Docking

[Lancerbye]

The most important thing I learned years ago when I owned a full keel boat is that you cannot swing the bow. The boat is manouvered from the stern and the best you can do with the bow is move the stern to change the pointing position. The bow will however follow the stern is reverse. By learning to accumalate reverse speed and correcting direction with short forward thrust I used to back down long parallel slips with ease. Someone once referred handling a full keel boat is like driving a forklift or a combine.

[carstenb]

Go to

The Sailing Channel.tv and search for capt. Jack Klange video on single handed docking.

He explains all this and shows it with models and in real life.

No mystery.

[rtbates]

As an owner of a full keel Cape Dory I learned that the bow will go down wind, period, in any wind over 5kts. I've learned to anticipate this fact as early as possible during any maneuver involving reverse and plan. Usually that means letting the stern go where it will and then going forward. Learning to spin your boat around by backing a filling is very very useful in areas of limited space. Remember that the circle's direction will be determined more by your vessels characteristics in any given situation. Learn by practicing. And don't try to fight your boats tendencies. It'a a loosing battle.

Use of spring lines can be very helpful.

[RLewis]

Have been out of pocket for a few days but back now and - whoa !!
What great responses from all of you.

This venue is such a great resource - and I wasn't event the one that initially asked the question.

All of this information is certainly appreciated by us (me) novices.

Thanks again Randy