Which way do you point?

[vizwhiz]

Looking at the possibility of slipping the boat, and wondering if those who do can tell me whether they typically stay bow in (cockpit to the water) or stern in (cockpit to the slip)? I have ideas of why both would be good ideas, looking for experiences...?

[Keel_Hauled]

All the MACs in the marina here are stern in (cockpit to the slip) though some of the other sailboats do it the other way. I prefer to back in, myself.

~Phillip

[vizwhiz]

Great! Are you on East Toho? (or did I already ask you that?)...

[Keel_Hauled]

Great! Are you on East Toho? (or did I already ask you that?)...

Yep, or at least I was until the ex gave up the slip without asking first and I was forced to pull it out before they towed my away. I'll be putting my name back on the waiting list for a new slip soon but probably not until after summer Is yours in East Toho ?

~Phillip

[mastreb]

I usually go in bow first, because the currents at the Public Docks on shelter island are such that the boat will go sideways if you're tractoring in reverse. It's also easier to sidle up to the dock with a stopping reverse motion if you come in forward. I also like to keep the transom towards the water for privacy.

[ChuckieTodd]

We slip stern-in so that the water and power connections are closer to the "business end". On the other hand, the last few dockings made me realize how much easier it would be to just drive in under control and dock bow-in. My neighbor brings in his 55' sailboat this way - ALL BY HIMSELF.

[arknoah]

I tend to go stern in -- which is also the way I back my car into parking spaces. I do this mainly because at my marina, it can be very difficult to board at the bow, and the last thing I want is for some member of my family to hit the water instead of the deck.

[Russ]

There is no correct answer for this.

I pull bow in mostly out of habit. The slip I kept our Hunter 34 in wasn't deep enough to back in. So I pulled bow in first. I also prefer to not have my cabin in full view of passerbys waking the dock to look down into. Others I know like to have the cockpit closer. You have to evaluate your own preferences.

Our slip has a nice catwalk that we pull the stern in close to get onboard from the side easily. Others don't have this and it makes more sense to back in.
I also like the ability to just pull in a hurry and get tied up if the weather is poor. Backing in with a lot of wind/weather might be more tasking. I always leave with good weather and can deal with backing out easily in those conditions.

If you plan on sleeping onboard at dock (we never do) the predominant wind direction and sun position might also be a factor. Privacy might be another.

Really, I think boarding options would dictate a lot of my decision.

[vizwhiz]

Great input! Thanks...
It's all of this kind of help that gives me the right kind of things to think about and pay attention to...

Keel - I'm in Lakeland, and will be putting my boat in at Tampa Bay (soon)! Just wondered cuz I heard that the lake is nice and a good sailing lake compared to the other choices over there...

[Keel_Hauled]

....I heard that the lake is nice and a good sailing lake compared to the other choices over there...

It's about 5 miles around and the winds are normally pretty good. Keep an eye out for storms in the afternoon and they DO have a lightning detector and alarm that you can hear from ANYWHERE on the lake. Great to hear you are putting in in Tampa; I hear it's pretty nice over there!

~Phillip

[Tomfoolery]

Bow in, partly out of habit from keelboats, and also because I prefer the privacy. I don't think there is a single sailboat that's parked stern in at my marina, come to think of it, and it's probably about half sail, half power.

Lots of folks use a bridle, but I just have a single length of old line to separate my boat from my neighbor (wood docks full length, every other piling) for when the wind is giving me fits. I used to single-hand my 34 footer, bow first in it's slip, and it was easier to dock than the , espcially at very slow speeds. I'm still trying to get used to the directed thrust of that big OB.

[Mike C.]

Yep, or at least I was until the ex gave up the slip without asking first and I was forced to pull it out before they towed my away. I'll be putting my name back on the waiting list for a new slip soon but probably not until after summer Is yours in East Toho ?

~Phillip

I'm surprised there is a waiting list, every time I drive by there are quite a few open slips at the marina. I do know one guy that pays for his empty slip just to keep it.
I hope to get my 26D in there after I get the shakedowns done.

[vizwhiz]

Well, I appreciate all the input...we'll just have to see how the slips are set up, where the walkways are, etc. Privacy would probably be our biggest concern, but safety and on/off is going to be important also. Backing out may not be very easy, as the marina is situated in a corner...depends on which slip I suppose.

Keel - The main reason for Tampa is that we want saltwater, sunsets, and fishing to go along with our solitude, water-camping, and ability to change scenery. The admiral has not been extremely fond of fresh water stuff (especially alligators). With the Bay so close, we just felt like the 20-mile length gives us plenty of sailing room for a day, plus many options for over-nighting while still relatively protected from the open ocean. Once we get some experience under our belts, we're planning to venture up and down the coast a lot more...one step at a time, though.

[mikehodge]

I’m new to a slip also. In Oceanside CA, the 7-8 year slip wait reduced to 1 year with rate increases. We pull in bow first it’s easier with the wind direction that I have at my slip, it gives you some privacy, plus you can fish off the back. Caught a couple of spot fin croaker yesterday after sailing.

[Keel_Hauled]

I saw someone pulling a Mac D out and taking down the mast on Saturday (Saint Cloud, East Lake), wondered if that was any of you ?

~Phillip