Scraped some paint off a nice Yacht.

[Trouts Dream]

...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.

Just as a follow up, the Admiral was still on board (for what that was worth), the boat was going very slow in shallow water. It was new to me and I didn't want to damage anything and having said all the above....I would never contemplate doing that again. Just wanted to share how impulsive and not well thought out events could cause great harm.

[Gerry the fish]

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.

In hindsight he didnt actually threaten me - but he sure called me a lot of names - and I was worried at the time about what he would do.

[madguy]

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.

In hindsight he didnt actually threaten me - but he sure called me a lot of names - and I was worried at the time about what he would do.

As always....safety is far more important than possesions....a little paint scrape can be fixed...any boat owner that doesnt understand this when they can clearly see your trying to avoid it happening isnt a nice kind of person...different if you just didnt care and went crashing into him...

[Currie]

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.

Oh duh me, sorry I missed that part of your story. Yeah that sounds like the way to do it, to me.

~Bob

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

When ever I am in doubt about the winds effects on the boat I always choose to go backwards (wind is much more relevant to the handling of these boats than current).

I always have all fins down around any dock, but even so in a decent wind you can count on the bow always blowing down wind. Once the wind get close to 15 knots, at the slow boat speeds required in any marina you will not be able to get the bow through the eye of the wind. Don't fight it, let the boat do the natural thing which is to weather vane ending up with the bow pointed down wind. Plan for this and use it. With the fins down in reverse with a bit of practice you will find the boat is more controllable than in any other configuration. I have reversed out of marinas against 30 knot winds with full control while other boats trying to turn and go forward have caused all kinds of havoc and damage.

Your situation was the perfect place to use a spring line for your departure from the dock.
I think you would be better off with the spring run from the bow and reversing away as this uses
the tendency of Mac bow to blow down wind.

• Place a line from the port bow cleat around a dock cleat at least halfway back to the stern then back to the boat either tended at the bow or to the cockpit.
• Fender forward on the port side of your boat well.
• Release all your other lines and motor at idle forward against the line with the helm hard to port. Since the boat cannot go forward because of the spring line the stern of the boat will instead pivot away from the dock.
• Once you have a good angle away from the dock and are clear of the boat behind, shift in to idle speed reverse and back away from the dock. The person tending the spring line can just release it when it goes slack and let it run free around the dock cleat then bring it back aboard.
• Now that you are clear in the fairway just slowly reverse out until you have made a clean exit from the dock area and have plenty of room to go forward.

This picture illustrates the spring technique,
just stay in reverse until you are clear of the entire dock
instead of going forward at the end like the last frames show.



See more info on many spring line techniques here
http://home.comcast.net/~duane.dunn/BoatHandling.htm .

[SkiDeep2001]

Guess I'd better break myself right quick of the habit of thinking I can treat my like a power boat . I've looked like a dummy many times in my powerboats. I sure don't want to find out that I can be a world class dummy in my . And I can see there is probably a huge difference between man handling 16'-20' PB's vs the 26' Mac. I was looking for those docking, undocking animations for quite a while, thanks Duane. - Rob

[Gerry the fish]

Your situation was the perfect place to use a spring line for your departure from the dock.

Yep - I really thought the current would be too much to spring out aft - and I was really wrong. I have reviewed your animations many times and practiced them a few - I will get out there and do them again.

[sailor141]

My embarrassing moment came when I took my (now wife) on the for the first time. I had to go under a bridge to get to the water front area to raise the mast. I let her drive and forgot to put the centerboard down. As we neared the bridge the wind veered and pushed the boat toward the concrete pylons. By the time I dropped the centerboard it was too late. We sideswiped the pylons, causing minor damage to my rub rail. I figured it would be the last time she went on the boat with me. One thing I learned is to take time docking and leaving the dock and try to let the wind do the work.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Gerry,

With a Mac's 50+ hp motor you can spring against most any current or wind you will ever encounter. Spring lines are great when you are pinned against the dock by wind, or have the wind and current against you when you are trying to get to the dock. If you can just get one line to the dock, you can work against it and overcome any contrary wind or current.

We carry a 50' braided line just for a working spring. It is long enough to go from the bow to an aft cleat and back (or the opposite) allowing it to be released and let run free as needed. It also is easy to throw over a cleat. Practice holding it in two coils, one in each hand, with one end on your boat cleat and the other securely in your hand. When within 10' or so of the dock it is easy to throw both coils beyond a cleat (keep hold of the free end) placing the center of the line around the cleat. Now you have your spring ready to do magic with. Once at the dock it gets switched out for a standard length spring line.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

When ever I am in doubt about the winds effects on the boat I always choose to go backwards (wind is much more relevant to the handling of these boats than current).

I always have all fins down around any dock, but even so in a decent wind you can count on the bow always blowing down wind. I have reversed out of marinas against 30 knot winds with full control while other boats trying to turn and go forward have caused all kinds of havoc and damage.


See more info on many spring line techniques here
http://home.comcast.net/~duane.dunn/BoatHandling.htm .

Those are some good study illustrations. There is a wealth of good instruction within. I often especially use the "Mac spin" (described on your site as "Pivoting the boat". This is an important manuever in tight quarters.

Thanks, Duane

[Kelly Hanson East]

AKA "back and fill"

[dakota]

A couple of weeks back at lake wab AB, I was out teaching myself and Pebbles a few things
about sailing, anyway clouds moved in so we headed back to the dock, so did everyone else
I took the windward side of the dock all fenders down, this side is high not forgiving if you
make a mistake. I made it back in lots of time, got docked the launch on the other side, must
of been at least 10-14 boats trying to get out of the water, so I was glad I was on the opp side
away from all the comotion, there was a guy in front of me, but there was still JJuust enough
room for another speed boat to fit, which the weather had picked up and a guy coming in
decided to go for it, he came in bow to bow with me and out board to out board with the other
guy, outboards were going to hit I ran and grabbed his bow line, and his girlfriend decided to put
herself between the motors, big wrong, lucky the motors all off, but as the boat straightened
she could not jump back in the boat and not so lucky splash!!! she was wearing life jacket
but gurrgled some jurned up dock water, she was not happy AT All !.. he kept thanking me for
keeping his boat from hitting the dock and girlfriend. I told him I usually sweat my shorts as I have
little practice at the dock..
One thing I did learn as trying to get turned around to face other direction and sweating not to hit
someone else, pebbles and I learned how to turn boat around in place with fenders and lines and
making sure that one line is ALWAYS tied on as you do this, its easier then you think, and may
sound silly but I only weigh 130 and it was alittle breezy but worked well for me and took the stress
off and always having a line well secured gives you control..
someone should patten a non marking fender made a nerff as well!!!

[Don T]

Hello,
Having docked at Government island myself I tried an easy way and it worked great. We looped the lines back to the boat for the cast off. I had the motor warmed up and added just enough throttle to hold the boat in position. With a little push I could ease away from the dock using the current on the boards for steerage. I just crabbed away from the dock maintaining my position in relation to the other boats. Once I was out in the center all I had to do was back off the throttle and the boat backed right out between the docks. Doesn't work as well with the wind on the nose unless you can get clear before the wind pushes the bow around. Trick is to figure out which force is dominant before you commit.