23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

[Fordiesel69]

I noticed all the 23' + boats I looked at have very hard access to the bow. What is the method of docking and tieing up? I find it necessary on my small boat to quickly walk up there and grab a line, or a dock pole, etc....

 

[Begester]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

Make sure the person on the front of the boat doesnt fall in the water! That happened to me 2 weeks ago. Kind of a funny situation but could easily turn south if someone gets pinched between the boat and the dock. What we do on my 24 foot Sundancer is to nose in slightly and slowly, have someone either jump off or grab the dock with a pole (iboats sells them, their called "telescoping boat hooks") and then toss them the rope from the back. This is the best way that I know of to get into a tight spot when you've got a larger boat, and in my case, a rail that goes around the bow.

Hope this helps.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

along sides. There are a lot of things done differently when you move up in size, such as this, or using the motor more to position yourself than grabbing a pole and pulling yourself in.

 

[hubbard53]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

i have an open bow so it is easy to move up to grab if necessary. However, if I am by myself in chop it isnt so easy - that's when i get the handy telescoping boat hook out and grab a cleat or piling or whatever's handy and not going to fall off the dock

 

[QC]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

Boat hooks can do so many things, like handing a helpful stranger on the dock a line

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

most well designed boats have room to walk around on the gunnels, along with a walk through windshield. Even with non-slip gel coat walking down the bow should only be done in the best conditions, nothing to grab on to. I prefer to walk the side, my boat gives decent room and plenty of hand rails for this.

 

[Philster]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

I don't dock alone when their are no rub rails on the docks.

When I have a helper, they step over the glass and onto the closed bow. I'd still say 90% of the control and the reason there is no damage or banging is proper use of approach, throttle and steering.

If there is an actual finger dock (versus four pilings) with any sort of rub protection, it's no big deal.

Still, if you have a helper and have no protection on the dock, there is still a 50/50 chance you are gonna scrape the gel/paint/whatever.

 

[rbh]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

Docking our boat is much like parellel parking a car, nose in to the spot you want (make sure you are going to fit first) at 22* approx, take into account wind and current.
Remember come in slowly, you don't have brakes so bump in and out of gear.
When you are 3-5 +- feet away from the dock, cut the wheel over and put in reverse and pull your stern in.
It just takes alittle practice.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

My 27' boat was near impossible to safetly and easily pass to the bow. No walk thru in the windshield and no walk around the sides. Basically you were hanging out over the water, or climbing through a hatch.

My slightly larger boat has wide walks along the side, with stainless grab rails within reach until you get to the bow rail. Makes getting up front very easy. So easy I had to stop my GF from climbing up front as we were cruising along at 20 knots.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

It will be a 23-25' sundancer. It has access using a hatch, which by all means is not fast and very difficult to get back down.

 

[onthelake2010]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

For a large boat, put 3 fenders out.
If I'm heading into the wind, I approach on an angle and let the wind do the work. Just before your bow fender touches the dock, put her in reverse and suck the stern in and cut power before the stern fender touches. The wind will do the rest.
Once I cut power, I walk onto the dock and grab my lines that I prepared before approach with the fenders.

Unless its really windy, the boat will stay put long enough for you to grab lines and tie off.

I have yet to use a hook to grab a dock.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

24' boat. Once you get good at docking, you never have to go out on the bow. Like a couple others have said, angle at a 45 or so into the dock and when you get close do a final hard turn a way from the dock and then neutral and hard turn the opposite way and reverse the stern into the dock. Once you are there, you can now jump onto the dock from the stern and tie the boat up. First sign of a novice boater is someone standing on the front of the bow going into the dock.

 

[rbh]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

It will be a 23-25' sundancer. It has access using a hatch, which by all means is not fast and very difficult to get back down.

Those hatches are not that big!
On our 270 sundancer there is a 6 inch "walkway????"
hang on good.

 

[J. Howard]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

My boat allows me to climb up onto the bow through the windshield. You can see it open here:

So if I need to get onto the bow, that's the way that I go. Sometimes my wife will climb up there and help out with certain things. To be honest, though, I don't like having her up there when I'm docking because she could fall off and get caught between the dock and the boat. I prefer to pull up to the dock and have someone jump on from the stern of the boat and then throw them a line, etc. As stated, boat hooks are good friends too.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

Let me explain: The junky dock I will be getting has two cleats for the back of the boat, and two poles out in the water. Getting to the bow is 100% needed to tie up. Learning to back in is not a problem. It only took 5 times for me to do it perfect on my 20'. I do see a small walkway now that you mention but it is so small I think I will have to take a gymnastics class to learn how to balance on it!!!!!!!!

 

[onthelake2010]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

Ya, that changes a few things. your in a stall.
The marina that I winter at is the same way. If I'm backing in, I put a long rope that is tied to the bow cleat and tied to the stern cleat on the side I want to control. Usually from the STB side.
Once I back in I have the rope in my hand and as I pass the pole, I throw the line over it. Now the boat can't get away and I can focus on backing up and the bow can be controlled by pulling on the line or just leave it until your stern is in as far as you want to go.

Tie off the stern then you can adjust the bow line.

Again, I use any wind to help me get in, so knowing the direction is important.

Hope this helps. I'm sure others that have stalls have strategies you can use or try.

 

[ewenm]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

32 foot twin engines. we never go on the bow to dock

our routine is , fenders out, wife on swim platform, we come side on to dock, wife steps on to dock and ties off the stern, then goes to the bow, if wind and tide are against us, i put the dock side motor in reverse and the off side motor in forward and the bow swings back in to the dock wife holds it steady while i kill the motors and then help her tie up

we always park nose in

i can actually do this on my own but it is a little scary

as for a 22 / 23 footer that is a snack

 

[onthelake2010]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

Twin screws. Much easier to control your boat. If it wasn't for the cost of maintaining two engines and drive, I think I would take the leap

 

[capt sam]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

along sides. There are a lot of things done differently when you move up in size, such as this, or using the motor more to position yourself than grabbing a pole and pulling yourself in.

exactly, learn how to dock a boat.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: 23' an up boats, how do you get on the bow, to dock up?

Twin screws. Much easier to control your boat. If it wasn't for the cost of maintaining two engines and drive, I think I would take the leap

It really doesn't cost that much more.
I like knowing that I can always get home on one engine if needed to.