Seamanship_Secrets_185_Tips_-_Techniques_for_Better_Navigation-_Cruise_Planning-_and_Boat_Handling_Under_Power_or_Sail_(Re)_e..

212 seamanship secrets

of harm’s way. Using our rudder and engine to hold the ship alongside, we
quickly lowered the gangway and escorted the refugees ashore. Then we hauled
the gangway aboard, slipped the spring line, and backed away from the pier.
This method worked time and again throughout that dangerous patrol.
For a quick stop alongside a pier in any weather, nothing beats an aft er-
bow spring line—i.e., a line led aft from a cleat forward of amidships to a cleat
on the dock or pier. You can dock and undock quickly with this line alone.
Select a cleat a third of the way back from the bow, near your boat’s pivot point.
Prepare the spring line before your approach by cleating the inboard end and
passing the line under any rail or lifeline and then back aboard over the rail
or lifeline. Assign a crewmember to work a roving fender.

DOCKING

1. Aim for a point on the pier one-third of a boat length aft of where you want
   to end up.


2. Pass a loop of the spring line around a cleat or piling on the pier, well aft of
   your onboard spring line cleat. Pull the line back aboard and take a round turn
   onto the spring line cleat. Stand forward of the cleat to keep out of the bight of
   the line.


3. All wheel-steering boats should turn the wheel hard away from the pier.
   Tiller-steered boats should hold the tiller hard toward the pier.


4. Single-screw boats should shift the engine into forward gear at idle speed.
   Twin-screw boats should go ahead on the inboard engine.


5. Slacken or tension the spring line to warp the boat fl ush against the pier.
   Th en, cleat off the spring line. Keep the engine idling in gear and the wheel
   or tiller hard over.

UNDOCKING

1. Rig an aft er-bow spring line as described above. If room allows, work the
   boat slowly up to a corner of the pier. Th is makes springing more eff ective
   and protects bowsprits and protruding ground tackle.


2. Use a roving fender to cushion the boat-to-pier contact point. Th e line
   handler should stand forward of the deck cleat to keep clear of the bight.
   Remove the cleat belay, but leave a full round turn around the cleat; hold
   the bitter end with moderate tension.


3. Wheel-steered boats should turn the wheel toward the pier. Tiller-steered
   boats should hold the tiller hard away from the pier.


4. A single-screw boat should engage the engine in forward gear at idle speed.
   A twin-screw boat should power ahead on the outboard engine at idle
   speed. Face the stern.