Catamaran, with its two engines wide apart, one engine on each hull, could maneuver in a tight space and turn pretty much in its own length. This video will demonstrate how I normally handle the cat, dock, undock either on a side dock or in and out of a slip. This marina is quite spacious with no traffic. Just for the the purpose of demonstration, I stay close to the dock to simulate the environment of a crowded marina and narrow fairway. First thing when I dock a cat, I pay attention to the wind direction and current. Due to its large windage and shallow keels, its easy for a cat to lose the bow and being pushed sideway.
First scenario, approach and leave a side dock. Normally I approach the dock bow first. Keep the speed less than 2 knots. I could use the wheel to turn the boat but I don’t have to with twin engines. When the bow about 5 feet away the dock, keep port engine neutral, starboard reverse. This will turn the boat clock wise and stop the momentum at the same time. In this dock, the wind is blowing off the dock and tends to push the boat away. I like to keep the stern closer to the dock in order to get off easier. Tie the stern line, make sure removing the slack especially in a tight side dock. The stern line servers as a spring line, shift both engine idle forward, the bow will comes to the dock. Tie the bow line and spring line to finish docking. One more example of docking a different cat on starboard side. Port engine reverse, starboard neutral. Both engines neutral, after the stern line is tied, put both engines on idle forward, then neutral.
If there are boats both in front and behind your spot, I usually go in stern first similar to parallel parking. Imagine that the boat needs to fit into a space probably only 50% longer its own length and the stern needs to be tied in a specific cleat. I go in stern first with a much bigger angle - could be 50 to 60 degrees, and aiming for the intended cleat. When it gets close enough to the dock, port forward, starboard reverse to rotate the boat, get off boat, tie the stern line, shift engine to neutral or idle forward. Tie the bow line, then spring line. Leave a side dock is standard pivoting the bow or stern out. Even with cross wind blowing towards the dock, the twin engines could pivot the boat to a safe angle without moving the boat forward or reverse. Make sure using lots of fenders to protect the pivot point. In a very tight space or windy condition, use stern line or bow line as spring line to safely pivoting the boat. Remove this line last only when the boat can safely move out.
Second scenario is to dock in a slip. Catamaran is easier to dock stern first. Even in a narrow fairway, a cat can make standing turn pretty much in its own length. I stay close to the dock to simulate a narrow fairway. It’s important to know the direction of wind and current. Due to its large windage and shallow keels, a cat will be easily pushed sideway. In this marina, the current pushes the boat towards starboard after the cat is aligned with the slip. Since I approach the slip from the port side, I stop the forward momentum and turn the boat counter clock wise slightly to the port side of the slip. To make a standing turn, starboard engine forward, port engine reverse. Make sure you find the balance between the reverse and forward engines, in some cats, reverse needs to be a little more to balance the forward engine. After the turn and align the boat with the slip, just reverse both engines. Depending on how straight the boat is aligned and how close it is to the dock, use differential power from two engines to align the boat with the right angle and get the stern close enough to get off.
To get out of the slip is pretty straight forward. In a super tight marina I used once before, the fairway is only slightly longer than the length of the boat. In that case, the cat needs to make a standing turn right after the stern clears the pilings. It’s worth it practicing this maneuver. Stop the boat forward momentum, port reverse, starboard forward to turn the boat counter clock wise.
Here is another example of docking in cross wind and current from the port side. With the strong cross wind and current from the port side, we have to pivot and watch out the bow.
Ok, that’s all for today’s video. Thanks for watching. See you next time.
11 сен 2024
