224 seamanship secrets
“Your Call, Skipper”You’re the skipper or most knowledgeable crewmember in each of the
following situations. What actions would you take?- You enter a marina off the Intracoastal Waterway to take on fuel. It’s a blustery
day and you’ve been bucking a stiff ebb current for the past 2 hours. You rig
lines and fenders. What’s the fi rst thing you should do once inside the marina? - In a single-screw boat with a right-handed prop, what is the preferred
direction to pivot, and why? What is the preferred side to make an approach
to a pier, and why? - The dockmaster directs you to tie up your 35-foot single-screw boat
between two yachts. The wind is blowing at a steep angle off the dock.
It’s just you and your mate. How would you handle this situation? - Two hours later, you prepare to leave. The wind has shifted almost 180
degrees and is now gusting onto the dock. Again, it’s just you and your mate.
What would you do to clear the yachts and pier safely in these conditions? - After a great sailing day, you’re ready to lower the mainsail, but the engine
won’t start. Using binoculars, you check the wind direction inside the marina.
You’ll have a light wind off the port beam, so sailing in should work. How would
you direct the crew to make up lines for entering your slip?
Answers - Stop the boat and drift for a few seconds to find out if the wind or
current dominates. Make your approach with the bow facing the stronger
of the two. - The preferred direction is to the right. The boat will back to port during the
pivot, and this helps get it around more quickly. For docking, favor port-side
to. Prop walk will bring the stern in as soon as you shift into reverse gear. - Have an after bow spring line ready to drape over a piling near the after
end of your berth. Bunch fenders at the bow, but keep one fender ready on
deck. Approach into the wind with just enough momentum for control. As
the bow reaches the pier, loop the spring line around the aft piling and back
to the boat. Turn the rudder away from the dock and idle ahead against the
spring line to walk your stern into the dock. Once berthed, keep the rudder
over and the engine engaged until other lines are set. - Turn the rudder toward the pier. Retrieve all lines except the after bow
spring. Remove the spring line’s belay, but leave a full round turn around the
cleat. Put the engine into idle forward gear and let the stern clear the pier by
at least 60 degrees. Shift into neutral, cast off the spring, and bring it aboard.
Back away and clear the pier. - Rig a “braking” spring line from each bow cleat. Make each spring line
two-thirds of the length of the boat, one leading aft on the starboard side
and one leading aft to port. Form bowlines with a large eye in the end of each
line. Drape these eyes over the outer pilings of the slip as soon as possible.