Here are a few\u00a0figures for you.\u00a0\u00a01.7 feet, 2.5 feet, and 5 feet.\u00a0 What do they represent?\u00a0 How many feet are traveled in a one second period of time at 1 knot, 1.5 knots, and 3 knots.<\/p>\n
For a very long time, I avoided the docks in Ayala Cove.\u00a0 All it took was one near catastrophe and I wanted nothing to do with that place.\u00a0 My primary concern was the current.\u00a0 A finger of land on the western side of the cove projects out into Raccoon Strait.\u00a0 During an ebb, that finger grabs the current deflecting it in a counter clockwise circle around the cove, directly under the dock.\u00a0\u00a0The current runs lengthwise down the dock, perpendicular to the direction of the slips, quite often at a substantial pace.\u00a0 This morning, the ebb in Raccoon Strait peaked at nearly 3 knots!\u00a0 I’m not sure how much of that 3 knots deflects under the docks, however, from past experience it’s a lot.\u00a0 Enough to create visible current trails coming off docks and pilings.<\/p>\n
When reading about and discussing docking you often hear of the importance of having steerageway,\u00a0which is maintaining enough speed through the water to\u00a0steer with.\u00a0 But, how fast is the vessel really moving through the water to obtain steerageway?\u00a0 Every boat is different, however, if steerage way is obtained at 1.5 knots the vessel is moving through the water 2.5 feet per second.\u00a0 At 2.5 feet per second,\u00a0it is going to take nearly 15 seconds for a 36 foot boat to travel one boat length.\u00a0\u00a0If you have a\u00a0one knot current coming across your beam,\u00a0what will the boat do during that 15 seconds?\u00a0 At one knot\u00a0the current moves the vessel\u00a0at 1.7 feet\u00a0per second, for a total of 25 feet of sideways movement.\u00a0 A three knot current will push you sideways\u00a075 feet!<\/p>\n
If you are entering a “single wide” slip in a 1 knot current and can get the boat half way in the slip, you probably are ok.\u00a0 The current is going to push you into the dock finger the entire length as you motor forward.\u00a0 As long as you are well protected with fenders you are good.\u00a0 What happens if you are going into a “double wide” slip.\u00a0 You just ended up in\u00a0the slip next to the one you were aiming for.\u00a0 Not a problem if there isn’t a boat\u00a0already there or a piling in the middle.<\/p>\n
The above scenario considers what happens\u00a0from when the bow enters the slip.\u00a0 That’s not very realistic because you must also consider the\u00a0 approach to the slip.\u00a0 \u00a0If you start 10 feet out, you are going to slide to the side 8 feet in a 1 knot current, nearly 25 feet in 3 knots, before you get into the slip.\u00a0 You are not going to end up where you want unless you plan for it.<\/p>\n
What’s to be done?\u00a0 Start by knowing your boat!\u00a0 Know how much speed through water it takes to maintain steerageway.\u00a0 Know how far it takes with no current and no wind to turn 90 degrees (e.g. from fairway to slip).\u00a0 The only way to get that knowledge is practice.<\/p>\n
As for the actual docking,\u00a0 plan your Location … Orientation … Transition<\/strong>\u00a0ahead of time.\u00a0 Whenever possible, approach\u00a0into the current.\u00a0 At Ayala Cove, that means traveling parallel to the dock and making a 90 degree turn into the slip.\u00a0 When you make the turn into the slip, make it “just a bit” later than if there were no current, allowing the current to push you “backwards and sideways” into the slip.\u00a0 How far is “just a bit?”\u00a0 It depends on how much current and how far off the dock you are.\u00a0 In a one knot current turning 8 feet later than normal might be just right.\u00a0\u00a0Get close enough to look for\u00a0evidence of current.\u00a0 Are there current trails coming off the end of the dock fingers and pilings?\u00a0 What are the bubbles and debris in the water doing?\u00a0 Try measuring the distance\u00a0the bubbles and debris move over a five second period of time.\u00a0 Your boat is going to do the same.\u00a0 Check the tide tables ahead of time and know what to expect before you get there.\u00a0 Try a practice approach or two or three.\u00a0\u00a0 These are “double wide” slips.\u00a0 Is the current going to push you into the dock or away from it into the next slip?<\/p>\n In summery.\u00a0 Know what to expect ahead of time.\u00a0 Verify that conditions are what you expect and plan your L.O.T. accordingly.\u00a0 Don’t fight the current, you will lose.\u00a0 Allow the current to help you.\u00a0 Work with it to accomplish the goal you are striving for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here are a few\u00a0figures for you.\u00a0\u00a01.7 feet, 2.5 feet, and 5 feet.\u00a0 What do they represent?\u00a0 How many feet are traveled in a one second period of time at 1 knot, 1.5 knots, and 3 knots. For a very long … Continue reading