[goforitnow]

Hi all, hope you can offer a tip. I am trying to back into a mooring between two boats in a marina in Greece. I struggle a little as I am new at this in fact I am new to driving a boat.. It is a lazy line technique.

I have a 60 footer twin screw with bow thruster.

My problem is when the wind gets up... Should I be gently teasing her astern or commit and give here some beans astern to get in quick before the wind gets me?

Just looking for tips really.

Thanks for any help.

Cheers

[AMG]

Driving slow will give you a cheaper damage report.. Especially if you are not used to the boat. Keeping big balloon fenders in the aft corners is also an insurance. With a bow thruster it should not create a problem and if you practise a little outside the port so you know how she behaves in different angles and wind directions you will feel safer.

What I do is to go down a little and back up towards the wind with the transom pointing to the gap and then use the bow thruster to get a straight line in. Then you don´t "lose" the bow in a gust. Try it outside and see if you like it.

I made an illustration, a little exaggerated, and with some practise you can do this without a bow thruster too as you will get the bow in a natural "swing"...

[K1W1]

Hi,

AMG has given you good advice but I would like to add a few things.

If you can lay an anchor to the windward side as you turn to back in, this will allow you to hold the head up in event of a bow thruster in capacity or failure, it will also allow you to pull the whole boat to windward if you hold the chain and continue to reverse - just make sure the windlass attendant can hear you when you ask to slack the chain. Holding it tight all the way can result in as much damage to yourself and others as not using it in the first place.

Giving it heaps of beans is a risky way even for experienced operators.

[NYCAP123]

First, Why in the world is a person at your experience level even trying that maneuver? See if the marina can get a captain to you.
Second, Shoot a line from your upwind quarter to a crewmember or dockhand on the upwind boat at least and the downwind if possible so they can help control your stern. Follow up with ones at mid-ship.
Other than that the previous advice is spot on. Good luck. Oh yeah, plenty of fenders and have the about to be met boats get crew out with some also.

[Pascal]

one little detail to keep in mind (since you're new at this:-) ) is that electric thrusters can only be used for a certain amount of time before the thermal protection kicks in and the **** thing decides it needs to rest.

how long? depends... usually as long as an overweight smoker can run :-)

you didnt' say if your boat has hydraulic or electric thruste but at 60' chances are it's electric. Just something to consider.

in any maneuver, it helps to use the wind, not fight it so when med mooring with a cross wind, aim up wind a little so that the wind pushes you back in line.

also, your rudders can help. if you're backing in with the wind coming on your starboard side, turn the helm hard over to port. As you back in, because of the slow speed the rudders will not have any effect but if you need to kick the stern back upwind to starboard, a short impulse in forward gear will send the propwash agaisnt the rudders and help slide the stern to starboard.

obviously, dont forget where your rudders are pointing...

[junglejim]

Great stuff there, thanks guys. I will try out the various techniques. An anchor is not permitted however.

A person of my experience is doing this as we all have to start somewhere eh?

Thanks again for all the help.

[nilo]

Originally Posted by junglejim

Great stuff there, thanks guys. I will try out the various techniques. An anchor is not permitted however.

A person of my experience is doing this as we all have to start somewhere eh?

Thanks again for all the help.

Noted that you are not allowed to anchor at this specific marina, but do they give you a bow line from their service boat? In this case, if you are always using the same berth all the time, I suggest you mark the line. Once you have the line onboard and fixed, then you can back up and the line will somehow act as a break.

There will be several cases where you would need to drop an anchor. In these cases, most probably you will not be able to perform as Lars has described, because you would need to lay your anchor in a strait line, not to get it mixed with other anchors. Then drop you anchor and release enough chain to hit the bottom. While you are backing up, slowly release chain, more or less at your speed backwards. You can use the tension on the chain as a break and furthermore, as you pull your anchor will dig in better.

I have to admit, berthing alongside for me was just as difficult, once you are used to berthing like this, it is very easy to get the boat in between the others and let it slowly glide to its position.