Got Crew?

[Capt.Erich]

After being a part of a thread on the "tech" side that I didn't want to continue to hijack, I thought I'd start one here where the conversation could continue.

I am curious about the use of "crew" and how much you rely on them. As I stated in the other thread, I use the general rule that the "captain" or boat operator should generally stay at the helm until the boat is reasonably secured to the dock when docking. When running deliveries, I have always taken a mate that understands the fundamentals of docking and we discuss the process once we find out what side we will tie up on and what the docking space will be like. This conversation will include wind, tide, line and fender placement, which line will be tied first, how much room will be between us and the other boats, etc. How much do you rely on dockhands? Personally, I only like them to catch the lines and secure them to the dock. My mate will adjust the length from the boat taking que’s from me on the position of the boat.

BTW: Pascal, my solo sailing reference was to four trips to Bermuda and back on my 40' Little Harbor. It does have a well-maintained Yanmar. No, being caught by dockhands meant nothing about arriving without an operating engine.

 

[StratPlan61]

Capt E, I also like to verbally 'walk-through' the docking before we enter into the actual process. I even use a small wooden model which replicates my boat, the cleat locations, etc., for the General. Doug Shuman will laugh as he has seen my 12" model. His Admiral Kathy has tons more experience than my General. This talking-through process is great, especially when other family members want to help. I really only need one other person to help with lines. The guys on the dock are handy for securing a line to a cleat, but we always control the lines from the boat - asking only dock helpers to secure the loop to the cleat or piling - nothing more. After shutting down I like to adjust fenders, lines, ladders, etc., myself.
The model is a great training-aid for younger helpers which don't always recognize the 'mid-cleat', spring-line, etc.

Bear'
1984 61' MY Strategic Plan

 

[Pascal]

in the past 3 years that I've been running the 53, every week, year round sometimes in stiff winds, I've yet to find myself in a situation where i needed help and wished i had a crew. That boat is so easy to handle that sometimes it docks itself... if the wind is right but it's happened

whenever i'm not alone on board, either my 17 year or even my girlfriend, i still do it alone since i really dont' see any need for help. By the time you explain what you need, you may as well do it yourself... and even if by now they now what to do, i like staying on top of my game and practice single handling.

i understand the concerns about overall safety... i would probably think twice before taking the boat alone across the gulf stream to Bimini for instance but in 99% of normal conditions, no problem.

dockhands ? maybe catch and set the spring line.. that's about it. Unless I know for sure he knows what they're doing, the last thing i want is someone to tie a bow line too short or try to fend off the boat...

 

[NAN-PO 41]

I also talk out what the plan is before actually docking. The Admiral is all the crew needed on our 41'tc and I also give the loop end of the line to the dockhands and we adjust length on the boat. I have dedicated lines for my home slip which makes tie up there easier on both of us. ( no length adjustments of lines. You can mark them at the right length with electrical tape, spray paint or tuck a colored yarn in the strands. ) And we NEVER give a stern line to anyone until at least a spring line is properly secured. That way we can maintain control of the boat.
Fred

 

[Paul45c]

I guess it goes without saying that you've got to have crew you trust, and it's always a plus when you've used them in line-rigging capacity before. I'm lucky that way -- no shortage of people who've been with me in lots of different docking situations in different places. So, yeah -- we loosely cleat lines on all 4 corners of the boat (assuming a back-in slip) and everybody knows their tasks to make it all quick and effortless-looking. I can't remember ever coming into any decent marina without a dockhand waiting ready to secure aft lines and/or spring(s), too.

Like Bear, I do final cinching of lines and fenders (if needed) myself after the boat is basically secure and engines are off.

 

[luckydave215]

I back in at 14 knots so the wake pushes my neighbors boat away from mine.
It's a McKinna 57 (a Carver is built like a tank in comparison) so if I hit it it's going to look like the aftermath of a locomotive/Pinto collision.
I don't really need to do this, as I have almost 48" of room to play with, but it's fun to dare the electronic controls to fail........

 

[Trojan]

No one touches MY dock lines or boat, unless I tell them to. Usually the admiral sets the first line, the spring line, then the stern line. If my boys are along they will do it for her. The home port has fixed lines so that's a no brain er. When we are out to a strange port we do the same. The admiral readies the additional lines and bumpers needed. I set the finish dock lines and position the bumpers with her help. She will hand a line to a person on the dock if she has trouble reaching a dock pole or a cleat, but only for placement on a pole or cleat. NO hand held lines, Ouch! I do this for the safety of the persons on the dock and to protect My boat. They think they can pull or push the boat. We all know you can't do much with 36,000 lbs. of boat on the end of a line or arm, but they don't.


BILL

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The problem is that sometimes the dockhands do something that you don't see. At our homeport slip I leave the lines on the dock. A couple of weeks ago, the dockhand put the wrong line on one of the midship cleats without any of us noticing. Well, I noticed in a hurry when the boat was about halfway into the slip. They're just lucky I didn't pull the cleat right out of the dock.

No harm done, but you should have seen them scramble.

Like others, I normally have my crew only hand the eye to the person on the dock and then tell them exactly where to place it. Many times this is the only way to get a bow line secured properly if you need to pivot off of it to get the stern in. There is nothing worse than having the wind blowing you off of the dock and the guy on the dock trying to pull you in. That's not gonna happen.