www.iFourWinns.com

Hi all

Boat in water tomorrow, but we need to moor Stern in to the dock here in Spain, and was wondering how you guys would protect the swim platform when doing this?
Currently I plan just to put one of my fenders at the back as we arrive , but was wondering if there was a more elegant solution or any tips

thanks !

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Bill P
Marbella, Spain
Vista 248 Year 2000
25th Anniversary edition
Volvo Penta Engine and Outdrive

They make a swim platform fender.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/taylor-ma ... r--2630424

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

Thanks Jeff

you really have it easy in the USA LOL .... getting this stuff here is difficult and costly

appreciate it !

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Bill P
Marbella, Spain
Vista 248 Year 2000
25th Anniversary edition
Volvo Penta Engine and Outdrive

How about using a "spring" line. This is just a regular adequately sized dock line that is tied to a mid ship cleat of your boat then tied to a forward dock post (or something substantial on the dock) that would prohibit your boat from moving back far enough that would allow your stern (swim platform) from making contact with your dock.

I stern into my well and I try and keep my swim platform within about 6 inches from the stairs that hang off our seawall. We walk down these stairs and then step onto my swim platform to gain access to our boat. I have a spring line on both our starboard and port side of our boat so that I can feel comfortable that our boat will not be able to move back far enough so that my swim platform could come into contact with my stairs.

If you use spring lines, keep in mind any water level changes that may effect how your boat sits in your well.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Thanks Mike... not familiar with Spring lines...will research that one !

appreciated !

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Bill P
Marbella, Spain
Vista 248 Year 2000
25th Anniversary edition
Volvo Penta Engine and Outdrive

Where I dock, the pier is floating so the position relative to the dock never changes.
I back in to the dock.
I have an old bumper that is tied to the dock that the swim platform will hit if I back up that far.
I have ropes that I leave on the dock and undo from the boat cleats so they are always at the right position.

If your dock is not floating and your in the ocean, then you will have to just be extra careful and slow when backing in.

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The Dance II
2007 278 Vista
6.2L Mercruiser

We also stern in at the marina. I had 3 of these on dock to cushion if we were fighting wind or current and had to come in a little more aggressively.

http://www.starmarinedepot.com/polyform ... hgodgBIMUw

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

Thanks guys...all really good info ..helps a lot !

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Bill P
Marbella, Spain
Vista 248 Year 2000
25th Anniversary edition
Volvo Penta Engine and Outdrive

Another here that backs it in. Our dock also is floating, and we keep our platform 4 - 6 inches from the back, and use spring lines both directions to maintain that position in our slip.

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2004 Four Winns 328 Vista
1997 Larson Cabrio 290 - sold
1988 Rinker Fiesta Vee 248 - sold

Spring lines are great. I stern in as well and have it rigged so the rear spring line that connects to the dock and a rear cleat stays on the dock. When sterning in, the first mate grabs the line from the dock and quickly attaches it to the cleat. This way the boat cannot hit the rear of the dock - it is measured to give me 3 inches from the back of the swim platform to the dock. We can do this as our slip is very tight and grabbing the lines on the dock is reachable. When off the dock we attach the forward spring line and life is good.

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Ernie Follis
It'll Do II
Four Winns 348 (2005)

Our docking (when docking in our home port) is similar to yours. My wife is at stern of our boat when I back into our well. We have a fixed dock on our port side and two posts on our starboard side when backing in. Our well width is not much wider then our beam. Once our boat's stern has passed the first post when backing in, my wife attaches the port stern line (to make sure our boat can't drift back far enough to make contact with our stairs) she then proceeds up onto the deck to attach the bow lines and starboard spring line while I attach the stern lines. This approach works well for us.All of our home port lines remain on our dock for the season and of course the lines are at proper lenght to keep our boat where we want it in our well. The lines may need some tweaking over the course of the season since our lake levels change somewhat over the course of our boating season.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Yea, we're pretty much shoe horned in our slip, and a little long as well, so to keep her from rotating and banging into anything, we use I think, 5 dock lines on each side, including two spring line setups. All of which are left attached at the dock.. I thought I had a pic somewhere, but will have to dig around to find it...

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2004 Four Winns 328 Vista
1997 Larson Cabrio 290 - sold
1988 Rinker Fiesta Vee 248 - sold

I would use two 8" fenders and put them half way down off the platform. This way it can not roll off like a ball fender. If you can spring off, I would.

We also are stern in and sounds like we do the similar approach to Decision.
My wife gets off the boat and we ease her into the slip so no bang into the dock. I leave her about 8" away from the the stern dock so a rouge wave doesn't knock her back and get banged up. I don't use any fenders on the stern because of the spring lines.

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

Thanks again , for the very helpful advice ..will be investigating these methods today , when I have an experienced boat skipper with me

_________________
Bill P
Marbella, Spain
Vista 248 Year 2000
25th Anniversary edition
Volvo Penta Engine and Outdrive