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Re: Charter Port Departure and Arrival Assistance
[Re: Rush]
#315485
03/12/2024 05:39 PM
03/12/2024 05:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 939 Georgia & South Carolina
Deepcut
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 939
Georgia & South Carolina
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My experience has been that all charter companies are happy to assist you in getting off the dock and will bring you back in as well. You will likely want a check out captain for the first day (or the charter company may require that). I totally agree. Most charter companies would offer, especially given your crew limitations. I would point out that picking up the mooring ball is likely the biggest issue you will have. I would suggest having the 9 yr old as "POINTER" an to continuously point to the ball so you can maneuver and keep the ball stationary at the bow (off center). I stress the pointer is the key to this and the 13 yo will quickly become adept at picking up the ball and with your wife, they can each run a line back to the cleat... You, as the skipper, must keep in mind "SLOW is PRO" for all of this... Aisles, if your wife is competent in maneuvering the boat using throttles only, we find it easier for me to be at the bow and my wife to be at the helm.(With widely spaced engine on cats, this is primary method to turn or spin boat at iddle speeds (less than 2-3 knots). You could request a check out skipper for a couple hours to have you and crew practice this, but you have more experience than many.. and more importantly , you understand the issues.
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Re: Charter Port Departure and Arrival Assistance
[Re: Icehousecat]
#315523
03/13/2024 08:57 AM
03/13/2024 08:57 AM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,074 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,074
GA/NC
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Something to keep in mind. Lately I see more people get in trouble dropping off the ball verses picking up the ball. Someone needs to keep the ball in sight until you are well clear. Brief your crew on that point. Watched a boat last trip take a boaty ball right between the hulls on departure. Very lucky they didn’t get it in a prop. Sailing cats depending on model also need a somewhat different pickup up approach. I always bring the ball up under the right crossbar not the middle and keep the ball to my right on approach. With some sailing helms you can keep the ball in sight much longer doing that and it’s actually easier for the deck crew rather than working around the forestay. One last thing, for the love of god don’t run one line from the starboard cleat through the mooring line eye to the port cleat. You will chaff the mooring Loop and might just find yourself adrift.
Last edited by GeorgeC1; 03/13/2024 09:01 AM.
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Re: Charter Port Departure and Arrival Assistance
[Re: Icehousecat]
#315798
03/17/2024 04:28 PM
03/17/2024 04:28 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 322 Hilton Head, SC
Steve27
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 322
Hilton Head, SC
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I have chartered many Powerboats from 48 to 53 ft over the years. I know the charter company with get you in and out of the slips if you need. I can give you some advice that is critical to success. These cats usually have very light or touchy throttles. Slow and steady is your friend. I literally lightly tap the throttles with the back of my fingers to get the boat to slowly start moving forward out of the slip. Watch your port and starboard corners aft and once you are in the middle of the channel or just before slip into neutral. I rarely touch the wheel when in tight quarters or in a marina. I oppose the throttles to turn the boat and then put on in neutral or back off once the boat has turned 90 degrees in the channel and then move them forward at maybe 1/4 throttle. New PC have a bow thruster that you can use in short burst to move the bow around. Once straight you can now move forward and steer. as you head out of the harbor. remember SLOW and Go! Throttles are light, so make all movements easy and deliberate. You will get the hang of it quickly. You will LOVE how these Powercats respond and how easy to drive. What dates are you headed down and who are you chartering with? We will be out of the Moorings with a July 5th overnight on the boat and pushing off the morning of July 6th for 7 days. Will be on a 464PC.
Cruising the local waters here in SC and GA. Love the BVIs and miss the Tradewinds!
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Re: Charter Port Departure and Arrival Assistance
[Re: Icehousecat]
#315896
03/18/2024 06:21 PM
03/18/2024 06:21 PM
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Joined: May 2022
Posts: 25 Earth. Occasionally above.
Skytrucker
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 25
Earth. Occasionally above.
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Yep, I’d agree with the statement that all companies are more than willing to help on and off. They understand you’re not AS familiar with this boat, and this dock, etc…
I was pulling into the harbor fully prepared to dock myself, and as I was maneuvering into the slip area, a dingy pulled alongside, and nearly instantly there was a dock hand standing next to me at the helm, “you got it, or you want me to?” Better to let them dent the boat than ruin your holiday! You’re going to have a lot going on with family and friends and having a great time in the islands - no shame in handing over the hardest part of the week to the guys who do it a hundred times a day! Watch them work, it’s a thing of beauty to see them maneuver so gracefully and easily!
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There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.
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Re: Charter Port Departure and Arrival Assistance
[Re: bailau]
#316136
03/20/2024 07:42 PM
03/20/2024 07:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 322 Hilton Head, SC
Steve27
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 322
Hilton Head, SC
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which powercat has bow thruster? 534?
as you say "slow is pro" The new Powerboat 464 and 534s have them. Also yes they are connected and operational.
Cruising the local waters here in SC and GA. Love the BVIs and miss the Tradewinds!
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Re: Charter Port Departure and Arrival Assistance
[Re: Steve27]
#316167
03/21/2024 07:36 AM
03/21/2024 07:36 AM
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,376 Washington DC
bailau
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,376
Washington DC
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which powercat has bow thruster? 534?
as you say "slow is pro" The new Powerboat 464 and 534s have them. Also yes they are connected and operational. Interesting...the beam is almost 50% of the length so really not needed as they turn on a dime and you can move it laterally easily by setting the wheel 80% to the opposite direction you want to walk the boat in and using the shifters in opposite directions with forward being the direction you want to walk towards
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