Jumping is the best thing in the world. There you are, out on the port side, line in hand, waiting, waiting, waiting. You’re a rock star. Everyone is looking at you, out on the nose of that boat. The captain don’t matter, the passengers don’t matter. You have a mission. You’re gonna put this boat on the dock.
Let’s back up.
If you’ve spent any time in Fairport, during the summer, you’ve seen the Colonial Belle come into port. And there’s always that deckhand, out there, on the port side, with line in hand, waiting to jump off the boat and put the eye around the cleat.
Because that’s how we do it. Port bow line, then spring, then stern. This is how we make this 60 ton vessel fast to the the dock.
We call it jumping, but it’s really a three foot step; though as the boat is closing in, that can look both far and wide.
The rule is, one hand for you, one hand for the boat. The unspoken rule is, grab enough line and enough slack, so the senior deckhand up top doesn't short you and you don't end up in the canal.
Deckhands have fallen in. Now we have to wear an inflatable life vest. Because deckhands fell in.
Anyway, the boat comes up the channel, then, full stop. you look down, and there's nothing but water. The captains don't want any forward inertia. You don't want to get wet.
You can feel it, out there on the rail when the captain kicks it back into gear. Then they do this whole Tokyo Drift maneuver, and the boat is turning on a dime. It's slicking into it's berth, and all you can do is wait.
The boat closes into the dock, the senior deckhand is calling numbers to the captain, and when you feel comfortable, you jump, with line in hand.
The first line is the bow, which you place around the cleat, and if you’re good, you keep it from becoming fouled between the dock and the boat. You guide it. The senior deckhand, up top, is pulling in the slack, and as the boat comes on you move from bow to spring.
The spring line serves double duty. If you lean back enough, it makes the bow and beam fenders come onto the dock, and you’re golden. Drop that and get the stern line on tight.
Once the stern line is tight, and both bow and beam fenders are leaning in towards the dock, you can bring up the ramp. It’s best to have the ramp ready before you slide that door, because as soon as you do, the passengers want to disembark.
Jumping is fun. Jumping is the best. Jumping is the pay off for being the lowest of deckhands.
I love to jump.
