guess we are both guilty?
Did the first German car even have a boot or trunk... from what I can see from a little research is that the word Boot came from when the British were using stage coaches back in the 1600s.... the name Trunk was used when the car was introduced and in the early 1900s the rear seats were over the back axle, because there was no room they mounted a trunk on the rear..
So the word boot has been used long before the word trunk so we use boot and you use trunk..
Not so great Britain once rule half the world but still haven't figured out the concept of central heating. My vessel. On my vessel you're mate, master, steward, crew.....but I'm Captain.
We for safety would spring of out yhe bow cleat does the same thing but you you throw the the the eye on to the dock and secure on the boat much safer for the crew instead of standing on a foot wide gunnel..... 129 foot 300 hundred pax
I see people use this and crash the bow right into the dock....
This must be only for huge boats
Great explanation. I’m gonna try this out the next time I need to dock sideways. I’ll see if I can make a video and post it up. Follow my channel and check out videos. I’d appreciate it. I’m fairly new at editing and making videos but I’m making it happen here in Miami, Florida. Thanks.
D.O.C.K.. not D.A.C.K. There is an o sound not an a sound!!!!
i feel bad for this guy
10 years at see i never saw this ... how can a only rope make and keep one vessel in manouvring..even if was a wire this is not correct
get some experience before staring videos like this..
If you were at sea for ten years and never learned how to use spring lines you must have been a cook, not a deckhand.
Creepy voice👱🏼♂️-😱