Boating and weather advice

[Descant]

Originally Posted by jazzman

My trick of the trade is my "o-sh**" rope. It's tied to bow and stern cleats with 20 feet of slack tucked into the rear seat. If it's rough you get the nose of the boat to the dock, jump off and use the rope to haul the boat in.

Being not so agile anymore, and not having access to the bow over the windshield, I bring the stern to the dock, get a line on a post, take a wrap and use the engine to pull the boat to the dock. The engine will hold the boat in place while other lines are fastened. Jumping onto a wet, slippery dock in the rain while engine is running and nobody is t the helm to control the boat is not my best move. I have a breakwater, but when the canvas is all up and the wind is blowing the boat sideways, I need to be able to back out and start over. Can't do that from the dock.