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Ahoy John,
<p>The secret to manoeuvring my A-30 out of any slip is the midships breast
line and my ability to temporarily lash my helm in any position.
First the tiller - I have installed a simple tiller clamping device near
the base of the top of my tiller. Second, I have rigged a short 5/8"
line on SS hooks athwartships between two eye straps on the outside of
the opposite sides of the aft cockpit lockers - 6-8" inches forward of
the bulkhead that carries the traveller and down about 2" from the locker
seat level. This allows me to quickly lash the helm in any position.
<p>The midships cleat and breast line is critical. I adjust my other
mooring lines so that my midships breast line is taken up as short as is
absolutely possible. Two large fenders 2-3' fore and aft of that
breastline ensure the boat will not go anywhere - even with all other lines
cast off. When slipping my dock, I lash my helm in the direction
I want to go, put the engine in slow astern and cast off all lines except
my bow line. Off the boat, I then cast off the bow line - the boat
is controllable via the shrouds. A short tug on the boat against
the reverse pressure of the screw, while directing the stern in the desired
direction, allows me to cast off the breastline. I hop aboard and
unlash the helm and am off.
<p>I singlehand 95% of the time and this works extremely well. In
heavy cross winds that tend to blow the bow off the dock before I can cast
off the breastline, I have another neat arrangement that sounds difficult
to explain but is fairly simple.
<p>I have run a 20 foot, or so, 5/16" line along the vertical face of my
dock between two pad eyes. Running along it is a cheap block that
remains on that 20' line "track". From that block a short 2 1/2 to
3' long 1/4" line runs to a 2" section of black 2" diameter PVC pipe.
In that section, I've drilled a small hole to accommodate the knotted end
of that 2 1/2 to 3' line from the block. Opposite the hole, I've
cut the 2" section of 2" PVC pipe longitudinally, allowing me to snap it
around my forward-most stanchion at its base. This arrangement keeps
my bow parallel to (or "tied-to") the dock, even as as I start to move
astern. When the bow passes the outboard end of the track, the block
slams against the pad eye and jerks the PVC pipe and line off the stanchion.
By that time, I am well underway to swinging into the fairway at my club.
<p>A mentioned, it's easier to rig than to explain. Would that this
"third hand" were there when docking, but unfortunately it only works when
slipping one's mooring!
<p>Cast off the lashed helm, adjust helm and throttle and "Bob's-your-uncle."
<p>Let me know if it works for you.
<p>Cheers
<p>Jack Vanderloo
<br>ALDABI
<br>KC 641
<p>John Bailey wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE> <font face="Century Schoolbook"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>A
couple of questions. First, I have a new boat slip I have more boats
around. My other slip was on the outside of the marina and I never
had any trouble maneuvering because I had so much room. Now I have
to be careful. My question is how do you back an Alberg 30.
I don't seem to have any control as to which way it goes. I just
go whichever way the boat goes until I can put it in forward. Going
in circles is a little embarrassing. Is there a secret to this.</font></font></font> <font face="Century Schoolbook"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Second
question, which I hope is not connected to the first, is about the rudder
post or the cap that fits the rudder to the tiller arm. There is
a lot of play. I've shimmed it up and that seems to work a bit.
There are two holes in the cap that face forward. It occurred to
me today that they look like holes that might have set screws to tighten
the fitting over the rudder post. There are no screws in the holes
- there never has been. Could this be part of my problem. If
so, I would think this could be a dangerous situation.</font></font></font> <font face="Century Schoolbook"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>John
Bailey</font></font></font><font face="Century Schoolbook"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>"Zevulun"
#33</font></font></font></blockquote>
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