Turning Your Boat Around While At Her Slip

Sometimes You Need To Turn Your Boat Around At Her Slip Without Using The Engine...
The engine might not be working; or you might have taken the outboard home for the winter and want to put the outboard back on its bracket.  Here's how to turn your boat around without using the engine.

With the boat in her slip, untie the docking lines and rig a turning line (approximately twice as long as the boat) to one aft corner (portside here) cleats, and lay the line around the gunnel (outside of any lifeline stanchions or bow pulpit.  End the line at the end of the slip finger on the opposite side from where the line is secured.

Now, gently push the boat out of her slip.  Have her go a straight as  possible.  Having the rudder centered will help. 

When the boat is all the way out of her slip, begin to tension the turning line.  The boat will pivot around her keel.

Continue pulling on the turning line and position yourself near the head of the slip.  The transom will start to line up with the slip.  Move around as needed to allow the boat to gently enter the slip.

Pull on the line and back the boat into the slip.

When the boat is in the slip, secure her with docking lines fore and aft; and remove the turning line.
The boat can later be turned around again using the turning line.  Secure the line to a bow cleat and lead the line around the gunnel and transom; and to the slip end across from where the line is secured to the cleat.  Repeat the steps as before.  You will be surprised how easy it is to turn your boat around using this method.

Barnacle Bill Holcomb
barnaclebillholcomb@gmail.com
509 993 3214