Docking The Beast

6

63chaos

New Member
Mar 6, 2011
63
Falmouth, MA
Boat Info
300 Sundancer 1993
Engines
5.7 260 hp (2)
I recently stepped up from a 21' single engine to a 30' twin engine and I'm trying to get the hang of docking it. I hearing two schools of thought, one is get the engines straight and maneuver with the shift controls only. The other insists you must us the steering. Looking for tips.
 
Start with the engines aligned straight ahead and use only the transmissions and a little throttle. After you get the hang of it you can start to incorporate the steering wheel.
 
If you have outdrives, you can actually steer a bit in closed quarters. If you have inboards, fuggeddaboudit.
 
LTD.330 said:
Start with the engines aligned straight ahead and use only the transmissions and a little throttle. After you get the hang of it you can start to incorporate the steering wheel.
Click to expand...

Agreed. If there's no current or wind, the transmissions will be all you need. If there is a wind, you may need to use a little throttle. if the is a wind and current, things get interesting. It's absolutely vital to know the exact pivot point of your boat when one engine is in forward and the other is in reverse. Good luck!

RB
 
No but you can do some "crabbing" with steering combined with shifting...lol
 
Have someone experienced sit next to you a few times for advise while docking. Go slow. Shifters only. Practice. I looked for open slips in my marina and docked several times on every outing. It took me a couple months, but after that I felt fairly confident. You will periodically have rough landings but thats ok.
 
AK did you try the thumbs method?
 
1956olds said:
AK did you try the thumbs method?
Click to expand...

Well maybe.... I found coming into the dock with both my engines engage in forward gear way too fast, 5.5-6 mph. So I started to place the outside engine in natural and working the inside engine. When I needed a little more, I would engage the outside engine forward or reverse. I found this worked really well in tight quarters at the dump station. never had to touch the throttles ....yet.

So I am going to take all the advise everyone has given me, plus the video and practice in the coming weeks.
 
63chaos said:
I recently stepped up from a 21' single engine to a 30' twin engine and I'm trying to get the hang of docking it. I hearing two schools of thought, one is get the engines straight and maneuver with the shift controls only. The other insists you must us the steering. Looking for tips.
Click to expand...
Another member posted this, but I'll re-emphasize: determine your boat's pivot point. When I started learning to dock my 320, I didn't do that and wondered why I was always coming at an angle, and then having to adjust and steer the thing into the slip with a lot of shifting. Once I paid more attention to the pivot point, things got a lot easier.
 
Like posted above...straighten the rudders or drives (inboards will be more efficient as they are farther off the centerline of the keel). Use shifters (only) and maneuver as needed (wind and/or current may require the use of the throttle and require additional practice). Stay away from the wheel. You will be able to move the boat by quick shifter manipulation. In addition to knowing what your boats pivot point is its also good to know how long its "reaction" time is when shifters are engaged in gear (F or R) its not instantaneous and takes a bit of practice. Then PRACTICE! you will get the hang of it in no time at all. Remember SLOW is good!
 
I have a 270DA with I/O. It is easier to dock the 400EC than the 270DA. For the most part I use only the transmissions and we are stern in at our marina. Now moving it sidewards takes a little practice and I am still working on that movement.
 
Thanks guys for all the tips, it seems like shifters only and practice practice and more practice. So here is fair warning if your in the Falmouth, MA area watch out for me!!!
 
63chaos said:
Thanks guys for all the tips, it seems like shifters only and practice practice and more practice. So here is fair warning if your in the Falmouth, MA area watch out for me!!!
Click to expand...
I don't recall you saying if you had I/O's or not??
 
Agree with parking it like you're driving a skid steer using just the transmissions with outdrives straight.
Hopefully some tips that will work for you:
1. Turning: WIth both engines at throttle and one side in forward and the other in reverse, on a completely calm curent/wind, the boat will pull forward. So to spin on a dime, I keep one side in reverse more than the other in forward (hopefully that makes sense)
2. Straight: Once in motion in the direction you're heading take it out of gear to continue at the same speed (unless going against current/wind)
3. Straight: To counter current/wind, set the throttle on the leeward side just a little higher when attempting to go straight. (not much, just 100-200 rpm more max)
 
Back in January there was a thread on docking where one of our members posted a video of him performing a docking in tight quarters. Can't find that thread, but did save the videos. After the first one received good reviews, he created two more, one outside the boat and one inside the boat looking at the controls.

Sea Ray Docking

Sea Ray Docking 2

Sea Ray Docking 3 One minute in on this one is impressive.

Good stuff, I learned a lot just by watching these videos...like moving sideways to go alongside a pier.

Tom
 
Last edited:
Nice control in those videos. Does he have a thruster? Looks like water wash near the bow periodically.
 
Looks like a thruster by the way the water is moving from under the bow.
 
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