Boating and weather advice

[jazzman]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

WOW, never thought of that, as I dont live at the lake and most of the marinas are protected.

I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever find myself in a position to buy waterfront in retirement.

I can see how it could get real tricky, and cant imagine how much a new boater would struggle with that.

I'm sure there are some tricks of the trade, but I can see how it might take a bit of practice to become comfortable with it.

My trick of the trade is my "o-sh**" rope. It's tied to bow and stearn cleats with 20 feet of slack tucked into the rear seat. If it's rough you get the nose of the boat to the dock, jump off and use the rope to haul the boat in.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by jazzman

My trick of the trade is my "o-sh**" rope. It's tied to bow and stern cleats with 20 feet of slack tucked into the rear seat. If it's rough you get the nose of the boat to the dock, jump off and use the rope to haul the boat in.

Being not so agile anymore, and not having access to the bow over the windshield, I bring the stern to the dock, get a line on a post, take a wrap and use the engine to pull the boat to the dock. The engine will hold the boat in place while other lines are fastened. Jumping onto a wet, slippery dock in the rain while engine is running and nobody is t the helm to control the boat is not my best move. I have a breakwater, but when the canvas is all up and the wind is blowing the boat sideways, I need to be able to back out and start over. Can't do that from the dock.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by jazzman

My trick of the trade is my "o-sh**" rope. It's tied to bow and stearn cleats with 20 feet of slack tucked into the rear seat. If it's rough you get the nose of the boat to the dock, jump off and use the rope to haul the boat in.

Originally Posted by Descant

Being not so agile anymore, and not having access to the bow over the windshield, I bring the stern to the dock, get a line on a post, take a wrap and use the engine to pull the boat to the dock. The engine will hold the boat in place while other lines are fastened. Jumping onto a wet, slippery dock in the rain while engine is running and nobody is t the helm to control the boat is not my best move. I have a breakwater, but when the canvas is all up and the wind is blowing the boat sideways, I need to be able to back out and start over. Can't do that from the dock.

WOW, both options sound tough to me.

I dont care for running to either end of the boat when docking, and I have never liked backing into a dock,,,

If I am docking by myself I usually have a line ready on my starboard midship cleat reach out from the helm and once I can get it around a post, the boat will usually stay put more than long enough to get out and get the bow and stern lines tied off.

But then I dont dock on the Broads in rough weather, so I tip my hat to you both.

Thanks for sharing your technique(s).

[ApS]

Wind speed, as broadcast, is always less than actual wind on the lake.

As suggested, 12-MPH is a good threshold, especially as that speed is showing a few whitecaps. For sailing, that's a speed that's ideal! You can still sail in a wind at 5-MPH, when no wind appears--y'know, "when it's calm".

For docking in a breeze, there's a modified boat hook available that allows a single boater to drop a loop over a piling or upright.

As oversized boats are ruining Winnipesaukee boating and eroding shorelines, I'm loathe to suggest a larger boat; however, 'toons are especially Winnipesaukee-friendly boats.

Also, I see many of the larger 'toons managing heavy chop very well. On another lake, a neighbor had a passenger fall off their smaller pontoon. Fortunately, it occurred in a shallow canal. I recall the brand being an "Aqua-Patio" pontoon boat.

[aydinlik]

Originally Posted by ApS

For docking in a breeze, there's a modified boat hook available that allows a single boater to drop a loop over a piling or upright.
.

I can't dare to go out single yet. I and my wife use one of these
https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Loop-Lon.../dp/B00AS0264A

We love it

[Descant]

Good for you and your wife. I've never seen one of these Boat Loops in person, so I'm glad to hear of success.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by aydinlik

I can't dare to go out single yet. I and my wife use one of these
https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Loop-Lon.../dp/B00AS0264A

We love it

I have one of those in all my boats and they work great!

Sounds like your doing everything right, just need more time in the seat. You’ll be fine!

Dan

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I have one of those in all my boats and they work great!

Dan

Re: https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Loop-Lon.../dp/B00AS0264A

Ok, so I am convinced I need one (or maybe 2) of these, but wondering what length people are using ???

Thanks for any recommendations.

[Barney Bear]

We regularly use ours. It makes landing at our dock on East Bear Island much easier for the First Mate. We bought ours at Parafunalia in Gilford for less than is indicated on Amazon. 🐻

[XCR-700]

Do you know what length pole you bought?

Thanks

[Cal Coon]

Originally Posted by aydinlik

I can't dare to go out single yet. I and my wife use one of these
https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Loop-Lon.../dp/B00AS0264A

We love it

Pretty soon there will be fully automatic "driverless" boats, so no one will have anything to complain about, ie: wakes, right of way, speed, docking, NWZ, 150ft rule, wind, currents, etc, etc, and no one will have to learn how to do anything for themselves!! Just get on the boat, and let the boat do the rest!! Can't wait so everyone will be happy...

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by Cal Coon

Pretty soon there will be fully automatic "driverless" boats, so no one will have anything to complain about, ie: wakes, right of way, speed, docking, NWZ, 150ft rule, wind, currents, etc, etc, and no one will have to learn how to do anything for themselves!! Just get on the boat, and let the boat do the rest!! Can't wait so everyone will be happy...

Naah, there will always be something to set someone off. As a society we seem to crave conflict.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[Cal Coon]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

Naah, there will always be something to set someone off. As a society we seem to crave conflict.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Ain't that the truth!!

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by aydinlik

I can't dare to go out single yet. I and my wife use one of these
https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Loop-Lon.../dp/B00AS0264A

We love it

You can get one at Parafunalia in Gilford. Every boat should have one!

https://www.parafunalia.com/boatloop.html

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by aydinlik

I can't dare to go out single yet. I and my wife use one of these
https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Loop-Lon.../dp/B00AS0264A

We love it

Oh man, I am liking that gadget ;-)

THANKS!

[upthesaukee]

I made my own several years ago out of a length of aluminum tube and a loop made out of a coat hanger. Made loops on each end of the hanger and attached it to the tube with a through bolt and a wing nut.

A friend had one, and I liked the idea, so I made one for myself. Kind of a Rube Goldberg thing, but worked.

Dave

[Hivolt]

Wind direction plays as big a role as wind speed in the broads imo. I was in your situation 4 seasons ago as a brand new boater I decided to rent a place on the NW tip of rattlesnake. I fortunately had good weather during my first stay but having been to the same place multiple times a year for the last 3 seasons I’ve started to learn when is a good time to go out and when to stay put. When there’s a NW or N wind, all hell can break loose in the broads.

We ventured out to Wolfeboro Sunday morning for breakfast and left in a fairly calm West wind. When we exited Wolfeboro Bay We realized the wind had turned NW, we knew we were in for a rough ride and rough docking. While the place we stay has a protected dock the boat I purchased has high freeboard and loses the bow quickly.

I had 11-12 mph sustained winds on my wind gauge on rattlesnake with gusts to 16 which isn’t too bad.

[aydinlik]

Originally Posted by Hivolt

Wind direction plays as big a role as wind speed in the broads imo. I was in your situation 4 seasons ago as a brand new boater I decided to rent a place on the NW tip of rattlesnake. I fortunately had good weather during my first stay but having been to the same place multiple times a year for the last 3 seasons I’ve started to learn when is a good time to go out and when to stay put. When there’s a NW or N wind, all hell can break loose in the broads.

We ventured out to Wolfeboro Sunday morning for breakfast and left in a fairly calm West wind. When we exited Wolfeboro Bay We realized the wind had turned NW, we knew we were in for a rough ride and rough docking. While the place we stay has a protected dock the boat I purchased has high freeboard and loses the bow quickly.

I had 11-12 mph sustained winds on my wind gauge on rattlesnake with gusts to 16 which isn’t too bad.

Thanks for the good info.

I saw the following in another web site today . This was totally us last weekend.

[Hivolt]

Originally Posted by aydinlik

Thanks for the good info.

I saw the following in another web site today . This was totally us last weekend.

I use the iWindsurf app on my phone or check out sailflow on the computer when I'm up there, Like most have said the forecasts aren't spot on for speed but they are usually pretty decent at forecasting direction. They also offer live wind maps.

[aydinlik]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

A friend had one, and I liked the idea, so I made one for myself. Kind of a Rube Goldberg thing, but worked.

Dave

Good idea! They are overly expensive for some reason.

[kauriel]

Originally Posted by aydinlik

I can't dare to go out single yet. I and my wife use one of these
https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Loop-Lon.../dp/B00AS0264A

We love it

I have terrible aim and short arms so my husband made me cheaper version - it's just rope through some rubber tubing tied in a big loop so that I can toss it over top of post when we approach dock. It's not quite as good as boat loop but it was much cheaper!

[Barney Bear]

Our bow lines are shorter than the boat length. If a secured line happens to drop off the boat while under way, it does not become wrapped around the prop.

[upthesaukee]

On my 25 ft Mariah bowrider, I used 25 ft bow and stern lines, and generally used a 15 ft line for the mid-cleat. Also carried a couple extra of each length.

Dave

[Descant]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

WOW, both options sound tough to me.

I dont care for running to either end of the boat when docking, and I have never liked backing into a dock,,,

If I am docking by myself I usually have a line ready on my starboard midship cleat reach out from the helm and once I can get it around a post, the boat will usually stay put more than long enough to get out and get the bow and stern lines tied off.

But then I dont dock on the Broads in rough weather, so I tip my hat to you both.

Thanks for sharing your technique(s).

Your center cleat plan is perfect. I've had extra cleats added when the mfg failed to provide such. For me, Stay with the boat. If you're single handed and you drop the line or fall on your jump and the boat blows away, what's your Plan B ? It's like throwing a life ring without an attached line. If you miss, you can't retrieve it for another throw.
Initially, people will tell you "neutral is your friend" drift into the dock gently. Fine, if there is no wind or current. If there is wind and current, you need every tool, so shift, throttle and wheel coordination have to all function together. Hull shape factors in too. A traditional hull can be moved nearly sideways. Not so much a boat with a deep keel and single engine. A tritoon is like three keels. Great for stability, harder to move sideways.
BTW, backing into a slip (Med style docking), you're usually protected with pilings, etc, but you see many boaters hanging fenders on both sides of the boat before they start. If you want to back in, say at Meredith or Wolfeboro, the key is to back past the desired space and then dock going forward as you normally would. I've said this before: you don't back up a boat. It is much easier to think of it as driving the boat forward, stern first.

In our next episode, we'll talk about How to overcome helpful crew and dock bystanders. "To Taze or not to Taze?"

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by Descant

In our next episode, we'll talk about How to overcome helpful crew and dock bystanders. "To Taze or not to Taze?"

PLEASE give adequate notice before this episode !!!

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by Descant

In our next episode, we'll talk about How to overcome helpful crew and dock bystanders. "To Taze or not to Taze?"

Ha, I cant wait to see that episode ;-)