Donald Dryer's Page

geez, can be scary! Last year I was sitting in the cockpit of a boat I was going to crew on and the boat behind us was backing out of slip. A big beauty of a sailboat with about 4 guys on. So, being relatively new at all this docking stuff I'm always watching others to see what I can learn.......Anyways.. they leave a long stern line still connected to the boat loose on the dock....Two guys are looking at it... I'm looking at it too, thinking.i'd be grabbing that quick and getting it on boat..they say nothing to skipper who's still backing out..and leaving.. line end (knot) gets stuck between two pieces of wood at end of dock.boat still leaving, guys still looking. line gets real taut, boat still going..big snap, wood goes flying about 30 feet..boat stops quick and starts to swing into stern of another... then they tell the skipper..what was happening..geez..lol

Might get one myself..just in case. So far I've been lucky in stopping 2/3 of the way in, but one never knows. And since two GUYS (lol) have them...won't be able to accuse me of being a newbie/girly girl.. rofl. Of course I hear the guy behind me bounces off anything/everything everytime..i'm nervous about my tilted o/b sticking out now. geesh..always something. good luck!

Took my boat to new marina yesterday and low & behold.. I saw them... bow catchers..!!! Two singlehanders of sailboats near me have something similar to what you spoke about. One uses those "water noodles" you get for kids for the pool..long foam with a hole thru center, with a length of line thru it..spread across slip & secured to dock midships cleats...after boat comes in he disconnects in (stops boat about 2/3 way in) and puts on side of one finger. Other does same with lines, no floatie noodle.. think the noodle is a good idea.

I haven't ever seen the V sling you speak of. If singlehanding I'd want something where the bow of the boat might bump against if you come in too hot. They do have those rubber bumpers you attach all the way around to the dock edges, but really isn't enuf if u need to "bounce"..lol. Look for a couple of used huge fenders maybe and run a line thru horizontally along dock. One option is to run a line from the cleats on dock fore n aft and use boat hook on your way in instead of jumping off if needed and wrap it on boat cleat midships after stopping the boat. Also would see which way the prevailing wind usually is...I found out where I am it's better to lie N to S instead of E to W.

Ahhh... if you've sailed small boats you're good to go then! Alot harder and less forgiving they are. Just make sure you have extra "floaties" for the Bristol :-) Wishing I bought a bigger boat now that I sorta know what I'm doing :-)

So now tell me how you came to buy a pretty big sailboat not knowing how to sail? I've met quite a few here that have done just that. Maybe should start a group..very brave in my opinion...or...... :-)

Nice looking boat u have there. Funny I was looking at Bristols before I bought the Catalina. Yes, she sails nice but for long distances & offshore..would prefer a Bristol. I learned to sail out of Rowe's Wharf in Boston. Agree on the sailing grounds up here, in my opinion the best in the world. I keep my boat in Rhode Island and sail Greenwich Bay & Narragansett Sound. What part of Boston did you live in?