| Imagine that your small cruising boat lies moored | | | | the engine out of gear just long enough to ease |
| between two million dollar yachts, with only 12" to | | | | tension on the quarter spring line. Remove the spring |
| spare at the bow and stern? You need to undock | | | | from the cleat and pull it aboard fast. As soon as it's |
| your boat in a high, gusty wind blowing onto the | | | | aboard, shift the engine clutch ahead at idle speed to |
| dock. It's your call, skipper! Use the same principals | | | | move out into the channel. |
| for undocking as you would for docking a boat with | | | | * Wind (or current) onto the dock or from astern |
| these secrets from the pros. | | | | 1. Make up a long spring line equal to 1 1/2 times the |
| Determine the stronger element direction | | | | total length of your cruising boat. Attach one end to |
| Decide on which element will be stronger--wind or | | | | a boat cleat between the bow and beam. |
| current. Pick which of these four situations match | | | | 2. Lead the bitter to an aft dock cleat or piling. Loop |
| your situation. Let's say you are tied up in a marina | | | | it around the dock fitting, bring it back to boat, and |
| with a stronger wind than current. Is the wind | | | | cleat it off to the bow spring cleat. |
| blowing... | | | | 3. Start your engine. Assign one person to use a |
| * off the dock? | | | | roving fender at the bow to cushion the boat. Turn |
| * onto the dock? | | | | your wheel toward the dock. Push a sailboat tiller |
| * from ahead of the boat? | | | | away from the dock. Keep the rudder in this position |
| * from astern of the boat? | | | | throughout the maneuver. |
| Based on your answer, follow one of these methods | | | | 4. Cast off all lines except the bow spring line. Shift |
| to undock your boat: | | | | the engine clutch ahead at idle speed. Keep tension |
| * Wind (or current) off the dock or from ahead | | | | on the bow spring. Turn so that you can watch the |
| 1. Make up a long spring line equal to 1 1/2 times the | | | | stern move away from the dock. |
| total length of your cruising boat. Attach one end of | | | | 5. Wait for the stern to clear the vessel astern. Take |
| the spring to a cleat on the quarter (aft corner). | | | | the engine out of gear just long enough to ease |
| 2. Lead the bitter end to a forward marina dock cleat | | | | tension on the bow spring. Remove the spring line |
| or piling. Loop it around the dock fitting, bring it back | | | | from the cleat and pull it aboard fast. As soon as it's |
| to boat, and cleat it off to the quarter cleat. | | | | aboard, clutch the engine astern at idle speed to |
| 3. Start your engine. Assign one person to use a | | | | back clear of the moored yachts and into the |
| roving fender at the stern to protect the boat. Place | | | | channel. |
| your wheel or sailboat tiller amidships (in the center). | | | | Success in undocking or docking a boat depends on |
| 4. Cast off all lines except the forward quarter spring | | | | good preparation, positive boat control, and crystal |
| line. Shift the engine clutch astern at idle speed. Keep | | | | clear communications. Use these tips and you will be |
| tension on the quarter spring and watch the bow | | | | undocking your small cruising boat like a pro in no |
| move away from the dock. | | | | time! |
| 5. Wait for the bow to clear the vessel ahead. Take | | | | |