A slip question

[MH Hawker]

I an doing some work on my slip this year, And have been thinking on adding some thing to the front to absorb a bit of the shock when it bumps in the front. Most times I throw it into reverse just before it hits but some times it bumps. Been thinking on cutting down some old tires and nailing that in. Just wondering what others used.

 

[cwarends]

Re: A slip question

In a couple of weeks I will be installing Dock Harbor (Company Name) Cushions. For entry into the slip I will be mounting 90 degree cushions that are 2 feet long on each leg, 11 inches high and 4.5 inches deep. If you hit them they have some give to protect your pontoon. They make a good fulcrum point to pivot your boat around if you only get part way in the slip. The center of the cushion will be mounted at an elevation even with the rub rail on my pontoon. On the inside walls of the slip I will be mounting straight Harbor cushions again at the elevation of the rub rail. These are 4 feet long by 11 inch high by 4.5 deep. The straight ones will protect against some of the structure linkage from my lift as I pull in so that I don't hit the toons at about water level. The cushions are about $65 each and I will have additional 2x2 galvanized tubing welded to my floating dock to provide mounting points for the cushions.

 

[dls322]

Re: A slip question

Old fire hose works great. I have our docks lined with it. It's very durable and it protects the boats nicely. I volunteer at our local firehouse so i have access to the worn and damaged stuff. Maybe contact your local FD or keep and eye open for some.

 

[sasto]

Re: A slip question

I wish I could draw a picture. Do you have a cleat or piling at the bow? Do you have cleats or pilings amidship or somewhat forward? If so, I have seen some boaters run a dockline in the form of a "V". This "V" will keep your bow from moving forward or side to side..........................................Good Luck!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: A slip question

I am in a standard 2 boat well, with a cat walk on one side. With dock cleats front and rear. Holding the boat tied off is no problem, I have two fixed dock lines with D rings on the boat and heavy duty snap on clips on the dock, and 3 fenders on each side. Up front right now is just two 24 inch wide wood blocks where the toons can hit the dock when I am coming in, once its tied off its fine. I was thinking on adding some thing up front on the wood blocks to sake up a bit of the shock when I am bring the boat back in the slip. I normally put it in reverse and stop before it touches but ever now and then if the wind is up I will bump the dock. Its nothing bad just a gentle bump, but I hate bumping my boat ever the slightest bit, so I was thinking of cutting a old tire down and adding that to the wood blocks to make a bumper, I had trough of getting two fenders and mounting then cross ways but have my doubts about them standing the impact. I don't have detailed pictures of the slip but this is how it is.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: A slip question

Obviously you need a holtzman field generator, to keep your boat from colliding with the dock.

Holtzman effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If youare a fanatical follower of the Dune series by Frank Herbert, you already know all about this.

(Of COURSE I have one of these on my boat!)

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: A slip question

We leave 4 dock buoys tied to the dock. I pull in perpendicular to the slip, cut power and use a boat hook to pull the boat into the slip. I have a wheel at the end of the dock (********) to pivot the 'toon into the slip. I tie it off about a foot short of the front of the slip so it won't contact. Worked well for the ski boat we had before.

 

[Outsider]

Re: A slip question

Never approach a solid object at a speed greater than you're willing to hit said solid object ...

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: A slip question

Never approach a solid object at a speed greater than you're willing to hit said solid object ...

True words of wisdom!! How many times have we seen someone coming onto a trailer hot, popping it into reverse to slow down and the motor stalls!!!! I've got a great picture of a ski boat in the bed of a truck from that maneuver.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: A slip question

Honestly, we bring the boat CLOSE to the dock, and the Admiral steps off, and finishes the docking manouver by hand. We do the same thing putting her on the trailer. She steps off with dock line in hand, and pulls her into position. It's proven very effective.

 

[smclear]

Re: A slip question

Old tires will work fine and probably be your cheapest fix. We used to use old tires 40+ years ago. Only problem is they just don't look that good. Here's a fix that will work.

http://www.bartswatersports.com/cat..._Pro™_Heavy_Duty_Vinyl_Dock_Bumpers/index.asp

But really, it's a wood dock and as long as you're not coming in too fast, you're not likely to cause any damage. I wouldn't worry about it. Or use an "after bow spring line". Have a fixed length line attached to a cleat on the dock(towards the end of the finger). As you pull into the slip, grab the line and place it on the bow cleat.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: A slip question

I will most likely use some old tires, I may very gently bump the dock once out of every 20 times I come in and 99 % Its just me on the boat. I am out 2 to 5 times a week fishing. I have looked at a lot of the dock gear that's around and it hasn't impressed me at all.

It dosnt do any damage at all I just don't like to bump it any.

 

[mjc3834merc]

Re: A slip question

I have a trolling motor on the front of my toon. I also have a steel pipe right in the center of my asigned slip. Most of the time it's not a problem but we do get a bit of wind once in a while. I have come in a little hot and bumped the front of the pontoon on the pipe. not enough to damage anything but now that I have the motor hanging off the front I'd rather not take the chance of damaging it on that pipe. My rope setup stops the pontoon just before it (the motor) hits the pipe. Also keeps the wind from blowing the boat into the dock at night.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: A slip question

That looks like a fixed height dock, and I would be adding some sort of padding to that pipe, or build some sort of a stand off device. Mine is a floating dock and has winch anchor lines, but the lines are on the sides by the cat walk and dont get in the way and people put the noodle things on them for padding and to keep the rust stains off their boats.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: A slip question

My boathouse is set on eight 4" steel pipes driven 4' thru rocks and dirt to bedrock. When I come in too fast, the dock goes nowhere. I'll sometimes hit it pretty hard and passengers standing will get a surprise.

Go for the tires. They'll give you more cushion than anything else. They'll work good.

 

[mr geets]

Re: A slip question

I would get those "genital bumps" examined :chuncky::biggrin-new:

 

[mjc3834merc]

Re: A slip question

Noticed that. Nothing worse than a little "genital" bump when you're not expecting it:lol:

 

[junkman41]

Re: A slip question

let us know what you came up with. for your slip

 

[dls322]

Re: A slip question

I still say old fire hose run around the edge of the dock works well. We have had it for years is much nicer than directly contacting the wood.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: A slip question

Seriously, this just occurred to me.

If you have one of those "bungee" type dock lines, you could attach it to the FRONT cleat on the boat, and have a pole sticking up from your dock, as far back as necessary to have the bungee action stop your boat before you hit in front.

Make sure you have a big loop in the dock end of the bungee, that you can drop over the pole as you pass it. It will stop you gently.