Minimum crew required for a predator 68

Hi,

Agree with the above post, if trying to go stern too after 1600 local time in Porto Cervo in August with a cross wind you will find that even with one each side and driving yourself that things get tense.

If you try the same manoeuvre in December you can do it alone and it wont matter if you end up alongside in the process.

How many crew will you need when you're in rough seas or a crowded harbor and the high water alarm starts sounding, or a fire alarm. Do you abandon the helm to work on the problem? How about when the owner has a heart attack? Most competent captains can (while in an open area) set out fenders, and lines where they can be easily worked by one, and "crew" should not be putting themselves between 70,000 lb. boats to fend off. Besides, you have several hundred (if not a thousand or more) "horses" to put the boat where it belongs. Mess up and it's only money. It's all the other stuff that can kill you that you need to consider. Also consider the quality of the crew. The last thing you want to hear when things go south is 'Can't right now, I just got a manicure or I'm busy making a sandwich or I have to watch the kids'.

In most cases that boat would be manageable by couple no problem. But as noted, depending on the situation it could become a bit of a hand full unless the couple are skilled.

Docking is crew intensive in med moor situations. In the US, it's one of the easiest things you do. But navigating, taking the helm, and docking are the easy parts of the job for many of us. Handling mechanical and electric issues would be the more difficult, challenging, and the riskiest. And handling the unexpected at sea or when in difficult areas to cruise.

Also the experience, skill and knowledge of the husband and wife are critical to answering the question. When we were new, we never would have set out in a 68' without a professional Captain. Now we're confident. Still we recognize our limitations and they're primarily mechanical. We can handle most of the issues in normal cruising but major engine problems would be out of our league. We are fully confident in taking our 63' on any normal cruises with maintenance being diligently performed. But this is hundreds of hours and thousands of miles down the road from the day we bought it. And today in Alaska on an 85' we wouldn't consider without crew.

Generally speaking, I agree that maneuvering is NOT the hardest part of cruising.
Anyone who think it is, obviously never experienced a rough passage, with the need to handle some sort of inconvenience.

But here we are talking of a boat designed for daily cruising at 30+ knots in glorious weather.
Nobody in his right mind would choose a Predator for anything else, because in any sea which doesn't allow the boat to cruise fast, the hull would slam on waves like there's no tomorrow.

So, in answer to the OP question, yes, one other (experienced) person is enough to dock this boat in a marina, in most (albeit not all) situations.

As long as the boat is used in conditions where you would be happy to go at sea with a bowrider, that is.
If you think that since it's a big boat she must be able to cope with properly rough sea, think again, because you're bound to get into troubles, rather sooner than later. And no matter how large and experienced the crew is.

Pascal mentioned about pilings between slip, which make things pretty easy. Once a corner is in, you're in. However, remember NOT to put out fenders until inside the slip, and that will probably require a fast moving person or two on a windy day. If you have the fenders out as you back in, and they hook a piling, you'll get a surprise.

Med mooring

I am a med owner captaining my boats. I have operated several different sizes up to 100 feet, including a sailboat of this size. Med mooring is very easy once you acquire enough experience. Especially on a 2 engine boat with bow truster, you should not have any concern for side decks once you get the boat between the two other boats siding your boat. The trick is the bow line. If you berth to your usual spot, you can mark your bow line, which will work also as your brake. If you drop anchor and back off, you can always keep tension on the chain and release chain from the cockpit as you back off to the jetty.

So, one experienced helping hand at the bow line should be sufficient, you can hold the boat in position once you are between the boats, with tension on the bow line; and the same person could throw the aft lines and secure them in due course.