I discovered (from the previous owner) this simple trick on my 12-ft SF Pelican. Rather than trying to jump off at the dock with a bow and stern lines in hand, it's far simpler to initially tie up using the midship dock line while I'm still in the boat. The additional midship dock line could easily be used for a spring line too, if needed.
If you are going to tie up to a dock, consider making a fender board. The fenders will be less likely to ride up as the boat moves and the board goes against the dock. The fenders you have would be tied through holes in the 2 x 4 and the whole thing is suspended from the boat.
However what I really want to ask you about is your mainsheet. I really want not to sheet to a seat in the middle of the cockpit and and am thinking about ways to sheet to the stern. How does your work? Is that a track running under the tiller and if so how do you get the sheet around the tiller. The one thing I am most not in love with on the Scamp is that you cannot swivel the tiller up out of the way to get around it.
You need a turning block below and to one side of the tiller handle. On the Gig Harbor SCAMPs, the top motor mount bolt is a great place to attach the block with a piece of angle aluminum and a shackle. I did write up how I did the stern sheet. Perhaps I will resend it to Josh and ask him to repost it.
The simplest way is with bow line, stern line, and spring lines (as in two). Short tie offs provide no surge protection, particularly if you are trying to eat or sleep on board.
I have docked this way with heavy chop/ wind and it has not been an issue. As Dave Bacon says “it’s only a dingy. This method is for those of us who trailer launch or stop for a 2 hour lunch break. That said, I do add a bow or stern line with a spring line if I’m leaving the boat overnight or sleeping in it.
Years ago I had a tugboat captain tell me to use a midship cleat/line since you could never loose the middle of the boat like you can the bow or the stern.
I have a cleat on the coaming of my Sparrow 16 that serves double-duty as a cleat for my jib sheets and a mid-deck cleat. Big fan of this sort of mod even if dedicated only for mooring. Mounting it under the gunwale is a clever solution.
I discovered (from the previous owner) this simple trick on my 12-ft SF Pelican. Rather than trying to jump off at the dock with a bow and stern lines in hand, it's far simpler to initially tie up using the midship dock line while I'm still in the boat. The additional midship dock line could easily be used for a spring line too, if needed.
If you are going to tie up to a dock, consider making a fender board. The fenders will be less likely to ride up as the boat moves and the board goes against the dock. The fenders you have would be tied through holes in the 2 x 4 and the whole thing is suspended from the boat.
Interesting. Thinking about it.
However what I really want to ask you about is your mainsheet. I really want not to sheet to a seat in the middle of the cockpit and and am thinking about ways to sheet to the stern. How does your work? Is that a track running under the tiller and if so how do you get the sheet around the tiller. The one thing I am most not in love with on the Scamp is that you cannot swivel the tiller up out of the way to get around it.
You need a turning block below and to one side of the tiller handle. On the Gig Harbor SCAMPs, the top motor mount bolt is a great place to attach the block with a piece of angle aluminum and a shackle. I did write up how I did the stern sheet. Perhaps I will resend it to Josh and ask him to repost it.
Thanks. I still don’t understand the track below the tiller.
The simplest way is with bow line, stern line, and spring lines (as in two). Short tie offs provide no surge protection, particularly if you are trying to eat or sleep on board.
Just sayin'
I have docked this way with heavy chop/ wind and it has not been an issue. As Dave Bacon says “it’s only a dingy. This method is for those of us who trailer launch or stop for a 2 hour lunch break. That said, I do add a bow or stern line with a spring line if I’m leaving the boat overnight or sleeping in it.
Years ago I had a tugboat captain tell me to use a midship cleat/line since you could never loose the middle of the boat like you can the bow or the stern.
I have had a “Mid Dock Cleat” on ALL of my boats for years….P15’s, M15’s, M16, M17, SF Pelican, SCAMP’s….
I have a cleat on the coaming of my Sparrow 16 that serves double-duty as a cleat for my jib sheets and a mid-deck cleat. Big fan of this sort of mod even if dedicated only for mooring. Mounting it under the gunwale is a clever solution.