Docking the 26M

[tangentair]

I don't so much dock as control the crash before going to get the trailer. All summer long I have tried to get the boat launch boys to do it my way but G bless them they have been consistant. We have a double lane ramp where I live and launch mostly. Facing the water we launch on the right which is also the normal lea side and is adjacient to a small craft launching area. There is a large barge sunk to provide the left side break water and that is what we are supposed to snuggle up against when we return. I have ask them multiple times to tie off the aft spring line and I will back against the wall but no they try and pull me in or when I do reverse, let it go. So all summer I have ended up on the wrong side tying up the launch side while I retrieve and dump the ballast. I just line the nose up on the center of everything, goose the 50BF once good and toss the for and aft dock lines to the boys who demonstrate their masculine hormones for all the on female lookers. I on the other hand stand by for a quick reverse out into the sunfish fleet playing around in the shallows in front of the launch or into the jet skis dodging through the maze created by the fleet. Got to love it......

[blue angel]

Some of you might like to use this product on the M, due to the long distance down to the dock

see http://www.landingloop.com/

That plus a combo bumper step and backing in should help most m owners.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

We are always at a new unknown dock each time, with new conditions, wind, currents, etc. I also always have at least one crew that man's the bow.

I would say about half the time a helpful person shows up on the dock to help manage lines. However after a few bad experiences my wife (the normal bow person) is well trained in giving clear instructions to any helper that shows up. First and foremost is to instruct the person to take the line handed or thrown, pass it around a cleat and then give it back to the person on the bow. Never let the person on the dock secure the line to a cleat. This way you are in control of things. If something in the landing goes wrong you can release the line and back away as needed.

There are many cases where there is no need to leave the bow at all. With a longer dock line you can secure one end to a bow cleat, keep a hold of the other end and toss or hand the center loop past the cleat on the dock then snug it up. We keep a 50' line just for this purpose. With a little practice you can toss a line easily. Keep a half coil in one hand, the other half coil in the other along with the bitter end. Toss both coils at the same time aiming 4'-5' beyond the cleat. Once you get this line to the dock you have many options that make it easy to bring the boat alongside the dock in difficult conditions.

There are many times the line you set from the bow will not go to the cleat at the bow area of where you want to dock. Often by placing this line on a stern or midships cleat you gain a spring line that can be used to make a single screw mac twist and turn as if it was a twin screw boat with a bow thruster.

Here is a great set of animated images that illustrate using spring lines to aid coming along side and leaving a dock in difficult conditions. Even in a contrary wind or current these can let you dock like a pro with no jumping or frenzy involved.

http://www.ddunn.org/BoatHandling.htm

We try to always take some time before the approach to have a little chalk talk about what docking method we will use. We keep a small dry erase board and marker under the seat just for this purpose. This way both the helmsman and bow man know what to expect, what any signals will be, and what we will do if things go bad. You never know what might surprise you. The last marina we were at had quite an onshore current running. The marina person on the radio told us our slip was a bow in starboard tie, when we got there it was a port tie. With the current pushing us past the slip as we switched sides for the lines and fenders we had to improvise some but the prep we did allowed us to calmly adapt and dock smoothly.

It was amusing the last time we were at Roche Harbor, a very full service marina where their staff meets you at the slip to assist in the docking. We were snug in our slip when a 30' power boat approached a few slips down. The helmsman's wife was on the bow as they approached. She had the line all coiled ready to throw anxiously waiting to toss the line to the dock hand. When they were still far from the dock she couldn't stand it any more and she let the line go so soon it wasn't even long enough to reach the dock hand. Her husband reversed away giving her the evil eye as she re-coiled the line from the water. On the next approach the dock hand took control. At 15' away she could hardly stand it, he said "No, not yet". At 10' she was swinging the line ready to launch, he again said "No, not yet". At 5' she just had to do something but he held up his hand and said "No". She was completely puzzled as the boat coasted up to the dock and he calmly took the line out of her hands and went about securing the boat.

[Hardcrab]

The best docking trick I got from here was to make the bow and stern lines long enough to tie them together prior to docking.

Approach the dock as many suggested, step down from the cockpit with the "one" long line that controls both ends of the boat at the same time. This is the magic answer in any cross wind or current, IHMO.

Prior to learning this, either the bow or the stern would get away from me before I could get it tied as we always have a cross wind, and I strongly prefer to be on the lee side of any dock.

I like my boat to be tugging against dock lines, not rubbing on fenders all night.

Remember the old saying, "Never approach a dock faster than you are willing to hit it".

[c130king]

I would say about half the time a helpful person shows up on the dock to help manage lines. However after a few bad experiences my wife (the normal bow person) is well trained in giving clear instructions to any helper that shows up. First and foremost is to instruct the person to take the line handed or thrown, pass it around a cleat and then give it back to the person on the bow. Never let the person on the dock secure the line to a cleat. This way you are in control of things. If something in the landing goes wrong you can release the line and back away as needed.

I just want to emphasize what a great point Duane is making here.

On my first "overnight trip", solo, I motored into a small marina as a typical Florida afternoon shower (and associated gusty winds) were approaching. I slid gently up against the pier, overly proud of my impeccable boat handling skills (* I hope my Dad doesn't read this or he might have another heart attack from the laughing fit... ). Anyway I tossed my lines to a friendly chap from the "boat" across the pier. Turns out he was the "Skipper" (not owner) of the 107' super yacht sitting next to me.

Anyway to make a long story short (too late...sorry)...he tied off the bow and the stern so I went below to tidy up and put things away. The rain shower/gusty winds hit just about then and I looked out the window and saw that my bow was swinging out away from the dock. His line/cleat work leave something to be desired I guess.

Fortunately I got the motor started right away, disconnected my stern line from the boat, quickly ran up on deck and pulled in the bow line before it got caught in the motor, motored away, and did a 360 and came back to the dock. He was there to help again. This time I got out of the boat and checked the knots he tied around the cleats before I went back below.

Keep the "knots" on the boat. Don't trust someone you don't know to properly secure your boat...check their work.

Happy Sailing,
Jim

[blue angel]

Wow, some really good posts here, especially the one from duane, and that great website of his with the helpful animated diagrams showing the approach to use during various conditons. backing the m is way easier than going forward in deeper water, but sometimes one cant or doesnt want to back in. This docking the M string should be one of the first things any newer M owner reads. The m model is higher, longer step down, and more windage even than the x, though some of the best tips were from x owners. Thanks too out to all the folks who make this website of so much value

[Andy26M]

I never, ever allow a crew, if I have one, to "step" off the bow of the boat onto the dock with my 26M. There is just too much of a trip hazard with that lifeline, plus the boat heels very easily and often catches people off guard by rocking unexpectedly. There is also a fairly natural human tendency to try and jump across, but "every action has an equal and opposite reaction" meaning that jumping across just pushes the bow out and away from the dock - not to mention that docks are often slippery or unsure landing areas.

The absolute LAST place on earth you ever want anyone is in the water between a boat and the dock.

So, when I have a crew who is going to help dock the boat, they go onto the bow with the boat hook and their instructions are to (1) hunker down to help stay stable on the boat, (2) stay on the boat, (3) hook the dock and use the pole to hold the bow/pull the bow to the dock, (4) stay on the boat, (5) continue holding with the pole until I get on the dock with the bow line, and (6) stay on the boat.

I generally lead the bow line down the side of the boat (don't forget to go outside the shrouds, stanchions and fenders) and have the bitter end in the cockpit with me. While the crew holds the bow with the boat hook pole, I step out onto the dock with both fore and aft lines in hand, make fast the aft line, then go forward and secure the bow line, so that the crew can safely transit back to the cockpit and get onto the dock from there.

- Andy

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

The beauty of a spring line from a bow cleat to a dock cleat roughly beside the cockpit is once you have it placed you can use power to hold the boat against the dock while you get out and place the rest of the lines.

For a single hander you just need to get close enough along side to place the line by throwing or with a boat hook or similar device. Once this line from the bow to the dock next to the cockpit is set, you simply put the motor in forward and wait. If the dock is to port , turn the steering hard to starboard so the motor is driving the stern toward the dock. After a small bit of forward motion that brings the line tight the boat will suck itself right up to the dock and remain there even against wind and current. Leaving the motor in forward you can get out and secure it to the dock without help from anyone.

Find a empty dock and spend a bit of time practicing and you will soon be docking like a pro.

[James V]

unhook the cockpit lifeline

Have the bow line attached and in the cockpit outside of all lines.

Stern line attached and ready.

Another line on the hatch to put on the wench.

I do this about 2 miles away. I usually stop and hand the lines to anybody waiting or just hope off and time. The 50hp really stops the boat.

All else is the same. I only single hand and have 50 foot dock lines.

[NiceAft]

Another line on the hatch to put on the wench.

I do this about 2 miles away.

James, I don't understand Why do you need to put a line on the wench two miles away Are you scared she is going to make a run for it when you get to the dock

Ray

[Hamin' X]

That's how they keep that hourglass figure.




~Rich

[c130king]

I never, ever allow a crew, if I have one, to "step" off the bow of the boat onto the dock with my 26M. There is just too much of a trip hazard with that lifeline, plus the boat heels very easily and often catches people off guard by rocking unexpectedly.

I mod'ed the lifelines to add quick disconnects to the front end of the lifelines. I normally single-hand but If I have a sailing partner the life line can be disconnected from the bow pulpit and clipped onto the shroud to hold it out of the way. No tripping hazard. I used a type of "leash clasp" (like on the end of dog leash) that I had in my garage. Was able to connect it to the stock lifeline adjuster. Works just fine. But I do have to disconnect the pelican hook in the cockpit before I can re-hook the front end clasp...otherwise there is too much tension on the lifeline. Once the front is connected I can connect the pelican hook in the cockpit.

Not had any problems with the boat rocking or heeling as they (normally my Dad or my Daughter) step off. They normally hold onto the furled genoa. And of course I am going nice and slow and in nice conditions. Would not do this in windy or wavy conditions.

I am not smart enough to figure that out on my own...pretty sure I got that idea here on this board a few years ago.

Cheers,
Jim

[Cap'n Ahab]

Blue Water Yacht's sailing demonstration person, Captain Ray taught me a simple method to control the boat when docking. I also use the cockpit for entry and egress. On the docking side (port for my slip) I leave a 25 foot 1/2 inch rope tied to a bow cleat and then attached to the stanchion just at the front of the cockpit. I let it droop down about 1 foot and when I get along side the dock, I give it a little reverse to pull the stern in to the dock, gracefully step off holding the permanently attached rope and can then fully control the boat along the length, then I attach the stern and bow lines from the dock onto the frear and front cleats on the boat. Note it is a good idea to only use a 25 foot rope as if it comes undone form the stanchion it cannot foul the prop, the boat is 26 feet long after all.

Works very well for single handers or with the admiral.

[blue angel]

Just in case you wondered, it is not only light macgregors that have issues docking in high winds. seems that even much heavier keel boats have issues and sometimes back in too. take a look at

http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners. ... &styleid=1

though this is supposedly another macgregor site, most of those telling how to overcome tough conditions are not macgregor sailors

another good discussion of travails of those with mostly heavier boats, and some great tips on going into
tight quarters with 4 pilings and only a short finger dock coming out part way.
with the 26 m I would still back in at an angle with my bow angled to windward, duck in and throw a proper length or crew handled line from the bow with a loop over the windward pile as I moved by, and let the wind blow it straigh and the line keep the bow from swinging to leeward too much, then throw the stern windward line over the the shore side windward piling. Plus when you are secure are where you can step off the stern onto the shorter dock once secured.

[Neo]

Hi,

I wanted to thank every for the tips they gave in this thread. Yesterday, with the help of my son, we successfully retrieved my 26M on the 1st attempted.
She did rub on one of the mudguard side lights at one point so next I'm going to try two fat straps tied (and tensioned) from each goal post to the front drawbar post. With those straps in place I reckon I'll be able to retrieve her on my own

Many thanks.
Neo