| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| bobalong |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 07:43:49
While I'm on the subject of slip etiquette. (earlier thread on slip helpers) We have a 40' C Craft cruiser. No flybridge, just a roomy cockpit, it's our outdoor boat patio.
I am really tempted to turn the boat around in it's slip and face our patio (cockpit) toward the water. That's where the best view is. I can also play my stereo with less concern for disturbing others. I really don't have a need to see everyone walking down the dock. And the view of the houseboat foredeck & lawn chairs across from us is what it is. When I have a need to be social I can grab my cocktail and take a stroll. Or come see me if you want to visit. Drinks are free :) |
| 22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| bobalong |
Posted - Jul 23 2012 : 10:41:04
Update. . . .last Tuesday we flipped the boat around in the slip, as near as I can tell we're the only cruiser facing bow in. (few hundred boats at Ky Dam Marina) What a difference !! We enjoyed a breeze we've never had before. With stern IN, the air goes across the top of the windshield and over the cockpit. And the view is of the marina, sky, just a phenominal change. Before, we were looking at the houseboat lawn chairs across from us for our view. We also have some privacy (awsome to enjoy coffee with a view in the morning). Friday night we had six in the cockpit till late, or early depending on your time frame. I can also play my stereo at a low level and not disturb neighbors. I recommend that if you want a little privacy, be a rebel and give it a shot. |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 21:35:15
Tony great point about tinted windows. I had my car guy do 5% Limo tint. He did a fantastic job. Uses nothing but the best 3M products. I have a car he did 12 years ago that still looks as good as the day he installed the tint. The boat was fairly easy the glass and Lexan windows and double sliding door can not be seen into during the day. However at night with the LED lights on you can see in. We use our custom accordian blinds for the windows and the paded curtain on the rear slider. When it gets real hot we end up having to use the blinds and curtain to keep the heat out. We crack the hatches to keep fresh air flowing. I am thinking about adding a custom exhaust vent above the steps in the doorway. It is the highest point in the boat and right at the rear double glass slider. I think it is at least 15 to 20 degrees warmer up there when standing on the stairs tp work the main breaker panel or to exit to the rear cockpit. I have to remove and re-install the passsenger seat in the bridge for the outside portion of the vent system. I'm thinking of using Qty (4) 4" high volume quiet computer type cooling fans mounted on the interior grill. I need to figure out a way to have a slider fabricated for under the passenger helm seat and build a small fiberglass liner between the helm mold and the interior fiberglass mold. It will require an insect screen. This might be a big undertaking but I think it would really help the salon air conditioner and moving fresh air throughout the entire boat. I guess anyone reading this can tell that my wife and I must be spending too much time on the boat for this type of project! Andy funny you mentioned the comedy of watching the dock neighbors, so true we always have the dock camera on one of the MFDs or monitors in the salon. Where and how we dock only our port side has boat's in the fingers on the other side of the main dock. Since we are parallel to the main dock we have 3 large wheel type bumpers bolted through the dock so we don't need to deal with fenders when docking or even during major storms.
Bill |
| walterv |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 20:49:49
Hey
Whatever works is good. Where I boat I never saw a boat bow in. If bow in is better for you and you can get on and off the boat easily, why not? |
| robedney |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 17:43:25
Many years ago I lived aboard in Sausalito (lots of tourists). Bow in was pretty standard, as most of the marinas had no gates and boat lovers from all over the planet would roam the docks looking at anything that floated. The only downside was that occasionally I'd hear a knocking on my bow and I'd assume it was a friend from the harbor. Instead it was often a group of tourists. There weren't actually knocking. They were trying to figure out if my hull was well cared for wood or fiberglass. |
| stmbtwle |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 08:13:19
Heck my boat is so slow it looks like it's going backwards anyway. |
| Audrey II |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 07:25:41
In my last marina I always docked bow in for the great view of the river in my current marina I stern in for the best view and we enjoy the interaction with our neighbors. |
| Woodsong |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 23:02:50
We always parked the trawler bow in A) b/c it is a single screw and much easier that way, B) access was easiest that way, C) allowed us to sit up on the bridge and have privacy and look out at the water instead of at the roof and the dock.
On our bayliner we have been parking stern in bc it makes access much easier. Plus our windows are so tinted no one can see us sitting in there anyway except at night if we have bright lights on. :) But, with the dog, etc. it is much easier to park the pilothouse stern in first.
I am with the others though- I'd park whichever way afforded me the best view!
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| KiDa |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 22:52:42
I had alway heard stern to was a welcome aboard sign and bow in was an I want privacy sign. |
| Radioactive |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 17:26:35
Sometimes, bow in is a good plan. At the local dry stack the limited number of slips shoaled rapidly as you got near the bulkhead. While many docked stern in for ease of loading, other more observant boaters docked bow in, so that they would not bury the lower unit at low tide. In "deep" water marinas, this might not be an issue
This also occurred at the marina at Port Eads. Those big sport fisherman types who docked stern in burned a lot of impellers as they dredged their slip. |
| caltexfla |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 17:16:44
Pascal reminded me of another big reason we like bow-in: we tie the Whaler off to the swim platform and have always used it a lot to explore the surrounding area wherever we are. |
| Perry |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 12:19:49
so, is that anchoring or docking...lol |
| abalmuth |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 10:41:30
We stern in for a couple of reasons, the dock fingers are 45’, the boat 50’, with 2 dogs its easiest to board via the platform then dealing with steps etc.
From our slip the only people traffic is from 7 boats, most of them very nice and the rest just plane funny. So sitting in the cockpit is like watching live TV.
We spend a lot of time on the bridge where the view 360 degrees and any dock traffic is mostly out of site
There is a 48’ Searay sedan on our dock that bows in because he uses his dink that’s mounted on the platform a lot. He does lower his anchor and leaves it on the dock tied to a cleat.
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| PascalG |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 10:06:33
I sterned in for years but have been bow in for 3 years or so. A little harder to board as the finger is too short. I had to move the Marquipt stairs 12' forwrd which causes issues due to the sheer (doesn't reach low enough at high tide)
But being how in gives us nicer city view, more breeze, more shade in the afternoon, more privacy and most importantly allows us to tie the cat boat to the swim platform coming in and out under sail
One thing to consider before bowing in is how exposed the slip is. |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 09:46:30
quote:
Originally posted by Golfman25
I go bow in. Several reasons. Afternoon shade. Better view. I go to the boat to get away -- Don't really want to socialize with every tom, dick and harry. Easier to fish off the back. So I say go ahead and turn around. Good luck.
We used to keep to ourselves, but the last 2 years we have met many nice people at the marina. I have privilages many don't but as I have mentioned my boat is used as a sales demo for the marina repower division and electronic systems I help install. We always get advance notice if the marina wants to bring someone aboard and we can say no. My docking arrangement is pretty nice other then it's real tight swinging the boat 180 degrees to be parallel to the dock with the port side of the boat. I can use 25' shore cords and water line pointed either way if the starboard is against the dock (rarely) my AC and water lines are could be shorter.
Bill |
| Golfman25 |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 09:34:43
I go bow in. Several reasons. Afternoon shade. Better view. I go to the boat to get away -- Don't really want to socialize with every tom, dick and harry. Easier to fish off the back. So I say go ahead and turn around. Good luck. |
| rommer |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 08:50:05
Lets see, I can look out my door, sit in my cockpit and look at the NYC skyline or stare at the dock and count the people that walk by????? Luckily our boat works either way so we currently choose bow in. I think I'm 1 of only 2 boats on our dock that makes this choice but it works for us. I could care less what others think about it too. |
| rawidman |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 08:34:50
If your marina has no rules or policy on which way boats must dock, dock it whichever way you want to. Don't let anything overhang the dock where it might be a danger to people walking on the dock.
All the people who lease slips at my marina dock stern to. It's not a rule, it's just how they do it.
Dry stack customers who take a slip for the day or weekend dock either way, based on their boat handling experience. Some dock sideways!  |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 08:23:17
Make sure your power cords and water lines will reach without exceeding 50 feet. At our marina as long as your bow pulpit/ anchor are not hanging over the floating docks you are allowed either bow in or stern in. I have the best spot in the marina I am parallel to the main dock on the right side there is only one other boat docked like me about 40 feet behind me. The starboard side and cockpit views are great. The camera high on the salons exterior wall allows me to keep tabs on the boats cockpit and the main dock behind us.
I would say ask the marina manager 1st if he approves do it.
Bill |
| manticore999 |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 08:22:32
At our marina about 99% of boats are bow-in for exactly the reasons you mentioned. Who wants to see everyone walking down the docks, not to mention the fact that everyone walking down the docks has a great view into your boat too? I can't imagine wanting to be stern in. |
| caltexfla |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 08:17:19
I am the only bow-in boat on my dock, we go bow in when we are cruising 99% of the time. The 1% is when no finger piers. For one thing, our boat's utility hook ups are designed to feed off the sides or off the bow, For another, we prefer the view from the aft deck to the water, and having the quiet and privacy in our aft master stateroom. |
| Maxwell |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 08:16:33
Even though I prefer to dock stern to, at our home marina we generally bow in due to the fact that our slip goes east/west and I'd rather have the afternoon sun/sunset on the stern/cockpit area. I have permanent power cables attached to the dock that make this easier. Currently I am on a 5 week trip where I'll be visiting numerous marinas and will be sterning in wherever I go due to the ease of sterning in while single handing, the social aspect (I'm running alone most of the time and its easier to meet other boaters)as well as the fact that I don't feel like dragging the entire 50amp power cable every time I want to leave the slip.
max |
| BoatCrazy |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 08:05:10
As long as you can get onto the boat with out trouble, I say why not. I know some marinas frown upon bow in, and others require bow in or stern in only. I know the bow pulpit could be a "safety" issue if it over hangs the dock...
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