[quote=Edchris177]Pete, buy 2 bumpers, about 15" long, 6" diameter,get the better quality ones, they are softer than the cheapies, & will last for years.
Almost every sail I do is off my dock, & I tie to the dock for lunch. I use 3/16" line on each fender, & tie them to the top hole of the dogbones. Depending on the dock/your particular boat, it may work better to hang one from the bridle wire, or the rear beam. (I mounted a ring on one beam strap bolt) I also have a short line on the bottom end of the fender. I usually leave them on my dock, but if time is short, & wind light, I just pull them on board, & use the tail line to secure the other end of the fender to the tramp hiking straps. This works fine if you are not on the wire. I went out for an hour yesterday with my wife, she used the fender as a pillow for a nap, yeah I know not exactly an exuberant crew, but what the hell, the wind maxed at 8 mph, we never even changed sides during tacks, & could fly a hull with her on the lee side.
I never raise the main til secured to the dock. I rarely have the wind head on, mostly 45* from the starboard side. As long as the sail doesn't hit the shrouds, it won't generate any power, this gives you a "free sail" for about 140* of wind direction. By turning the boat facing back into shore, you are good for almost all wind direction.
With the sail close to, or on the shrouds, the battens catch on the shouds, it helps to have your wife hold the sail back til they clear. I use the mast rotator to line the mast up with the wind, this makes raising the sail easier in higher winds. I run a boomless N5.7, & leave the S hook out of the sail til ready to push off.
The jib can be a real pain in strong winds, as it is either pulling power when tring to line up with the dock, or flogging itself to death. Furling is the fix, especially if the water is more than waist deep at the dock. It is very difficult for your wife to keep it held dead into the wind while you get rid of the jib, then have her walk it into the dock in chest deep water. I converted to furling, & it simplified things by several magnitudes. Before you reach the dock, furl, then loosen the main sheet and/or travel out to dump most of the power. Once you get the hang of it, quite often you can pull up to the dock at almost zero speed & step off onto the dock. The onlookers relly think you are a pro. just be sure to have your fenders out, & dock lines ready.<!-- editby --><em>Edited by Edchris177 on Aug 16, 2011 - 02:40 AM.</em><!-- end editby --> [/quote]
