Ins and Outs of Docking Along the Way

Saturday, November 29th: St. Augustine

I've done a lot of complaining about docking against pilings so I thought I should set the record straight. The first time we encountered pilings along a dock was at Sandy Hook NY. We wanted to top up the diesel before dropping anchor so we went over to a gas dock beside the marina there. As we approached, we saw a figure walk away (it was dusk) but we weren't sure whether someone else was in the hut that stood on the dock so we proceeded to get lines and fenders ready, hanging the fenders vertically as we always do. We had a big question mark in our heads as to how we would secure the boat - but we continued moving in. The wind was pushing us against the dock - not necessarily a bad thing - but with the current pushing as well, the boat began to grind against the pilings with the fenders rolling along and not providing much cushion. I tried to fend off but with so much push on the boat, I couldn't begin to hold the boat off. We sat for a moment pinned against the dock while I used the binoculars to read the sign on the hut door - they closed at 4:30 - it was just minutes after. The quick moving figure that we had seen was the dock attendant making his get away. As we backed away, one of the fenders got caught on a piling, pulling hard and stretching the tied line until the fender eventually popped free. The clove hitch that I had used to tie the fender, normally a knot that is easy to loosen, had pulled so tight that Bob had to work pry it free - I wasn't strong enough for that either. Once at anchor, we checked out the the teak rail and found scrapes and gouges all along the boat's midline.

By the time we docked again against pilings at the gas dock in Cape May, Bob had figured out that we should pull the line through the fender until the fender hung in the middle and could be tied at each end to hang horizontally across the side of the boat. By tying two or three fenders in a row with adjacent lines overlapped so that the fenders sat close together, we had much better protection. That day, we again had current and winds pushing us into the dock but this time the wind was blowing hard and that presented additional problems. We had help at the dock this time - which was good because we were docking behind the Woolseys and I wouldn't have wanted to be responsible for winding a line around a piling in time to keep our boat from being driven into their boat! Backing out of that spot was a feat in itself with Bob and John stategizing about which line to leave attached (with me holding the other end to pull it back) while Bob used the engine. As it was, after we were clear of the dock, Bob glanced behind him to see another dock running directly across our stern. Fortunately, Sea Change turns well even when backing up and Bob was able to rev up the engine and turn quickly to avoid a hit.

Those were our two worst experiences and they were due in part to adverse conditions, no help at all at the first docking, strong winds and current at the second, and in both cases to some extent, our own lack of experience (particularly at Sandy Hook). From then on, we approached such docks with trepidation, but we were better prepared and there was always an attendant there to help. We had no major problems after that.

The last of the funny little docks with 2 pilings at the stern and 2 pilings for the bow tie up was at the town of Oriental in North Carolina. After that and following a string of 5 nights at anchor, we docked at Charleston at a "conventional" (what we are used to) finger dock with cleats. From then on the docks had cleats and the marinas sent dock attendants to assist.

As we moved into Georgia where the currents are particularly strong due to great tidal differences (as much as 8 feet), docks at most marinas along the waterway were parallel to the river to enable boats to dock going into the current. Docking at right angles to current is very difficult. We typically phoned before going into the gas dock (as most people seem to do) and then we were given suggestions as to whether to approach the dock on our starboard or port side. We have found in all cases, that the dock attendants were very good at handling the lines and also at coaching us on the best way to get away from the dock. Sometimes, instead of backing out as Bob would be prone to do, the dock attendant suggested that we go out bow first. He would hold our stern line around a dock cleat while Bob put the boat into forward to push the bow away from the dock, then the attendant would throw the line aboard and give push the boat away from the dock with the idea being that once out the current caught the bow, Bob could "gun" it to get us well away. Whew, I say!

At marinas south of Oriental, there has almost always been someone to catch a line, docks are long, or if not long, they're long enough and there are plenty of well placed cleats so that I can get off and put a line around one to pull the boat in at the stern and stop it (if need be). Experience counts for a lot and the bad experiences have been valuable teachers. We certainly feel more "in the know" on this part of our trip.

We've just arrived at St. Augustine. There were no worries today about lines, fenders, docks or winds - we anchored. - and we're probably over confident since we haven't dragged at anchor ---- yet!