MacGregorSailors.com

Landing loop for docking..

may I suggest ye sailors rent a John Wayne cowboy movie. John Can throw a lasso.
Use slow motion to perfect the technique..

docking manners : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS_ec1jY ... re=related

I just noticed that this Topic was started back in July 2009..

I think John Wayne threw his first lasso around a bulls horn in 1909.
How fast time flys by...

As a newbe I look forward to,respect and appreciate the advice of you by far more able sailors. As for myself I am learning every time I take the boat out and reading this form has been a very big help.

I have no proublem with utilizeing any tool that will help me dock my boat or perform any other task, safety of my crew and damage to my boat and others property are my main concern.

The first mod that I made was to add PVC guide rails to my trailor as I had read several negitive comments about the Mac's high freeboard and it's proublems in a cross wind.

I like and will try Indulgence's idea of the golf ball retriveing pole. If your an adult on my boat I will give you a task as I need all the assistance I can get.

While I have soloed with my boat twice with 10 - 15 mph winds I had proublems docking. I hope that some day I will be able to single hand my boat with the skill some of you have, but untill then I will continue to try and find the safe & easy way of sailing my boat.

Well when I launched my boat in 50mp/h winds @ Q1'S Marina up on the St. Lawrence PQ . he said I was crazy But I filled the ballast @ the ramp then preceeded to back up with all fins down all the way to my designated slip in rev. @ WOT was abreeze by the way WOT in rev. is only 2500rpm but everything went very well. But I was sure glad that Bertrand was their to help me , because the only way I could disenbark from the boat by myself at the designated slip to tie up my dock lines to the slip was if I left the eng. in forword @ 1500rpm steering hard to port that was the only way to hold the boat at the dock slip til she was tied up secure
But as Bertrand said later he knows now their was a good reason for me to lose my insanity !!! @ said time & he Maybe would have done the same !
J

If you want to learn how to dock the Mac. Just practice pulling in and out of your slip without tying up. Yes , there will be people who will come up and ask if they can help, just tell them u are practicing. They will watch for a while and go away.

Q1

...or charge 5 EURO to watch.....

The dock I use in Erie PA is for 25` boats, but they let me stay there because they are empty slips which nobody wants because from the edge of the dock to the metal wall its only 30` to turn into your slip. (fortunate for me that most folks are afraid of that wall and tight turn).

In calm conditions its easy to dock, but difficult to make the sharp turn and keep the distance from the wall when windy. (I only hit the wall once. big scratch)

I lined the front of the dock with thick foam packing, and covered it with a brown rug.
I come in fast and a few feet before hitting the foam, I hit reverse to slow down and let the bow crash into the foam.

As soon as I hit I put the motor in F, turn the wheel completely to the Right and the back end swing into the dock. Let the motor run F while I step onto the dock and secure the lines.

After some practice, you can preform this manuever without any help. let the motor do the work,

"Rail Meat" ... on a Mac !!!! ... ROFL!!!!!

Seriously, we take ourselves too seriously at times.

BTW, the landing loop is an awesome tool and there are many like (Shurhold has a nice one also). These can be handy and increase safety on your boat. Anything that can help you get a line around a cleat or piling to allow you control the boat from onboard is simply a great idea.

Jim

Great threads and puns and banter and perspectives.
Mobility issues limit the “leaps of faith” that some have made getting from boat to dock for a lot of folks.
The various tools that are in use can help with getting a safe docking accomplished vs. missing.

A technique that I’m working on is using an extendable paint pole that utilizes button detects that securely allows for both push and pull as a boat hook and dock line loop holder. The dock line loop is slipped under a pair of rubber bands like was described earlier in the thread. The line is pre run from the cockpit up through the bow cleat and back the cockpit where the loop is slipped under the rubber bands of the pole end.

Approaching the dock the pole is extended, the loop snagged on the cleat and slips out from under the rubber bands. As the line is hauled in and the boat moves back to align the cleat and bow and tied off in the cockpit. The engine thrust is then angled to push the stern to the dock. The process is repeated for the stern line. The engine is then shut down. This avoids any leaps or unattended running motors/vessels. It takes a little space and planning. But it works in winds, waves and currents.

Almost forgot I’m thinking of adding cleats amidship to see if that makes it any easier.

When pulling into a slip I’ve used the technique with just the stern line and angled the engine thrust to swing the bow to the dock and reached out with the pole and bow line to then snag the cleat for the bow.

Putting in the midship cleats would shorten the line some and possibly make it easier.

After getting ashore I make the boat properly secured fore and aft.

In lieu of amidship cleats, I've utilized the cabin top winches in various ways to aid in quick/temporary docking, keeping all the action near the cockpit. The winches are great for securing spring lines as well. Having additional cleats amidship would certainly be a plus.

OverEasy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:00 pm

A technique that I’m working on is using an extendable paint pole that utilizes button detects that securely allows for both push and pull as a boat hook and dock line loop holder. The dock line loop is slipped under a pair of rubber bands like was described earlier in the thread. The line is pre run from the cockpit up through the bow cleat and back the cockpit where the loop is slipped under the rubber bands of the pole end.

Approaching the dock the pole is extended, the loop snagged on the cleat and slips out from under the rubber bands. As the line is hauled in and the boat moves back to align the cleat and bow and tied off in the cockpit. The engine thrust is then angled to push the stern to the dock. The process is repeated for the stern line. The engine is then shut down. This avoids any leaps or unattended running motors/vessels. It takes a little space and planning. But it works in winds, waves and currents.

Are you renting a slip? I leave the docklines on the slip and fender on the dock. That way I just need a boat pole to grab the dock lines upon approach.

Russ wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 6:26 amAre you renting a slip? I leave the docklines on the slip and fender on the dock. That way I just need a boat pole to grab the dock lines upon approach.

Same here, but I don't use a boat hook to get it. The coaming is so low, I just reach over and grab the stern line that's laying on the floating dock, which I leave right at the edge for ease of retrieval.

At my last marina, with fixed docks, I put a plastic hook on the piling and hung the stern line on that, since at high water the dock was too low to reach. Even worse on my big boat at that same marina.

I've tried mid-ship cleats on the 34 footer, but in high cross winds it allowed the boat to pull too far away from the dock. With this boat, once the stern line is on, I just motor against it with just a little throttle, and cut the wheel as required to just bring the hull against the fenders. Then step off, make one bow line, then cut the engine and finish the job. All dock lines except for the spring lines are cleated on the dock with eye splices at the boat, adjusted just right for how I like it to lay. Takes less than a minute to fully secure it.

This thread is from 2009. I don't even recognize most of the posters in the early pages.

Hi Russ & Tomfoolery

The slipways are narrow so I’m hesitant to leave line in place for the tripping hazard.
The winch as a temporary cleat is a good idea I had not thought of ( even though it was staring me in the face ) to test out the midship cleat idea before installing them.

The slipways are floating with the 6 foot tides but kind of low and awkward to reach.
There are several places we go with fixed dock or piers which get interesting at low tide for a lot of reasons. (Ever try to grab a cleat just out of sight over your head? )

Another reason I’m experimenting and practicing these line techniques is we would like to make extended trips on the ICW where there are going to be a variety of docking and mooring challenges expected.

Six foot tides! That's fun. And slimy docks.

I remember cruising Long Island Sound and tying up to those slimy docks at low tide. Yuck.

12 year old thread. Gotta love the history here.