Winch for Docking and Undocking

Could you please tell me the disadvantages of portable winch for docking and undocking purposes using airbags? Can I also use the portable winch for slipway?

 

The winch, portable or fixed, doesn't matter. It is all about the deadman and sleepers.

 

Okay, but then why does dockyard construct fixed winch house, and fixed winch for slipway? I was primarily thinking about using a portable winch both for dry docking with airbag and also for slipway.

 

Which is it? A drydock or a slipway? For a drydock you don't need airbags or a winch, just capstans or do it bully haul to hit the targets. Only a haul out slipway would need both airbags and a winch. A launch slipway does not need either. I'm confused...have you ever done any of them? A slipway launch, or a graving dock launch, or a drydocking, or a haul out? Different things...different tools and techniques.

 

i have both. fixed slipway and air bag docking slipway. They are side by side. So, I was thinking can I use the a single winch. When I need it for docking with airbag, can I dismantle the winch from the winch house and then use it ? I had to do piling for winch house, so shouldn't I do anything if I want to set it on ground for docking with airbags?

 

You can and most typically where. Fix the winch in a winch house with the drum parallel to the slipway axis. Fit deadmen in line with the slipways axis then use a big Skookum block to turn the fixed winch cable. Typical setup.