"UN"-Docking

Leaving a dock is easier than docking.

This season, after you’ve been out a few times in your boat, do your un-dockings also leave a little bit to be desired?

Like golfing, do you need some tips from a pro to improve your undocking skills?

Boat handling is similar to golfing. You wouldn't use a 9-iron in a situation that calls for a 3-wood; likewise, you wouldn't expect a single sterndrive to handle like a twin inboard, because each drive system handles differently. First, learn how to dock by using the right technique for your boat's drive system.You may be able to dock your boat, but a few tips from a pro will improve your technique and accuracy. Docking e-Lessons are written specifically for your boat’s drive system.

We’ve had requests for advanced docking and undocking, and are covering them in question/answer format in newsletters. The undocking question that follows is the continuation to the last article on Docking at the Gas Dock:

Question:

How can I get my boat off the long gas dock or restaurant dock from between two big expensive yachts?

Answer:

In this particular undocking situation, when the cleat on the gas dock is at the wrong place for you to have tied square to it. The solution was two tight opposing stern lines to hold the stern corner in tight. The following instructions are for departing after a short stay like refueling, pump out or meal under various conditions.

Undocking w/First Mate under ideal conditions

Your boat is tied with the combination of opposing tight stern lines that has put your transom corner tight against the dock, the same is if you’d been able to tie 'short tight and square' to a cleat in the right position. A bow line runs forward to another dock cleat. There is no current or wind. So, Mother Nature is on holidays in this case. Your First Mate can untie the bow line then the two opposing stern lines. As she steps aboard the platform or aft corner, she should push off the dock, to start the transom moving away from the dock.

On a single or twin I/O or O/B, steer away from the dock and pull the shift(s) into reverse. Your boat will pull out away from the dock and past the yacht tied behind you. See the e-Lessons for these 4 drive systems.

On a single I/B, it will take a series of short forwards with the wheel turned to the dock and long reverse with the wheel turned away from the dock, to kick the stern sideways away from the dock against the torque. See "Dock Your Single Inboard" e-Lesson.

On a twin I/B, leave your wheel straight and throttles set at 800. Use your "Green Giant" body language to rotate the stern out then back out and away wrapping out past the yacht tied behind you. See "Dock Your Twin I/B" e-Lesson.

Undocking Alone with Wind or Current

Sometimes, you need to undock alone from a crowded gas dock with a current and the cleats in the wrong position. Undocking with your stern upstream can be done when you are alone. I’ll discuss this set up here. Again, the boat is tied with two opposing stern lines and a bow line.

Start by determining the wind and/or current. This is your "Research Moment" of Mother Nature's forces to assess the situation, wind and current. I call it my "Maa Mo" or Moment with Mother Nature. This moment will show you the effect that the wind and current will have on your boat.

If you are lucky, the current will be running the length of the dock from your stern. Also, if you’re lucky, the wind will be either running the length of the dock or off the dock. But, if the wind is blowing on the dock, it is a little more difficult and requires more skill. This will be covered in a later newsletter.

I say lucky, because you can untie your bow line and forward leading stern line and your boat will stay put. Before doing this, I want you to retie your aft leading stern line, so you’ll later be able to flip it off the dock cleat while staying in your cockpit. To accomplish this cowboy trick, use a dock line long enough to reach from your stern cleat out around this up-current dock cleat, and back to your hand in the cockpit. Temporarily tie the cockpit end to your stern cleat on top of the eye or first knot. This line just passes around the dock cleat, so you can flip it off with the flick of your wrist.

Now, start and warm up your motor(s), cast off your bow line and forward leading stern line. Now comes the trick from the cockpit. Undo your temporary knot, flip the line off the dock cleat and back away as outlined above with a First Mate depending on your drive system.

Unfortunately, Murphy’s Law is usually at play. When you do a perfect undocking, there’s no audience. So don’t even look around to take a bow. On the other hand, when you screw up, there’ll always be an audience.

Undocking with Dock Crew

When you have dock crew eagerly or reluctantly standing on the gas dock, you don’t know whether that person is going to know what to do with the line or not. So, give them specific, easy-to-follow instructions like 'Wrap the rope around the cleat 2 times and pull the end and don’t let go until I tell you.' If you can get the dock crew to do this, you will be able to pivot against this line that they are holding. Whether it’s the bow or the stern, you can draw the boat away from the dock. Keep one eye on the dock crew half expecting them to not pull hard enough or let go. Re-instruct them to "keep pulling", until the other end of your boat is about 45 degrees out from the dock.

Shift into neutral to release the tension, shout "OK release the line". Pull out into clear water. Stop. Pick up this line in the water.

Undocking From Stern In

When your boat was too big to fit the space that was left, you had backed into the gas dock. From being tied stern into the gas dock, is the easiest departure.

Cast off your down current or down wind stern line first. Lastly, cast off your up-current line, put in gear and drive away.

When there’s a really strong Mother Nature present, have your First Mate on that side deck to fend off the yacht on the down current side-just in case.

Conclusion

No two dockings or undockings are identical, but when you know how your boat was engineered to be handled and the techniques applicable to your drive system, handling is a lot easier, even when environmental variables like current and wind and other challenges are added to the mix. (Note: Be sure you use the techniques for your drive system. Using the instructions for the wrong drive system will not work)

Always be sure to assess the situation first--take a 'MaaMo', to assess the current and wind conditions, determine the plan and communicate it to your First Mate. Undock knowledgeably as a team. Leave your fenders in position until you are well clear of the dock.

Submit Your Docking Challenges

Submit your docking or undocking challenges to Doug@BoatingWithDawsons.com and we’ll include it in a future newsletter. Be sure to include your boat size, make and drive system so that you and others can benefit from the answer.

First Mate 101 has many galley tips. Be sure to check it out at www.FirstMate101.com

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Tell Us What You Think!

We would love to hear what you think of this issue of the "Boating With Dawsons" Newsletter. And of course, if you have any topic suggestions for upcoming issues, please send those, too!

Just e-mail us at: brenda@boatingwithdawsons.com

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