Boat hook design is my issue.
The standard boat hook has a rubber handle at one end and a combo point and hook at the other. Neither is very good at fending off another stern.
Backing out of the slip is the threat for me. Our reverse transom puts point of contact low. The sterns behind me have swim platforms, dinghy davits, many compound curves, and no good place for a boat hook to securely fend off. Pilings are not in reach, since the sterns stick out beyond them three feet.
I had to analyze all this when teaching my daughter how to depart the slip in reverse, with prop walk and wind to be accounted for. I would stand there with my boat hook ready--wondering how effective any emergency effort would be.
IN my case, a padded crossbar would work better than the traditional boat hook end. You could fend off a stanchion. You could fend off a slippery gunnel, or piling, or even a Monitor vane tubing. My two pointy-end boat hooks are useless for that. But a crossbar is impractical, and wouldn't store well.
Just some thoughts on how a boat hook is false security in my particular case.
Hi,In any tight marina there is going to come a time every boat winds up "sideways" and unable to maneuver. Need a plan to fend off.
I agree completely that crew is not to try to prevent an actual collision.
Hi,
A good set of properly sized fenders placed on BOTH sides, and fender boards if pilings are an issue, are essential in my opinion and help to avoid damage. All too often I see boats coming into dock with only one fender on the dock side, often power cruisers that tend to go sideways quickly in a wind due to high cabin and lack of keel. Just poor seamanship in my opinion.
Frank
I keep a pair of boat hooks in the cockpit, one on the port side and the other starboard. The tops of the hooks hang on part of the "permanent" bimini frame. (I've had some skin cancer already so I keep in the shade as much as I can behind the helm). The bottom of the boat hook goes through a short section of PVC pipe that's screwed into the cockpit wall. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of that part. It's about a 3 to 4 inch length that has an inner dimension (I think about 2 inches) to accommodate the end of the boat hook. It also has two holes drilled into one wall of the PVC for screws, where I flattened the outside of the pipe by sanding it down to sit against the cockpit wall, and two larger holes on the opposite side that allows me access to the screws with a screw driver. I use to have plastic clamps there that I bought from West Marine that I could snap the boat hook into but they kept breaking. With the short piece of PVC pipe in place I lower the handle into it and then hook the top onto the bikini frame. It all keeps the hooks from banging around when heeled over but allows quick access to them when docking, pulling a dinghy close to the boat, retrieving a hat, etc.
View attachment 33405
As for the emergency rudder, I keep that in the port locker in the cockpit and the tool to remove the plate over the rudder post is on a hook at the nav station, all where I can access them right away.