03 November 2008

Scouting the Docks

I spent some time on Saturday (and Sunday actually) taking a look at J dock. I don't want to move but there are some enticing reasons why I should:
  • it's cheaper, I'd save $50 per month getting rid of my upwind single berth slip
  • it's cleaner
  • it's protected from the onslaught of wind and grime
  • it has a dockbox
  • they say we have to move next July anyway as they re-build A dock
Then there are reasons I shouldn't move:
  • I'd miss Chris
  • it would take about 3 minutes more to get out of the marina
  • it's not upwind
  • the bathrooms aren't as good
So, do I or don't I? I have some pictures that can help:

Exhibit 1 is a sign on a boat over there...it might be as quirky as A dock.

But then again last weekend I coiled my docklines on a whim, when I got to my boat on Saturday, I saw that the infection had spread:


The only real reason not to do it is the Chris reason, he's the perfect next slip neighbor. But there is a double slip available that we could share?!? Chris, you reading this?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

What's the deal with this upwind/downwind thing at Berkeley? I see that in advertisements.

EVK4 said...

I don't think it's just Berkeley. In the upwind slips, you dock into the wind, making it easy to sail into them as well as having the wind slow you as you head into the dock rather than push you into the dock.

If it wasn't so much more expensive (8% premium), I'd never leave my upwind slip.

Anonymous said...

If J dock is closer to O dock where the cool people hang out then you just have to move.

EVK4 said...

From my new slip at J Dock, I would be able to see O Dock. When O Dock attacks, where do you think it will send its boats? Right through J Dock's International Waters, that's where.

Anonymous said...

When o docker rears his head .... ?

O Docker said...

Hmmm. Why do I feel like Villeneuve at Trafalgar, running the gauntlet between the split fleet?

A few long-winded thoughts about switching docks:

- The onslaught of the wind is a big deal. A friend used to keep his boat on E dock and practically died of frostbite. Walking back from E to O dock was like coming in out of the storm. Warm is good.

- The onslaught of grime is omnipresent - there's no escaping it.

- I've been there only four years, but every one of those has been "the year we're going to redo the old docks". I think the maintenance manager is a Mr. Godot.

- Three more minutes to leave the marina might be a good thing. The long main fairway is just the place to hoist sails and get settled - especially if your helmsperson is eight - and from J dock you'd have a straight shot.

- If you think the racing rules are tricky, beware the Berkeley Marina Manifesto. They now measure a boat's 'overall length' and set fees accordingly. They might spring this on you if you switch slips. You could end up owning the world's only 31-foot Newport 28.

OK, this is already one of the world's ten most boring blog comments. There's an e-mail link in my profile. Let me know if you want to hook up. This sounds like it's best discussed over beer.

Tillerman said...

Hey, let's have no private deal over beer in a smoke-filled room. The question of whether Edward should move his boat is of interest to the whole vast population of the sailing blogosphere. This issue must be discussed in the full glare of publicity. Or even better let's have a poll.

The O'Sheas said...

My name is O'Shea. That starts with an O. Does that help?

Captain John said...

I agree with O docker. I race on the Farallon Clipper “Echo” which is at the far inboard end of E dock. It’s a gentle trip up the fairway to hoist sails. There is no rush, and no reason to reach the fairway and head east only to turn around to hoist.

There’s the added benefit - you get to watch the spectacle of Brides attempting to board the Hornblower yachts in June for wedding parties. It’s a hoot, and the wind blows everything every which way.