Understood, but you’re going to smash into docks while maneuvering soooo many times. How much money will it cost to repeatedly repair that mirror finish, versus grabbing a brush or roller and touching up with enamel or industrial coating?
Wifey B: Smash into docks sooooooo many times? What? Why? ...
100K for a 50ft boat sounds oddly disproportionate. Are we talking about a steel fishing boat?
Common sense. Guy with experience limited to "light weight" boats buys a steel monster that weighs as much as a concrete ready mix truck. Takes some lessons, but becoming adept at maneuvering a single with no thruster takes time. Time and lots of bumps and grinding into wood piers, the occasional concrete wharf, springing off a piling, etc., but hopefully not bouncing against any pretty glass boats.
No matter how experienced we thing we are, when the cross winds are blowing 15+ knots and waves are kicking up, we all have rough landings.
No, we're talking about an ocean crossing boat with 2000 gallon fuel tanks, 1,100 gallon water tanks etc. This is more of an expedition yacht. As per Robert Beebe, the A/B ratio needs to be as much B and as little A for a truly seaworthy vessel. This is no coastal queen or grubby rusty work boat.
I may need to know everything about handling heavy boats when docking. For this discussion assume single screw, 50 foot long and no thrusters.
My main concern is regarding how a deck hand deals with a dock line when the boat is still three feet off the dock. Can they just muscle the boat closer? Will I be looking at improving my skills of using a spring line and full rudder to get up against a dock?
Although I have a trawler right now (Ranger 29) its 9,500 lbs, not 100,000. The heaviest boat I have owned is 12,500 lbs (my C&C 34/36+ sailboat, which I still own). All advice greatly appreciated.
Set your boat up right and learn your boat, and there will never be a need to scratch your boat or anything else. 100,000 pounds can be your friend if you let it.
You should always be able to get close enough to the dock to get one line on, either bow or stern and turn it into some sort of spring. This is why a always chuckle when others say the midship line is best or critical, as good luck with that theory on larger boats in all situations.
Please explain
Thanks
In short, I think what psneeld was alluding to is that using a midships line is fine for our smaller trawlers, and coming into a berth you are familiar with, but to use a midships line in a larger vessel, or unfamiliar berth, requires getting the whole boat too close to the dock for comfort - ie the margin for error is reduced too much.Reread post #4 and #13 for the info.
Others to know that a best line is handy in some situations, that other lines can be way more useful/easier.
In short, I think what psneeld was alluding to is that using a midships line is fine for our smaller trawlers, and coming into a berth you are familiar with, but to use a midships line in a larger vessel, or unfamiliar berth, requires getting the whole boat too close to the dock for comfort - ie the margin for error is reduced too much.
It’s funny how the previous owners have been docking, fueling, maneuvering and sailing this boat for half a century, and they’ve been doing it all wrong this whole time, without thrusters at the front and at the back and in the middle and perhaps electronic joy sticks.
Seamanship is for suckers.
People were so ignorant back then [emoji846]
It’s funny how the previous owners have been docking, fueling, maneuvering and sailing this boat for half a century, and they’ve been doing it all wrong this whole time, without thrusters at the front and at the back and in the middle and perhaps electronic joy sticks.
Seamanship is for suckers.
People were so ignorant back then [emoji846]
Don't worry, I get your point...
I too was a pro captain for big expensive boats. Scared to death or amazingly cautious not to scratch anything. After all, big bucks to fix, so alternative docking or solutions were the norm if the proposed docking might involve too much risk.
Then after 25 years of commercial, salvage and barge towing work..... bumping things then touching up the workboat finish became the norm and there was "no alternative docking" in most cases....the boss would just say "git'er done".
So, I became lazy and had an older trawler that wasn't Bristol as it was. Accepting the worst dock in a marina was no longer an issue and I became proficient enough to get there, maybe using a few pilings and tricks, but still haven't damaged anyone else's boat.
So there is no "right wzy" to have and use a boat....just if you mismatch boating styles and boats.
To the OP though.... it will be the rare ocean crosser/expedition vessel in 50 feet and $100,000. Sure there will be rugged, metal vessels out there, but that doesn't mean they are ocean crosses or expedition vessels and/or they will be very, very spartan/ lightly equipped.
To the OP though.... it will be the rare ocean crosser/expedition vessel in 50 feet and $100,000.
... you have a crew of less experienced (usually older) deckhands, probably less sure footed and not doing it on a day in day out basis... your average retired CPA/lawyer/engineer/physician/etc. Similar could be said for a recreational "captain" versus a full time captain.
NO. NOT $100,000. We're talking 100,000 LBS. I'm not sure where you got the dollar amount from but I don't think it's in this thread. And I WISH it was just that amount.
It’s funny how the previous owners have been docking, fueling, maneuvering and sailing this boat for half a century, and they’ve been doing it all wrong this whole time, without thrusters at the front and at the back and in the middle and perhaps electronic joy sticks.
Seamanship is for suckers.
People were so ignorant back then [emoji846]
Assuming that the boat does not have a disproportionate amount of windage, a heavier boat will handle more predictably than a smaller boat. That still does not solve the challenge of manhandling a 100,000 boat. You would be well served to hire some professional instruction for hands on education and confidence building.
@Gdavid, what you say makes alot of sense and makes me think. Although I am confident and proud of my abilities, my mate (my wife) is not very enthusiastic about boats in general. Thinking to the future for my big, heavy boat, she might not ever become the capable deckhand able to assist in warping to dock. Perhaps I'll need to consider installing a bow thruster as well (although I'll have to hang my head in shame when that day comes)
You would be well served to hire some professional instruction for hands on education and confidence building.
Wifey B: Have you ever used a microwave?
Do you use a cell phone?
Do you use a remote to open your car door?
Do you use speed control when driving your car on highways?
Do you use turn signals or stick your arm out the window?
If you do any of these, then what is with the macho attitude and advising a relative newbie to just bang against the docks instead of having a thruster and what is it with your shame of using a thruster?
Using a thruster doesn't mean you can't do it without and doesn't make you less of a captain. Refusing to consider one makes you blind to the potential benefit it might have.
The attitude just confuses me. And for the OP, I still recommend bow thrusters.
I can dock without thrusters. Never had them on the lake. But they're here and I have them and I use them and make no apologies.