ABL-7

1. ABL-7 Able Boat Handling Instructors: George Crowl

2. Course Outline • a. Demonstrate your ability to properly operate a small boat equipped with a motor. Included should be fueling, starting, leaving a dock, maneuvering, docking and coming alongside. • b. Know the names and functions of the lines used to secure a vessel to a wharf or pier. Understand and execute docking commands used in handling lines on your ship's primary vessel.

3. ABL-7a Demonstrate your ability to properly operate a small boat equipped with a motor. Included should be fueling, starting, leaving a dock, maneuvering, docking and coming alongside.

4. General Considerations • Use a checklist! • Rainwater out • Drain plug in ! • Required equipment installed and serviceable • Life jackets (wear 'em), radio, lights, etc. • Transom OK for motor • Motor installed (on land if possible), tilted • Safety chain attached to boat

5. General Considerations (2) • 2-stroke OR 4-stroke? Different fuels! Can ruin an engine if wrong fuel is used. • Young men can earn Motorboating MB if desired

6. Launching • Do all launch preparations in a parking place away from the launch ramp • Practice your backing beforehand • Use a spotter, with agreed hand signals • Have a dock line, held by someone or attached • No one in the boat on the trailer • Back slowly, carefully. If jackknifing, pull forward try again. • Let the boat float off the trailer

7. Fueling • All electrical and motors off • All hatches and vents closed • All people off the boat • Portable fuel tank on dock or ground • Ground self and fuel nozzle, prevent sparks • Have cleanup materials at hand • Nozzle and receptacle in contact • Cool fuel expands, leave room for expansion

8. Starting • Engine straight up and down • Shift lever neutral (straight up) • Choke a cold engine, not a hot one • Throttle to “Start” position • Pull starter rope slowly until resisted • Pull starter rope hard as needed • Push choke in slowly until runs smoothly • Throttle to “Run” or “Idle” • Engage shift lever carefully, move out slowly • Safety lanyard attached to helmsman

9. Leaving the Dock • SLOWLY! • Have someone push the bow out and move off • Push the stern out, and back out slowly • Use spring lines, as taught in other sections • No wake • Get clear of the marina before opening up the throttle

10. Maneuvering • Find clear area • Maneuver at slower speeds, then increase • Set up a slalom course with buoys (not posts) • Show why not to chop throttle too quickly, stern wake could swamp you • Maneuver at docking speeds, often harder to do

11. Coming Alongside • Prep your boat first – fenders, lines, boathooks • Preplan for wind effect – if approaching downwind you will be blown into wharf, position further out. If upwind, carry power a little longer • Position your rudder BEFORE you engage propeller or throttle • Short bursts of idle power • Do not stop engine until all lines secure

12. Coming Alongside (2) • SLOWLY! • Don't let the boat go faster than the velocity that you want to hit the dock ;-) • The stern moves first, remember that • Plan A – boat parallel to dock, throttle idle, rudder AWAY from dock, one second FWD, shift, one second REV, repeat • Plan B – boat angled to dock, in contact, crew steps off with line, rudder AWAY from dock, one second FWD, wait, again, etc.

13. Docking with Various Winds

14. Retrieving to Trailer • Drop your driver off to get the tow rig • Keep the launch ramp clear until trailer is ready, bunks should be ½ or more submerged • Empty the boat of people • Drive on: Apply power, center bow on trailer • Pull on: Snap winch strap on bow eye, crank on trailer to stop. This is final step of Drive On. • Drive out slowly, raising motor • Park, remove gear, open drain plug

15. ABL-8b b. Know the names and functions of the lines used to secure a vessel to a wharf or pier. Understand and execute docking commands used in handling lines on your ship's primary vessel. (You have to actually handle the lines when undocking and docking.)

16. Names and Functions • Bow line(s) – secure the bow in and out • Stern line(s) – secure the stern in and out • Spring line(s) – secure the boat fore and aft

17. Names and Functions (2) • Different spring lines – do same job • Breast line at midships – keeps boat tight to fenders • Quarter line at stern – keeps boat tight • Two stern lines – keeps stern in place

18. Docking Commands • STAND BY TO DOCK – Everyone get ready. Fenders out, boathook ready, people positioned • HEAVE THE ____ LINE – Deckhand heaves the line to person on dock to receive it • TAKE UP SLACK – Pull in the slack in the line • TAKE A STRAIN – Pull the line in, pulling boat • EASE OFF – Let the line out slowly • HOLD – Hold the line there, use a cleat or bitt • SECURE LINES – Cleat them, proper tension

19. Undocking Commands • STAND BY THE LINES – People in place to cast off the lines to the dock • CAST OFF _____ LINE – Cast off the specific line, such as spring, starboard bow, starboard stern, port bow and port stern. • Lines are laid or thrown on the dock, hung on posts or hooks, and kept out of the water

20. Questions?