Set the brake, turn towards the curb, leave it in reverse and tie the reins with a quick release knot.
These familiar-sounding hints may work for some things, and horses, but not boats.
Dock lines are important, seems like an obvious observation, but I’m astounded at how many times I see boaters tying up as if they didn’t care about what may be their 1st or 2nd most valuable possession, spouses and children excluded of course (for some). Some skippers treat their vessels as if it were a horse, just throw the line around the hitching rail and she be there, arrr, when I come back must be their logic. In their defense, some of these cowboys have never had their boats anywhere but on their trailer, some may not have dock lines.
Enough with the excuses, every secure boat needs four or more lines going from the boat to the float.
I know, people make exceptions sooner or later, such as, “It was just a five minute stop over to get ice, or the water was so smooth,” that’s fine, you’re the skipper and it’s your call.
Four or more
huh? Let's see, one bow line, one stern line, one spring line to stop forward surges, one spring line to stop backward surges. More lines are needed for nasty
conditions, such as big swells hitting you all night and day, passing boat
wakes, high winds. The condition of your vessel or the docks puny cleats and deteriorating
condition are all clear signs that you may need more lines.
Learn from others or suffer the expense of learning yourself is a good piece of advice.
The answer is loose lines
Shock absorbing snubbers, chafe protection padding or hoses, more lines for when the first one breaks, or park somewhere else. Of course, for short time periods, you can order your crew to stand there and hold the boat off while you buy the beer and ice.
Don't forget to have oversized fenders, but even that won't save your boat if you park somewhere you shouldn't.
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| Ahoy! |
