I have an issue which may be a bit unusual, but probably affects a lot of boaters who moor their boats in slips. I have a Carver 404 CMY and I moor in a slip at Conley Bottom, Lake Cumberland. I had an issue arise today which rather caught me by surprise. While trying to back in, my starboard engine died. As I was at idle on both motors and sitting high on the flybridge, I did not realize this as I can't hear them from there. I would have noticed, of course, had I glanced at the rpm gauge, but I had all my attention on trying to get the boat in the slip, and what with all the memorial day traffic on the lake, that was no easy task as the water wasn't the calmest. So, as I am backing in slowly, my starboard engine dies, I don't realize it, and the boat starts going sideways. Thinking I still have power to both engines, I am trying to correct and straighten up, but, of course, everything I do is just making the situation worse, the end result being that I ended up against the adjoining dock. I finally realized what was going on and, fortunately, got the starboard engine running and got the boat in with a bit of help from my dock neighbors.
However, that isn't really my concern. (Of course, I hope I don't lose power in one of my engines again when I am trying to dock since my slip is is sort of tight quarters and, as you know, with twin inboards, you have no control whatsoever at idle speed with just one prop). No, my main issue is with the slip itself. The way that it is constructed, it has about a 6" freeboard on each corner, and around the inside perimeter of the slip, with about 10"-12" to the waterline. I have 17" wheels on the corners to help protect the hull from damage and they are good for that, but, unfortunately, my swim platform rides at such a height that it wants to slip under the edge of the corner under the wheel or anywhere inside the slip. Today, I ended up chipping a bit of gelcoat because, when I lost control due to my engine dying without it e-mailing me first, the swim platform got under the corner of my slip and the wave action caused the damage. This wouldn't have happened if the freeboard had been wider (ie closer to the waterline) or if I had had some sort of corner fender that would extend downward in such a way as to prevent my swim platform from getting under. I can't eliminate the wheels, as I need those, but I was wondering if anyone knows of anything that might work on a corner with a wheel, and maybe elsewhere on the inside of the slip. I've seen other boats use fenders hung over the edge or those dockmate bumpers that come in strips around 40" long. Excellent if your swim platform matches the location of the freeboard, not so effective if your swim platform is lower than the bottom edge. What I am looking for is something that will absolutely prevent my swim platform from sliding under the edge of my slip, either at the corner or anywhere else. That would make life so much easier for me.
If anyone has any ideas, I would sure like to hear them. I suppose I can try to get conley bottom to extend the freeboard down, but if I could get ahold of some sort of manufactured product, it might work better. Thanks for any ideas you'all might have.
However, that isn't really my concern. (Of course, I hope I don't lose power in one of my engines again when I am trying to dock since my slip is is sort of tight quarters and, as you know, with twin inboards, you have no control whatsoever at idle speed with just one prop). No, my main issue is with the slip itself. The way that it is constructed, it has about a 6" freeboard on each corner, and around the inside perimeter of the slip, with about 10"-12" to the waterline. I have 17" wheels on the corners to help protect the hull from damage and they are good for that, but, unfortunately, my swim platform rides at such a height that it wants to slip under the edge of the corner under the wheel or anywhere inside the slip. Today, I ended up chipping a bit of gelcoat because, when I lost control due to my engine dying without it e-mailing me first, the swim platform got under the corner of my slip and the wave action caused the damage. This wouldn't have happened if the freeboard had been wider (ie closer to the waterline) or if I had had some sort of corner fender that would extend downward in such a way as to prevent my swim platform from getting under. I can't eliminate the wheels, as I need those, but I was wondering if anyone knows of anything that might work on a corner with a wheel, and maybe elsewhere on the inside of the slip. I've seen other boats use fenders hung over the edge or those dockmate bumpers that come in strips around 40" long. Excellent if your swim platform matches the location of the freeboard, not so effective if your swim platform is lower than the bottom edge. What I am looking for is something that will absolutely prevent my swim platform from sliding under the edge of my slip, either at the corner or anywhere else. That would make life so much easier for me.
If anyone has any ideas, I would sure like to hear them. I suppose I can try to get conley bottom to extend the freeboard down, but if I could get ahold of some sort of manufactured product, it might work better. Thanks for any ideas you'all might have.
