Docking stern in.....

if you have access to a skid steer loader. get in it for an hour or so. It is not the same but similar and you have brakes. it will get you the general feel of twin engines and what you need to do to direct the machine.
 
we are on the river and dock stern in. I actually have my body face side ways with my bow facing downstream that way the water current works with me to keep the boat under power and not with the current. this allows me to look port and starboard as in move into my slip.
 
You think it hard making Stern way with a twin engine, try a 25ft single screw in to a slip that is only 9 inches bigger that my beam width and the prevailing winds is a 90% cross wind. The first thing I learned on Boat repair is how to repair Gel coat ):JG


OBOY...:wow::wow:.how many gel coat repairs have you done??

i did one so far.....:smt009
 
interesting.. so you actually turn around huh? ( and it sounds like more do than don't) I'm a lefty and I don't think I could do it if I had to fully turn and face aft ( not the right handed left handed thing..). I just twist my shoulders around and turn my head a little.

I Tryed what Frank suggested in post 2 and thats not bad for me as a lefty..

But my big problem is if i'm facing backwards and backing in and wanting the stern to move to port
i get lost:huh:confused

because i'm backwards...and im confused about what shifters to use.

i was shown that if you face forward and move your left shoulder forward and right shoulder backwards, the boat will go to starboard..and visa versa...

standing backward , being a lefty and doing that shoulder thing is all reversed...
thats were im having problems....

I HAVE TO LEARN WHEN BACKING IN AND ADJUSTING THE BOAT BETWEEN THE POLES WHAT SHIFT MOVEMENTS CONTROL WHAT....FACING BACKWARDS

Its very hard for me to face forward and turn my neck to the left or right due to an arthiritic condition in my neck....
BUT IM REALLY TRYING....:thumbsup:
 
I Tryed what Frank suggested in post 2 and thats not bad for me as a lefty..

But my big problem is if i'm facing backwards and backing in and wanting the stern to move to port
i get lost:huh:confused

because i'm backwards...and im confused about what shifters to use.

i was shown that if you face forward and move your left shoulder forward and right shoulder backwards, the boat will go to starboard..and visa versa...

standing backward , being a lefty and doing that shoulder thing is all reversed...
thats were im having problems....

I HAVE TO LEARN WHEN BACKING IN AND ADJUSTING THE BOAT BETWEEN THE POLES WHAT SHIFT MOVEMENTS CONTROL WHAT....FACING BACKWARDS

Its very hard for me to face forward and turn my neck to the left or right due to an arthiritic condition in my neck....
BUT IM REALLY TRYING....:thumbsup:

You're thinking about it too much. Don't think about left and right. Think about the shifter on THAT side pulling THAT side of the boat the way you move the shifter. Make sense?

I disagree with letting the wind drift you to your slip. Even if just a little distance, the boat will build up speed and momentum - sideways. My slip is not wide enough (floating finger docks) to allow enough time to move the boat in with any side slip.

I do the opposite during a crosswind: I put the bow down wind with the boat perpendicular to the slip and the boat a little downwind as well. I start backing into the wind to gain momentum against the wind. As I am almost aligned with the slip (but still perpendicular), I rotate the bow into the wind (also gaining momentum against the wind). I time it to be aligned with the slip with little movement, or a little movement upwind from the leftover momentum. I begin to back in, usually having to use throttle to go quickly, and throttle to stop.

If the winds are really bad, I'll try to angle the boat toward the back, upwind corner ever so slightly and then kick the bow around to miss the finger dock on the downwind side at the last minute (using the downwind engine in fwd gear). If I touch a finger, I have buffing to do. My slip is 3' wider than my boat. As someone else discussed on this forum, I have to score a "Swish" every time. I need to get blue bottomed tires that fit around my pilings to "feed" my boat into the slip like a Hot Wheels accelerator or something like that - no play, no drifting - just squeeze the boat into the slip. http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3761232&cp=3812271.3812286
 
Thanks John..
Im taking all the advice given and i will conquer this stern in docking..

practice practice practice....
 
I'm a southpaw and I don't have any problem shifting right handed. I don't turn around all the way, I face the port side that way looking left and right I can see the stern and the bow easily.
 
I'm a southpaw and I don't have any problem shifting right handed. I don't turn around all the way, I face the port side that way looking left and right I can see the stern and the bow easily.


Thanks.....ill try it .....:thumbsup:
 
You're thinking about it too much. Don't think about left and right. Think about the shifter on THAT side pulling THAT side of the boat the way you move the shifter. Make sense?

I disagree with letting the wind drift you to your slip. Even if just a little distance, the boat will build up speed and momentum - sideways. My slip is not wide enough (floating finger docks) to allow enough time to move the boat in with any side slip.

I do the opposite during a crosswind: I put the bow down wind with the boat perpendicular to the slip and the boat a little downwind as well. I start backing into the wind to gain momentum against the wind. As I am almost aligned with the slip (but still perpendicular), I rotate the bow into the wind (also gaining momentum against the wind). I time it to be aligned with the slip with little movement, or a little movement upwind from the leftover momentum. I begin to back in, usually having to use throttle to go quickly, and throttle to stop.

If the winds are really bad, I'll try to angle the boat toward the back, upwind corner ever so slightly and then kick the bow around to miss the finger dock on the downwind side at the last minute (using the downwind engine in fwd gear). If I touch a finger, I have buffing to do. My slip is 3' wider than my boat. As someone else discussed on this forum, I have to score a "Swish" every time. I need to get blue bottomed tires that fit around my pilings to "feed" my boat into the slip like a Hot Wheels accelerator or something like that - no play, no drifting - just squeeze the boat into the slip. http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3761232&cp=3812271.3812286

I guess the difference in our docks make the choices for us. Where I am berthed the drift technique works great for me! If it's a light breeze I might let her drift 10' but in a stiff wind I will position a few feet upwind and start backing up when appropriate or in a big wind just bow in and forget about it.

BTW, the only dock rash I have so far in about 10 trips is from entering bow in. I "swish" every time stern in!
 
I'm going to have to agree with Hampton on this one...and I thought the golf swing gave you too much to think about. Not only will you be standing on your head (possibly looking like a pretzel), but you'll look alot like Lucille Ball when Ricky was teaching her how to play golf (I may have just dated myself with that one... but that was a funny episode.)
I've included one of your quotes where I think you've hit the nail on the head.."...i get lost/confused". Yup, that's about where you should be in April, just launched, new boat, 1st twin screw, hang in there, and practice, practice, practice...it'll come, and I wouldn't be surprised if it comes quickly. Get yourself in a position that you think (based on your passed experience and advice) and practice doing that over and over again. Go slow - start out in open water and just practice maneuvering your boat in reverse and making the bow do what you want it to. Then practice on your slip, other slips in your marina, the fuel peir (port & starboard side). It can be confusing at first, but practice will put you in a much more confident (predictable) position.

Hang in there.:thumbsup:


I Tryed what Frank suggested in post 2 and thats not bad for me as a lefty..

But my big problem is if i'm facing backwards and backing in and wanting the stern to move to port
i get lost:huh:confused

because i'm backwards...and im confused about what shifters to use.

i was shown that if you face forward and move your left shoulder forward and right shoulder backwards, the boat will go to starboard..and visa versa...

standing backward , being a lefty and doing that shoulder thing is all reversed...
thats were im having problems....

I HAVE TO LEARN WHEN BACKING IN AND ADJUSTING THE BOAT BETWEEN THE POLES WHAT SHIFT MOVEMENTS CONTROL WHAT....FACING BACKWARDS

Its very hard for me to face forward and turn my neck to the left or right due to an arthiritic condition in my neck....
BUT IM REALLY TRYING....:thumbsup:
 
I gave him one "nugget".......i.e. control the boat and make it go where you want it to. If you are having trouble with that, or with coordination or with knowing what reaction you get with your boat when you do X, Y or Z, then get away from the docks and practice maneuvering around a milk jog or bouy until handling your boat becomes second nature and you don't have to think about each step.

Here's another one.....when you are running the boat facing aft, forget about everything in front of you. Its just going to follow you anyway.
 
I gave him one "nugget".......i.e. control the boat and make it go where you want it to. If you are having trouble with that, or with coordination or with knowing what reaction you get with your boat when you do X, Y or Z, then get away from the docks and practice maneuvering around a milk jog or bouy until handling your boat becomes second nature and you don't have to think about each step.

Here's another one.....when you are running the boat facing aft, forget about everything in front of you. Its just going to follow you anyway.


That's the best one yet, I like it!
 
After going out last night I found I use part of Frank's suggestion. I do step to the port side. I'm basically in the middle of the boat so I can turn at the waist and shoulders to see but still have the same hands on the controls.
 
Pretend you are using bike handlebars and move the throttle levers in the direction you want to go and you will not get confused.
 
Bill,
I was out with my Captain this afternoon and there was a pretty strong crosswind that created swirls in the docking area. Inspite of this I swished my first stern in. Second time I had to reposition the boat a couple of times before heading in but managed. This was only the second time I have ever driven a twin screw boat and it was easier that my first. Used only the shifters and no steering wheel. The second time around, thinks were more instinctual and I didn't have to think as much about what I needed to do. I turn my head even though I have some arthritis in my neck like you but it is not that bad yet.

Another cool thing my captain showed me was to first fasten a line to the mid boat cleat and then use reverse on the opposite side to snuggle it up to the pier and leave it in gear until all the other lines are fastened. This kept the boat against the pier even with the wind trying to blow it away from the pier. Finally, we set the length of all the lines so the swim platform was within a foot of the step down pier that is at the shore end of the slip. This way when we come into the slip, all we have to do is wrap the lines around the four cleats on the starboard side of the boat without tieing any new knots. Another trick my dockmate does is to have bicycle hooks on each of the posts to hang these lines on so he can reach them from the boat without having to get off. I plan to do the same thing.
 
You're too nice. If you really tried all of these techniques, you'd eiher end up standing on your head or running out of gas.


IL TRY EVERYTHING.....:thumbsup:
 
Bill,
I was out with my Captain this afternoon and there was a pretty strong crosswind that created swirls in the docking area. Inspite of this I swished my first stern in. Second time I had to reposition the boat a couple of times before heading in but managed. This was only the second time I have ever driven a twin screw boat and it was easier that my first. Used only the shifters and no steering wheel. The second time around, thinks were more instinctual and I didn't have to think as much about what I needed to do. I turn my head even though I have some arthritis in my neck like you but it is not that bad yet.

Another cool thing my captain showed me was to first fasten a line to the mid boat cleat and then use reverse on the opposite side to snuggle it up to the pier and leave it in gear until all the other lines are fastened. This kept the boat against the pier even with the wind trying to blow it away from the pier. Finally, we set the length of all the lines so the swim platform was within a foot of the step down pier that is at the shore end of the slip. This way when we come into the slip, all we have to do is wrap the lines around the four cleats on the starboard side of the boat without tieing any new knots. Another trick my dockmate does is to have bicycle hooks on each of the posts to hang these lines on so he can reach them from the boat without having to get off. I plan to do the same thing.

You got it the hang of it fast.:thumbsup:.....My captain did a similar type up scenario with the ties ups.....
congrats...:smt038
 
I think of it as wanting to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise. Regardless of which way I am facing or which hand I'm using, I want the shifters to be opposed in either a clockwise or counterclockwise orientation. Can you visualize that?
 
I think of it as wanting to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise. Regardless of which way I am facing or which hand I'm using, I want the shifters to be opposed in either a clockwise or counterclockwise orientation. Can you visualize that?


This is what i visualize.......If i'm facing backward and have both shifters in reverse backing in and throttle down, and the stern needs to go to hard port....port shifter up, starboard shifter down momentarily, then back to neutral.
And to a soft port, port shifter up momentarily then to neutral...while starboard remains in neutral...
#2
Facing backward
Stern needs to go to hard Starboard, starboard shifter up, port shifter down momentarily, then both back to neutral...
And to a soft starboard, starboard shifter up and port shifter in neutral......Once your straight...both shifters in reverse......use forward to brake.....Throttle down...

Sound right???
 

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