This is the one thing that keeps me awake at night. My slip is adjacent to a bridge connecting the dock to land. To get out, I have to back straight out, I can't let her go down to starboard because then I'm going to have to back ALL THE WAY out of the marina and I can't back to port because of the bridge. I can't use a lot of reverse thrust because I've only got about two boat lengths between me and the rocks.
My question is what combination of spring lines and engine will get me out cleanly? Last year, I never did manage to get it right. I ended up fending off the sterns of a lot of power boats adjacent to my slip (power - so I don't feel to bad about it having to fend off).
rpassmore42@hotmail.com
Backing my CD26 out of the slip
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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John
Re: Backing my CD26 out of the slip
I solved the same problem by getting on a waiting list and finally moving my CD to a slip with LOTS of room in all directions behind me!
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sloopjohnl
Re: Backing my CD26 out of the slip
rich has the best advice in this instance for sure.
keep experimenting. wind, wakes and current are always factors that can change what worked yesterday.
keep experimenting. wind, wakes and current are always factors that can change what worked yesterday.
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Dana
Re: Backing my CD26 out of the slip
Rich,
You could not have picked a more difficult spot. I know you have no problem getting into the slip nose first.......Does the wind direction come over your starboard side normally while backing out of slip??? Is that a ramp dock which extends most of the way along your port side, i.e. do you have access to a cleat along that length of dock?
If the prevailing wind is over the port side...that's a real problem.
Have your tried to back into the slip...i.e. come in, turn to port, reverse by gradually increasing reversing power to stop but not too much or you will kick stern to port...Then slow reverse (almost idle speed)with forward kick occasionally to control port movement of stern (if necessary) but not enough to stop reverse motion. I have found that with CD26 tiller moved to 45 degree angle port side (you can feel the engine backwash against the rudder) you can "reflect" a portion of the back wash at a relected angle to port side of boat yet still most of the backwash toward the bow.
To put it another way (to back straight)....while backing very slowly, move the tiller to port....back wash from the reverse will partially hit rudder surface on rudders port side and reflect it along the boats port side. I know on an extra long skeg, I can feel the relection "vibration" on the tiller at the right amount of tiller turn. The back wash reflection off the rudder will counter the tendency of the stern prop action to kick the stern to port when you back. The backing motion will add additional "reflection kick" to keep the boat straight. By moving the tiller "around" this vibration point you will find you have control of the backing. Thus I back my CD26 straight into the slip (no floating dock where I am) and move out of the slip in forward. From what you describe, I think you should be able back onto at least the furthest piling from the ramp dock and then push off the stern into the slip.
If you presently have the prevailing wind coming over your starboard when you back out of the slip, I do not think you have a chance of pushing off the bow into the wind. If you feel you have to back out of the slip and the ramp dock extends a boat lengths distance along your port side, walk the boat out straight back along the dock. Use a spring line from your stern starboard side chock going aft direction on dock, power forward with no other lines, boat will turn to starboard pointing out...then release spring line from the boat.
Dana
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darenius@aol.com
You could not have picked a more difficult spot. I know you have no problem getting into the slip nose first.......Does the wind direction come over your starboard side normally while backing out of slip??? Is that a ramp dock which extends most of the way along your port side, i.e. do you have access to a cleat along that length of dock?
If the prevailing wind is over the port side...that's a real problem.
Have your tried to back into the slip...i.e. come in, turn to port, reverse by gradually increasing reversing power to stop but not too much or you will kick stern to port...Then slow reverse (almost idle speed)with forward kick occasionally to control port movement of stern (if necessary) but not enough to stop reverse motion. I have found that with CD26 tiller moved to 45 degree angle port side (you can feel the engine backwash against the rudder) you can "reflect" a portion of the back wash at a relected angle to port side of boat yet still most of the backwash toward the bow.
To put it another way (to back straight)....while backing very slowly, move the tiller to port....back wash from the reverse will partially hit rudder surface on rudders port side and reflect it along the boats port side. I know on an extra long skeg, I can feel the relection "vibration" on the tiller at the right amount of tiller turn. The back wash reflection off the rudder will counter the tendency of the stern prop action to kick the stern to port when you back. The backing motion will add additional "reflection kick" to keep the boat straight. By moving the tiller "around" this vibration point you will find you have control of the backing. Thus I back my CD26 straight into the slip (no floating dock where I am) and move out of the slip in forward. From what you describe, I think you should be able back onto at least the furthest piling from the ramp dock and then push off the stern into the slip.
If you presently have the prevailing wind coming over your starboard when you back out of the slip, I do not think you have a chance of pushing off the bow into the wind. If you feel you have to back out of the slip and the ramp dock extends a boat lengths distance along your port side, walk the boat out straight back along the dock. Use a spring line from your stern starboard side chock going aft direction on dock, power forward with no other lines, boat will turn to starboard pointing out...then release spring line from the boat.
Dana
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Rich wrote: This is the one thing that keeps me awake at night. My slip is adjacent to a bridge connecting the dock to land. To get out, I have to back straight out, I can't let her go down to starboard because then I'm going to have to back ALL THE WAY out of the marina and I can't back to port because of the bridge. I can't use a lot of reverse thrust because I've only got about two boat lengths between me and the rocks.
My question is what combination of spring lines and engine will get me out cleanly? Last year, I never did manage to get it right. I ended up fending off the sterns of a lot of power boats adjacent to my slip (power - so I don't feel to bad about it having to fend off).
darenius@aol.com
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Ryan Turner
Re: Backing my CD26 out of the slip
How about a spring line rigged from the port stern cleat to the dock. When you back straight out of the slip and have cleared all obstacles simply tension the spring line and it should whip you around to starboard.
rturnertec@aol.com
rturnertec@aol.com
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Bill Goldsmith
That's What I do
I have found that the wind really takes the bow on my CD27. When backing out of my west-facing slip I need to go south to exit the marina. With the prevailing noerthwesterlies, I can usually just push back, jump on and between the tiller and the wind, the bow falls off to the south. However, Occasionally we get a strong southerly which pushes the bow north. In that case I take the starboard dock line and take a turn around the dock cleat and return it to the boat. I back out and hold tension on the line around the primary winch. The boat pivots into the wind beautifully. Then I drop the line and quickly pull it into the boat and motor out. This works especially well when singlehanding when there's no one to help push off.
Bll Goldsmith
CD27 #173
Second Chance
goldy@bestweb.net
Bll Goldsmith
CD27 #173
Second Chance
Ryan Turner wrote: How about a spring line rigged from the port stern cleat to the dock. When you back straight out of the slip and have cleared all obstacles simply tension the spring line and it should whip you around to starboard.
goldy@bestweb.net
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Rich
Re: Backing my CD26 out of the slip
This is all very helpful. In the interest of keeping my post short, I omitted some info. I should clarify a couple of things. The prevailing wind is across my port side so unless I have control of the boat, my stern will blow down and that's the worst thing that can happen. Also, there is one slip between me and the bridge, so once I reach the end of my dock, that's it unless I manage to get the stern upwind quickly.
I have tried having someone push the bow downwind as I reach the end of the dock with mixed results. I've also tried springing off the port side dock cleat using the port side jib sheet winch to give me mid-ship pivot point.
I like Dana's advise of trying to back in using the rudder at an angle. I'll advise in a couple of weeks. Thanks for your help.
rpassmore42@hotmail.com
I have tried having someone push the bow downwind as I reach the end of the dock with mixed results. I've also tried springing off the port side dock cleat using the port side jib sheet winch to give me mid-ship pivot point.
I like Dana's advise of trying to back in using the rudder at an angle. I'll advise in a couple of weeks. Thanks for your help.
rpassmore42@hotmail.com
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Warren Kaplan
Re: That's What I do
Bill,Bill Goldsmith wrote: I have found that the wind really takes the bow on my CD27. When backing out of my west-facing slip I need to go south to exit the marina. With the prevailing noerthwesterlies, I can usually just push back, jump on and between the tiller and the wind, the bow falls off to the south. However, Occasionally we get a strong southerly which pushes the bow north. In that case I take the starboard dock line and take a turn around the dock cleat and return it to the boat. I back out and hold tension on the line around the primary winch. The boat pivots into the wind beautifully. Then I drop the line and quickly pull it into the boat and motor out. This works especially well when singlehanding when there's no one to help push off.
Bll Goldsmith
CD27 #173
Second Chance
I have the same situation as you do although from different directions being on the south shore of Long Island. Rigging a slip line is the way to go . Boat turns smartly in right direction when you get the hang of it. Its also nice to have the "security" of being tied to the dock in case things go somewhat awry...instead of floating uncontrollably in the wrong direction into someone's boat or a bridge abutment.
Setsail728@aol.com
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Dana
Re: Backing my CD26 out of the slip
Your description does not differ much from most of the dock exits I had in my marina in Rhode Island with the 26....you probably have just a bit less room to port. I think you will find that with the wind over your port, the boat's stern will not seek the wind. However, that's the best place for the prevailing wind for backing, boat turning in that direction would be enhanced. Mine tends to lie quitely a mid-ship, balanced broadside to the wind, even taking down sails, etc. For single handed, I guess that I would start the backing straight to get headway but as soon as I had movement I would be cutting the tiller handle to starboard. A couple of quick thrusts in reverse will tend to kick the stern more to port. A spring from port dock to port winch with about 3-4 feet of the boat left in the dock before the line goes taut should do it. That will give you about 15 feet of line to toss off. There should be reason for any rush on this, motion wise, not with the spring...as long as you can back slowly taking up the slack without jarring.....
darenius@aol.com
Rich wrote: This is all very helpful. In the interest of keeping my post short, I omitted some info. I should clarify a couple of things. The prevailing wind is across my port side so unless I have control of the boat, my stern will blow down and that's the worst thing that can happen. Also, there is one slip between me and the bridge, so once I reach the end of my dock, that's it unless I manage to get the stern upwind quickly.
I have tried having someone push the bow downwind as I reach the end of the dock with mixed results. I've also tried springing off the port side dock cleat using the port side jib sheet winch to give me mid-ship pivot point.
I like Dana's advise of trying to back in using the rudder at an angle. I'll advise in a couple of weeks. Thanks for your help.
darenius@aol.com