Docking my Mac X -- Yikes!

[Québec 1]

Drove my boat onto the trailer on friday.

I just tie up and back in then walk it on until it is within 1 or 2 feet of the bow block the winch it the rest of the way.

There was no dock or anything to tie the boat onto just the beach on port and a 20 foot rock breaker on the other.

Q1

[atzserv]

Q1,

Take the time to add pvc to the posts, a 10 ft section of 1.5 inch is what I used, cut in half, then tie the lines. You also get the luxury of sliding the lines up if deeper in the water for added control getting the mac onto the trailer. I have found I need to tighten the lines from time to time until I get the right tension at least but this sure makes powering the Mac on the trailer a doable thing. I too must power on the trailer because of the dock configuration ( wish I could just pull it on).

Gary

[ALX357]

[Québec 1]

Gary ,
That looks practical and aesthetic. I will proceed to the hard ware store today and get the pvc. Thanks for the photos ...in close up mode they show me exactly what to do. Hope you don't mind if I I steer a few questions out your way in the next few day in case I need clarification. The Mac is at the Garage today getting repaired and modified. I will post some shots of the mods as they progress

Thanks again for the heads up

Q1

[Andy26M]

Enfused -

I am in the minority here as I never use rudders for fine maneuvering of my 26M. I put my daggerboard down a foot or two (based on water depth), but I leave my rudders up so that the rear end of the boat is free to "walk" sideways.

Usually, when I come alongside the dock (moving forward), the very last maneuver I do is turn the wheel tight toward the dock and goose her in reverse for a second - this takes all forward motion off the boat, pulls the stern into the dock, and (because the daggerboard is down and providing a pivot point) pulls the bow away from the dock a bit. Hence, the first thing on my boat to touch is usually the aft side near the cockpit, where I can step off onto the dock with my 2 dock lines in hand and secure the boat. This maneuver doesn't work for me if a rudder is down, because the rudder stops the stern from moving sideways as freely.

For long runs down a channel or fairway at under 7 knots, I do put a rudder down to help the boat track straight.

- Andy

[atzserv]

Q1,

ALX357 is the one who posted the pictures of his version of the mod. But as you can see either with noddles like I used or the really nice work ALX357 did, it is a real helper.

Gary

[Québec 1]

Gary,
I will be starting this mod ...probably tomorow. I also plan on putting rotating wheels on the top of the guide posts to remove all possibility of scratching or scuffing my nice blue hull.

They will look someting like this:

http://www.veveinc.com/shop/product_ima ... mageid=542

Andy,
I will try your procedure out next time I go out ..sounds like a useful manouver that suits my solo style.

Q1

[tangentair]

Andy et al
That works great but you might consider a spring line. Run from the front - a spring line with the motor admidships would hold the boat against the dock. No need to jump off a loose boat holding docking lines, you can leasurly take your time and safely step off and tie things up. Just rig a line from a forward cleat, add a loop (bowline knot), slip it over the dock cleat as you gently bump against the dock and then let the centered motor hold you snug while you tie things off.

[Andy26M]

That's a good point, tangentair, and I have used a spring line in the past when there is a breeze blowing me off the dock. It's tough getting it hooked up sometimes, though, when sailing solo - which i do 90% of the time.

- Andy

[Oskar 26M]

So much to learn...
Thanks Andy26M for the suggestion of leaving the rudders up to allow additional stern walk. The pivot effect makes sense so I'll give that a try.

And I endorse Tang's suggestion about spring lines. They do work well

[bastonjock]

one thing that i would add to this thread is that when you are picking up a mooring in cross currents and strong winds,have the centerboard fully UP and rudders ina little bit.

recently whilst trying to pick up my mooring in near gale conditions,the dinghy painter got caught in the gap between a partial centerboard and the hull,i could not move forward or backwards,i ended up attaching a line to the forward cleat onto the mooring and cutting the dinghy painter.

[NiceAft]

Jock,

Do you have one of these? It makes it much easier to pick up that mooring line.



Ray

[JaimeG]

I agree with NiceAft. Back in to your slip, rudders and centerboard down. If windy, make sure ballast is full. Go slow, slow, and never be afraid (or ashamed) of aborting the operation. Try again, slow.

Backing into my slip, standing in front of the pedestal, has given me the best control ever, my wife is calm, the dog is quiet, my nerves are relaxed, all is good.

I've done it this way many times on my own, solo, no problems.