Scraped some paint off a nice Yacht.

[Gerry the fish]

Im posting this so that
- someone else might learn from my goofup
- I can stop going over it again and again in my head.

Im curious if anyone would reverse out from the dock in those conditions using a spring line - going forward first to push the bow in and pull the stern out - I didnt think I could get the stern out far enough to clear the wide yacht behind me and against the current and prop walk.

This happened at a new marina on Government Island on the Columbia. I was focused on the current, and didnt take account of the wind that had built while I was below deck. I drew it up and as you can see got blown into a $$$ yacht on the other side of the channel.

My plan was to spring the bow off the dock, let the current catch the bow and do a smart turn and head out. I wasnt accounting for the wind, and once I cleared the boats on my side of the dock I was distracted for a few seconds. When I looked up I was on a collision course for the guys boat and the bow wasnt coming thru the wind. I tried to give some short bursts of power to turn, and managed to get the bow down river, but was too close and fast and dragged the rail along his boat.



He came rushing out with some very choice words about my boat handling abilites and intelligence and all I could do was apologise and tell him Id come round and dock and give him my name. Basically the rail of my port stern seat scraped along his yacht for about 2 feet.

What I learned:
- plan a little better. We arrived in light wind and tried to leave 30 minutes later - the wind had picked up and I was somewhat sheltered by the big yacht behind me - when I stood in the cockpit and planned - I shoulda walked around and taken a better assessment of the conditions.
- stay focused until I am well clear - I was most worried about getting the bow out into the current and missing the boats on my side - once I did that I thought my work was done.
- practice "back and sway" - I know how to turn the boat in tight (ish) circles - I cranked the wheel to starboard and gave it a burst of power and then went to reverse - but in a panic I forgot to crank the wheel to port - basically counteracting any progress I had made in bringing the bow to starboard. At that point I gave it lots more forward bursts to get thru.
- own up to it - the guy was irate, and rightly so - I apologized 20 times and when I docked again I walked straight over to him and handed him my drivers license - which calmed him right down.
- for my second attempt to leave the same spot I brought the bow out into the current, then headed up into the current until I got into the middle of the channel, that gave me plenty of room to reverse down and out of the marina.

On a lighter note - the worst part of the deal was the "walk of shame". Everybody heard the commotion and came out to see, so when I came back to the dock I had to walk all the way around past everybody's boat not knowing if the guy was going to take a swing at me - he sure acted like it. When I did leave the marina they were all hanging out of the outside of their boats ready to fend off. Oh well.

[Gazmn]

Wow... tough one Gerry...

But you did the right thing.

Hang in there, man. It'll get better

[David Mellon]

While I have never done damage, I have had to fend off and do some real deck dancing to avoid it. Yes, in that case I would drop all three fins and back out. Probably I would stand foreward of the wheel, facing the stern. May I suggest practicing it a bit, it can get confusing using the throttle in reverse. I learned to do this by reading this site. In reverse you have great traction, steering is very responsive and if you get in trouble throwing the engine in foreward gets a very strong, immediate, response. I used that method in a strong wind at Santa Barbara Harbor getting into a very tight slip solo, in the dark, with great success, I was able to step off the stern with a long bow line and a stern line in hand. The twin rudders and engine working together drag the rest of the boat around smartly.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Its always a tough call when to gun it (and get good steering response) and when to give up and stop your boat.

One thing - in tight quarters like this put fenders out on both sides - then at least if you head for someone you can get the boat stopped, and usually just scuff a fender mark or two (some people still get p**** about this, whatever)

Getting tapped and dinged by others in a marina is a fact of life, and people have to accept this and not take it personally.

Self-righteousness about others' boat handling ignores the fact that we are all beginners at some point, and the only way to master a vessel is practice, practice, practice.

[Trouts Dream]

Second time out with my 26X my engine died as I was coming in to dock. I wasn't going too fast but I was going to sideswipe a nice 20 ft power boat. Since it wasn't too deep and I was useless at the helm (because of the no power ) I simply jumped into the water to use my body as a bumper and then push the boat over towards the dock.
Two things learned, bumpers are tough little suckers and a damned lake in the foothills of the rockies has extremely COLD water.

We now bring all 4 bumpers out when docking and 2 or three are placed on the docking side and one is kept handy just in case. And its a lot easier to pay for some minor damage than to wash the blood off the other fellows boat.

[March]

Wow, that's tough. Glad that everything ended well.

I am very leery about backing up in a crowded Marina, fins and CB down, driving backwards and what not: it never worked for me properly. I always feel like I make it owing to plain luck rather than skills. The boat never feels 100% under control. In fact, driving backwards seems to work better at slow speeds. Once I start goosing it to turn around, tight control seems to be just an illusion.

Looking at your diagram, I guess I would have been tempted to us a spring lie attached to the stern--have someone at the stern too with a pole, to push me awat from the dock, just in case. Motor forward until I cleared the boat ahead of me, and then swing it downstream, while the stern is still attached to the dock. Against the springline, the boat would have swung in a wider arch. The port fenders would have taken care of possible bumps against the boat forward. Wonder if you had enough room for that

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

My check list when entering and leaving a Marina, fenders down, ropes handy, fins down, and pier hook in arms reach. I keep my hand held "blaster" horn handy just in case the other guy is asleep at the tiller.

Gerry: you handled matters as a pro, great attitude and restraint. Salute. Hope no damage was done to your "M". I have a 6 inch aft port side scar on my "X" through a similar incident. There's something about Murphy's Law, or an old salt forgetting something

Happy Sailing !

[Gerry the fish]

Thanks guys - glad Im not alone.

RE: Fenders - I always have fenders out when docking, 4 on the dock side and 2 on the other. I have one spare but usually dont have someone with me that I would want clambering around to use it in an emergency - I usually tell people to sit down and stay where they are as I manouver. The fenders (4 on the side that contacted) did help keep me off the other boat - but his boat was 3 times taller and my stern seat rail contacted below his rubrail. He didnt have any fenders out which may have helped.

Looking at your diagram, I guess I would have been tempted to us a spring lie attached to the stern--have someone at the stern too with a pole, to push me awat from the dock, just in case. Motor forward until I cleared the boat ahead of me, and then swing it downstream, while the stern is still attached to the dock. Against the springline, the boat would have swung in a wider arch. The port fenders would have taken care of possible bumps against the boat forward. Wonder if you had enough room for that

I did think about it - but was worried about the Yacht behind me in my start position - I did basically what you said except I released the stern pretty quickly. It is something I will try without other boats around. Note that as soon as I poked the bow out - the current took it nicely off the dock - and I relaxed because my plan was working - the problem was once I got out a little the wind pushed the bow back again.

Honestly, at work and on the water I have learnt a lot more when things go wrong than when they go right.

[kmclemore]

...I simply jumped into the water to use my body as a bumper...

OUCH!

I am glad it worked out for you.

However, I see two *very* serious issues with your approach... so a WARNING TO ALL...

- A person could get seriously injured or killed whilst trying to act as a 'human bumper' - it's surprising how much energy a 4,000 lb. moving object can impart, and the force can easily crush bones. NEVER DO THIS.

- Because you were the only one on board, your boat was then left without anyone to skipper her... and it could have then caused serious subsequent damage as a Flying Dutchman if you were somehow injured or immobilized. My advice is that if there's nobody else on board qualified to skipper the boat, and the boat isn't securely fastened to a mooring, dock or anchor, *never* leave the boat.

- Your brute force from down there in the water is not enough to handle a sudden gust of wind or rouge wake. If such a thing were to occur, the boat could then either injure you or damage another boat - or both. No matter how strong you may be, you're no match for a fickle Mother Nature and a 2-ton lump.

[daydreamerbob]

you all are making me feel much much better about myself - thanks for the therapy

[SkiDeep2001]

Gerry, I've not tried this with my but I have done it with 16-20 footers. Attach line starboard aft to dock and swing bow out while standing on dock and pull aft end toward original bow position, pulling bow in with a long line run from bow starboard outside all deck hardware, (spring line?) turning boat around, pull it in parallel to dock facing bow to sea and then remount, push off and motor forward. From your diagram it looks like current would help to swing bow as long as opposing wind was not so strong as to negate current. It's worked well for me in the past in multiple conditions/configurations and I think it is much easier to motor out forward than to back and swing in tight quarters, especially with big buck yacht$ in the vicinity. You might even practice this maneuver at the dock at a time/place where you don't have a boat moored close aboard aft/stern. Rob - PS: make sure you have a line cleated so as not to lose control of boat.

[40Toes]

Im curious if anyone would reverse out from the dock in those conditions using a spring line

To answer your question, no I wouldn't. Your plan was sound but you need to have all boards down and ballasted (IMHO) - my first lesson learned with the 26x -fortunately I didn't need to apoligize to the jetty as I was blown on to it and tried to power clear.

Most of us initially do the quick panic thing and try to power out but if you don't have the room it is better to be blown on to something at 1 kt then power on to it at 4 kts.

Take a second to assess what is happening (the boat will tell you pretty quickly what it wants to do), in this case the current may have been moving you one way and the wind "spinning" you another. Maybe a little reverse thrust to stop forward motion and with the high freeboard your stern may have sought the wind and you could have safety and slowly backed out until clear.

My two cents for what it is worth. I feel your pain - I know what it is like to crash and burn with an audience. We all prefer to learn from other peoples mistakes but occassionally we have to make our own. You may feel bad but you have analyzed your situation to the nth degree and you are a better sailor for it.

[waternwaves]

having spent many hours acting as a fender over the years.....

I am not sure I agree with the statement on never putting myself between the boat and a hard place. My mac is not so big that I (250 lb) do not have an immediate effect on its speed and heading if I am coasting motor off.

that being said.

I am amazed that anyone with a nice boat would even intimate that physical force is necessary, all he had to do what write down your hull # or boat name.

I cannot imagine any civilized person (read socially adept) making threats of physical violence for a docking incident.

Even outside of the peoples republic of portland, not a wise decision, especially if someone felt their life was threatened. IT may not be the old west, but parts of it are not that new.

I understand the anger of having something broken on my boats.

I also understand accidents happen.

But anger and threats at another boater, that is truly dangerous operation of a vessel.

JMHO. Congratulations on your subdued response. I am not sure I wouldnt have walked away and waited for the Rude SOB to calm down a bit.

enjoy

|>arren

[Currie]

Hi Gerry,

Nothing gives me more anxiety than maneuvering at the marina. Oy. I feel for ya.

Monday morning quarterback and all, but looking at your diagram I don't think I would execute a turn in a cross-wind with opposite cross-current. There's too many unknowns. Perhaps if you afixed the stern and sprung out with the bow slightly then entered well into the channel - going forward a couple of boat lengths (to the left in the pic, against the water current). Assess whether the wind or the current is winning the battle (probably the current), then back out down the middle of the channel by pulsing the motor in whatever direction it takes. First sign of trouble and you zoom forward right back to the middle of the channel again and start over. As stated above - all boards down (DB as far as possible) is a *must*.

Just a thought.

~Bob

[Gerry the fish]

I feel for ya.

Thanks - I really want to get back out there and practice it.

Perhaps if you afixed the stern and sprung out with the bow slightly then entered well into the channel - going forward a couple of boat lengths (to the left in the pic, against the water current)

Yes - thats how I successfully got off the dock the second time.

Assess whether the wind or the current is winning the battle (probably the current), then back out down the middle of the channel by pulsing the motor in whatever direction it takes.

The wind actually - which was unbelievable to me as it didnt seem strong enough coming from dead astern. I did back down in a small zigzag fashion successfully.