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Don W wrote:

Rosalie,

I think this is a good subject to explore in more detail. Our boat is
in a marina with floating docks, so this is something we've never had
to deal with. How _do_ you tie up to a fixed dock with an extreme
tidal range?

Don W.

Two words - SPRING LINES

Bob does this automatically and I'm not usually involved so I don't
know the exact geometry, but every time we do this we use spring
lines. I'm sure someone else can explain.


In any case - my point is - if you know how to secure a boat to a
fixed dock (and IMHO you SHOULD know) it is perfectly possible to do
so without a problem even with a high tide. All those shrimp boats
in SC and GA and northern FL with 6 to 8 foot tides - most of them are
at fixed docks. We are at a fixed concrete dock here in Marathon with
about a 2 foot normal tide. (I think they have fixed docks here
mostly because of the hurricane season.)

So you should know how to have the boat safely in the slip even in an
extra high or extra low tide. I think that's something that a
sailor/boater should know. If you have a fixed dock and a tide that
isn't too great - that's a good opportunity to practice so that if you
go somewhere and they say - you can stay on the gas dock tonight (gas
docks are often fixed docks), and BTW we have 6.5 foot tides and it's
high tide now (and your boat is about even with the dock at that
point) you have some clue as to how to proceed.

It may be easier to have floating docks (although I always have to
have a step stool on the dock to get off our boat if there are
floating docks), but unless you never intend to go anywhere outside
your own marina (and if that is so - why even have a boat), then you
need to know stuff like how to tie the boat up in a variety of
situations - face dock, or slip with a 4 point tie, floating dock or
fixed dock, cleats or pilings.


grandma Rosalie

grandma Rosalie