Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

Chapter 6: The Art and Science of Docking
One problem that might arise is that the skipper sometimes can’t see the float as it comes
“under” the bow, particularly in larger boats with lots of freeboard. So a crewperson
stands up front and guides him in—hand signals are easier than shouting.
Provided the approach is accurate, the crewperson simply plucks up the mooring float, the
boat is put into reverse to bring it to a halt, and then the pendant is brought aboard and
cleated off. If you miss the float, just go around again—it’s not going anywhere, and probably
nobody is watching. Just don’t ask the crewperson to lunge at it, because everybody
will watch a guy falling overboard.
Be careful, though. If you see that the boat won’t stop quickly enough to prevent the
crewperson from being pulled overboard if he hangs on to the mooring line, have him
cast it off and try again. This can go from funny to dangerous very quickly because you’re
traveling forward and the props are close to where the swimmer will fall.
Tidal Tie-Ups
Tides vary from a few inches in south Florida to more than 40 feet in Canada. If you tie
your boat up close in an area that has a lot of drop between high and low tide, you may
have it swinging in the air when the tide goes out.
No kidding, I’ve seen it happen with rowboats and skiffs. They often turn over when the
water leaves, dumping out life jackets, paddles, and whatever else is left aboard.
Even worse, tying up too loosely may allow your boat to drift under the dock. When the
tide comes back, the boat gets a hydraulic crush. The lifting force of water is amazing—it
can crack the cowling of an outboard, smash a windshield, even crumple a cabin top.
Obviously, tying up properly is critical for coastal boaters. (I’ll tell you more about how
tides affect coastal boating in Chapter 16, “Mastering the Tides.”)
Dock Lines
You need at least four dock lines twice the length of the boat if you live in an area with
maximum tides, while in moderate tide zones like south Florida the four lines should be
about the length of the boat. You don’t use all this length very often, but you will need it
sooner or later if you cruise a lot.
The best dock lines are woven nylon, 3 /8 -inch or better. The larger the line, the stronger
it is and the longer it lasts—and the easier it is on your hands. But line that’s too big won’t
fit the cleats of a smaller boat, and it costs a lot more than smaller stuff.
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