Thanks for the note. Those are excellent suggestions. I will have to incorporate something like that. Thank you.

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for the kind words and complement.

Glad it was helpful!

Those are great suggestions. I have begun incorporating a few of those ideas in my permanent slip -- I've also been working at my entry, and trying to bring boat to full stop before stepping off. I still have lots of room to improve my singlehanded docking technique. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks.

Glad you enjoyed it. Many thanks! It is a cool angle for sure. Check out some of my other videos where I filmed from the same spot.

Glad it helped! I continue to work on my solo docking technique as well. A few folks offered some great tips for me on here. I recently made another solo docking video that incorporated many of their suggstions. They include bringing the boat to a dead stop before stepping off; stepping off with a stern and mid-ship docking line in case there is wind and/or current; having a pre-tied line on the dock for the line to the winch; and having pre-established fenders on the dock. You can watch it here if you like: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fslze8Z-tsqdm2Q.html The video also shows a technical turn using prop walk that i also just recently learned from another youtuber. All the best!

Those are excellent suggestions. Thank you for sharing! I have learned quite a lot from viewers and continue to try to improve my docking skills and tactics. I know what you mean about "coming in hot" when there is stronger wind and current.

You're welcome!

Thanks for the note. I also now try to use a docking pole whenever I can based on some other videos I watched on KZfaq: it is an excellent technique, and, when possible, it is great to not have to step off the boat. Some of the docks around my new home berth, however, don't have cleats -- they have wooden planks that you have to step off and thread -- so I end up using a version of this technique. Some of the other sailors on here have pointed out that I should attempt to stop the boat completely before I step off -- I have been trying to do that as of late -- it helps lessen the risk of getting fingers caught in the rope for sure. The other item that was suggested to me by a sailor on here is to also step off with a mid-ship line to help control the bow as required. I have started doing that now as well when I have an extra technical docking scenario with wind and current. Happy sailing! And docking! Thanks again for the note.

I made my own docking stick with two sections of PVC pipe. One section is 18” long Another is 12” and is sliced apart lengthwise, but one half is about 210 degrees and the other (waste portion) is about 150 degrees. The 210 degree section snaps onto the end of the dock pole, and is pop-riveted to the 18” pipe. It works great.

Good tip! A I am working at incorporating a few of those items into my technique.

I don't even allow as a rule, myself or passengers to "jump" off...only a normal step off when stable. Any jump off in the hopes of stopping/cleating a boat is a Hail Mary maneuver in my book. As mentioned "lassoing" and with one end pre-cleated on the boat from your most accessible point will usually get you secured safely and often elegantly. But I never go for show, I go for any gentle landing we can walk away with no damage or severe embarrassment. And...I'm a big fan of using the dock as a safety net, meaning kissing it is perfectly good technique. Usually it comes off as a good landing but when it doesn't I debrief and learn. I'm also not against radioing ahead for a dock hand in severe conditions. Still to put in water a 26000lb long keel with wheelhouse helm and a narrow companionway so I expect some anxiety and learning curve, hopefully no damages.

Glad you enjoyed it

Thanks for watching!

Glad you enjoyed it

Thanks for the note. Good comment. I have learned a lot from viewers comments on this video. I would suggest coming in to you short slip, bringing the boat to a dead stop, walking forward slightly with a mid-ship and stern dock line and go from there. The methond I used in the this video link might work well for you in your short-finger scenario -- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iNmRerBiuK7HqJs.html Good luck.

That sounds like a great set of tactics -- thank you for sharing them. I can see that they could really help reduce the stress of entry and exit -- and that is a BIG boat that you are single handing!

Glad you think so! Thanks for the encouragement.

That is an excellent suggestion! Thank you. I have recently added a permanent line secured to the dock in my permanent slip -- so thank you for this suggestion! What a great idea! Fair wind friend! Steve

Glad you think so!

That is an interesting concept. I will definitely think about how to use that tactic. I have learned a few things from viewer's suggestions since I made this video. One thing was to bring the boat to a full stop before stepping off. A second is to step off with a midship dock line and the rear line around the winch so that I have full control of the boat after I step off the boat. The third was to use a docking stick to wrap the dock line from the winch around the cleat on the dock without leaving the cockpit -- and then put in slow forward using the "Moitessier Stern Tie." And if I miss the cleat, I can still step on the dock with the stern and midship lines.

Oh wow -- I really like that idea! I am going to do that for sure! Thank you for that tip!

That is an excellent concept. I must try that. Staying on the boat and looping the cleat from there would be a huge benefit, especially in a strong off the dock breeze or current. This would also reduce the risk of injury to fingers when tying off a cleat when/if the boat is still moving. A real risk with my technique. For the camera, I used a selfie stick with a tri-pod end on it. I tied the main halyard to the vertical shaft at the bottom of the tri-pod, and the dead end of the halyard to the top, closer to the camera -- then I hoisted the whole rig upside down with camera pointing downward, and the the three tri-pod legs deployed. Once at the top of the mast, the tri-pod legs helped to stablize the rig against the mast, and then I tightened up the halyard to keep the whole thing in tension to help prevent it flapping around. I was surprised how will it worked!

That’s what I do, but I use a docking stick to be 100% sure I lasso the piling.

Your father sounds like quite the skipper! I love hearing anecdotes like that. This video was shot at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes, Wasthington. As you may know, the wind can rip through there, especially in winter, and make leaving and arriving at the dock very challenging, and stressful! I'm still learning, and struggling a bit, when high wind and strong current are present.

Yes, it can be used on both sides easily.

Those are excellent suggestions. Thank you. I will try that. I have found it a bit of a struggle coming into a dock to discern what the current is doing at times -- even after consulting the tide tables. Great suggestion! Thank you!

Thanks for the note. Well said! Leave that one with me! I have it on my "to do" list! All the best.

That's great feedback. A few folks have made a similar suggestion -- I'll have to incorporate something like that.

I sail a lot solo and in general it is impossible to dock safely to guest harbours etc. without going to the dock with a line. You will go and tie a line to a cleat and then back to the boat. Operating a 3 meters long pole to try to lasso a cleat is not possible in any wind.

I agree never leave the boat with it in gear or untied.

Barely forward and into a dock slip involves little risk here. Many have done this or something like it for solo with power and sail boats for a long time. I can see your preference but this isn’t too “Wow” level for me at least.

​@@JENewportI've seen too many people slip getting onto the dock and be unable to tie up before the bow hits the main dock. No need to ever be off the boat with the in Forward.

Those are great tips. After I published this video a few sailors have suggested a docking stick -- and not leaving the boat until it is alongside. I have been experimenting with that technique with good success so far. With the feedback from folks i try to use the docking stick as first choice if conditions warrant it. But if it is windy, or I have current fighting me, or I have a very tight turn and end up too far from the dock to use the docking-stick, I have a line tied midship and to the winch and step off with both in my hand once the boat is alongside. So thanks to all of you for the great tips!

Sure -- what i call a "snubber" is basically a dock-line with shock-absorbing rubber attachment to minimize shock loading on the boat when it comes under load. Many boaters use them as kind of a shock absorber on their dock lines even when sitting idle at the dock. Notwithstanding that, since I made this video, I have learned a few things, and now try to bring the boat to a complete stop before I step off. This reduces the need for the snubber, shock absorber, though it can still be helpful in reducing forces on the boat in general.

Thanks for the note. For the camera, I used a selfie stick with a tri-pod end on it. I tied the main sail halyard to the vertical shaft at the bottom of the tri-pod, and the dead end of the halyard to the top, closer to the camera -- then I hoisted the whole rig upside down with camera pointing downward, and the the three tri-pod legs deployed. Once at the top of the mast, the tri-pod legs helped to stablize the rig against the mast, and then I tightened up the halyard to keep the whole thing in tension to help prevent it flapping around. I was surprised how will it worked!

Brilliant! I have an old tripod that can go up my halyard so I will try it outside of Waikiki! Mahalo!

Great suggestions. Yeah, I think I got into the habit of perhaps coming in a bit too fast because of wind and current. I probably could have come in slower in this instance. I do "kiss" the dock with fenders in place typically upon entry . I could improve my entries, I think, and try to come in perfectly alongside (and have the fenders there just in case) -- and come to a full stop before stepping off. Agree, however, in wind and current, I can lose the bow, or the boat off the dock in those couple of seconds. It's still a work in progress for me! Lots of room for me to improve. Thanks for the ideas.

Thanks for the note. When wind and/or current is off the dock, this is the most challenging case for sure. I have found that I do step forward earlier, and then onto the dock while the boat is still moving slowly forward, I quickly tie off the cleat with the other end on the winch, then step back aboard to put the engine in forward. (I call this "coming in hot" and it is quite stressful, and even a bit dangerous, since the boat is still moving, and you have to tie the cleat off and ensure that you don't pinch your fingers. I have tried a docking stick a couple of times but in the end felt more comfortable stepping off the boat) The stronger the wind and/or current is, the more speed I need on the engine to hold it against the dock -- and if I start to lose the bow to port in the wind, I just apply more thrust on the engine. For my boat, the winch is placed perfectly for this -- with the engine engaged in forward, the boat sits nicely against the dock. (I first read about this technique in one of Bernard Moitessier's books) The engine thrust counter acts against the wind and current -- it sits there quietly in a kind of equilibrium. In this case of strong wind and current, I have found that if I attempt to stop the boat dead in the slip with the engine, I am already losing the bow off the dock, and it can hit the other boat alongside to port. All that said, I am certainly still learning, and trying to improve my techniques. I may experiment some more with a docking stick -- especially for the case of strong wind and/or current off the dock, "coming in hot" when timing is most critical.

With a rudder that is well in the prop wash, the midship dockline - adjustable from the cockpit - is also my preferred option. However, my boat has two rudders and only one prop. With the sternline I can hold the boat against the dock up to about Bft 5. With the midship dockline and wind off the dock the stern will tend to move away from the dock and touch the neighbour.

I would suggest moving the tie point to midships would reduce extent of the bow blowing off in a big cross wind.

That is great feedback, thank you! I continue to advance my skills in docking -- I have been experimenting with the "lasso" style recently with some encouraging results.

@@respecttherisk2022 Thanks. My feedback was a little harsh because I'm also an ex-systems risk manager. There are more risks in that you could be being blown off (and that's a big gap to your neighbors gelcoat) and the finger maybe shorter than your boat in an unfamiliar port.... so no cleat for your prepared stern line. Both risks are mitigated by reversing in (which is easier anyway) and capturing a portside dock cleat with your prepared stern line before driving forward on that. Reversing means they dock you're reversing at is both near and visible so your thruststop accuracy can be inches. Great vid btw. Cheers. Bill. PS. We are always learning and there are always other ways to learn.

Thanks for the suggestion. A few fellow boaters have mentioned that idea. I will give that a try! Thank you!

Just mute it. There's no narrative to hear.

I agree - box berthing is not as easy and berthing in a running river between two piles even harder. A friend of mine can do it alone. He is the master :)

Hi, i do my single handed docking between two piles exactly as shown here. Fix the line at the windward pile and adjust the thrust and rudder according wind. This needs some practice and it is essential to find the pivot point of your boat to fix the block with the mooring line there. Put that line on the winch and release slowly until the bow is close to the pier. I only have to admit, that i don't need to deal with current, only cross winds.

@@Themothershipsailing Big difference between marina berthing (like this) vs. going between piles in a running river is that in a running river you can go against the current, whichever way it is flowing. Going into a marina, you have to go the direction the berth points which on occasions may mean going with the current - much more difficult!

@@martincrick2158 Agree rivers are ok - cross winds -that’s the killer that adds the complexity, lose the bow and its back to square one and hoping you don’t catch the slime line between the piles on your way around. I berth my 38ft regularly in a variety of marinas in Northern Europe and with her long lines but big tumble home, the box berths almost always make me hold my breath as the ones for her length are sometimes barely wide enough especially with a cross wind getting her belly in and I wish I had rubbing strakes! I’ve now started a technique which is more akin to getting a big dining table through a cornered door way..

Thanks for the comment. Noted on the music! I have a few other videos on my channel where I used that camera angle as well. It is a cool angle for sure.

That's is a great concept. A few folks have suggested something like that. I am looking forward to trying it! Thanks for the note and feedback!

Thanks for tips. That is great coaching feedback. I've working to incorporate the coaching into my technique. Thank you!

@@respecttherisk2022 I made it sound real easy didn't I. It never is. But when you get it right and the marina is filled with people, you can almost count on a standing ovation. I have found current to be the most difficult part to read.

That's what the fenders are for, yeah?

@@MrJhchrist Look closer, there's no fender where it touches ;) And no, fenders are not so you can hit the dock willynilly.