Any tips for backing in a boat with a single engine?

alwhite00

Active Member
May 31, 2010
1,809
Michigan
Boat Info
1997 250 Sundancer
Engines
5.7 EFI/ BIII
We stay at the marina quite a bit and I always dock bow in - I see a lot of the boats are stern in. Any tips or tricks for backing in a single engine, Stern drive boat that you can share?

Thanks

LK
 
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Don't try it with a breeze!! Lol, sorry, wish I could help more. I used to have a single I/o that I sterned in, but hated every second of it because without perfect conditions or ready dock hands, it can be a real pain! Mine was fairly tall and heavy, too, which didn't help much. The boat I have now has twin screws and docking is my favorite part of the trip now!! Good luck to you!

Shaun
Sent from my Droid X
 
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slow short bursts in reverse
dont steer while in reverse...point prop in direction first then put in gear
dont rush
never go any faster than the speed you want to hit something
practice
compensate for wind
practice
 
They do back up better to starboard side then port side. I have current to deal with so I back into the current and turn in from the drivers side (starboard) downstream. It gives me the best visability and everything deerock said is true!...Mike.
 
Deerock is right on. I ran a 28 foot single engine boat for years. We had a concrete floating dock with no pillings or anything to bump off of. The docs were short so all you had was anchor pulpits to look at, very intimidating on windy days. I found the best technique was to use short burst like Deerock mentioned and make sure you turn your wheel all they way to port or starboard as needed prior to applying thrust. You will find your self frantically turning your wheel to do this, but it provides the most control.
 
I'll follow what everyone else says. I find it easier to back in to the end of the dock on an angle, and have my wife, or whoever step off with the stern line, then we just walk it in the rest of the way.
 
I did this with my '86 250 for years. Everyone here is giving you sound advise. The most valuable piece though has been never go any faster than the speed you want to hit something
!

I'll add that if there's any cross wind approach your slip with the bow downwind and the boat perpendicular to your slip. Slightly pass the slip and then back up into the wind while turning sharply into the slip. Many folks try and get there boats all lined up with the slip and then start backing into it. That won't work in wind and/or current.

Also, don't watch both sides of the slip. You know your boat will fit so back in while concentrating on getting close to the most visible part of the dock.
 
I agree with the short bursts. Go as slow as you can to start and you will get better. Then the wind will come up and you will get better at judging the wind and the boat. I have two boats both with twin engines. I can't tell you how many times I have come in on one engine. Most recently with my 400EC, I docked it, then pulled it out and then moved it to the haul out area all on the starboard engine. Oh yeah, and the wind was no help at all.
Practice and take your time.
 
Good advice from everyone. Actually, it could be worse, you could be trying to back in a single inboard, which is an even higher level of difficulty. Any way, agree with slow, steer before using power, short bursts, and practice. You just get used to doing it if you do it enough. One of the hardest things is to be patient and go slow, most of the time the boat will respond how you want, but it will seem painfully slow, and you will be tempted to apply more power to speed it up, which can make it worse. One thing I found that helps me is a bought a new steering wheel with a knob on it, which helps me turn the wheel quickly and keep track of how far I have turned it. If you do not want to replace the steering wheel, you can buy a knob, if you do not mind how it looks. Good luck.
 
Practice....Practice.....Practice........Practice when winds/currents are NOT ideal as this is the only way you will get comfortable.....
 
Always back into the current. Go slow, I don't care how many times you have to adjust. I would rather take a few extra minutes than hit the dock. And as everyone says the more practice you get, the better you become. There is nothing like having the dock hands say, wow, I've seen several captians today hit the dock, but you brought her in perfect!!
 
Practice, is the only way.
I had a single outdrive 27 for 10 years.
(Make sure people are watching from the dock....somehow that makes it harder?)

I will add to all the sound info above:

I like to start very close to the slip at a 90 degree angle and pivot the boat in.
Trying to back in straight from any distance will not work too well.
You will always loose the bow to the wind or current so, use it.
The wind direction will tell you which way to start the procedure.
Also, the boat will not stay in position for more than a few seconds.
Have fenders in place and all lines ready.
(I used to have a bow line run back to an aft cleat so, stepping off I had control of the bow)
It is different every time!
Enjoy,
Mark.
 
I like to start very close to the slip at a 90 degree angle and pivot the boat in.
Trying to back in straight from any distance will not work too well.
You will always loose the bow to the wind or current so, use it.
The wind direction will tell you which way to start the procedure.
Also, the boat will not stay in position for more than a few seconds.
Have fenders in place and all lines ready.
(I used to have a bow line run back to an aft cleat so, stepping off I had control of the bow)
It is different every time!

All of the above is sooooo true.

I will echo what everyone else has said about short bursts and practice. Backing into a slip is an orchestra of forward and reverse maneuvers. You can spin a single screw on it's axis with a series of reverse/forward maneuvers. Start in neutral and turn hard to port and bump into reverse gear long enough to get some motion, bump to neutral, turn hard to starboard and bump to forward gear, bump to neutral, hard to port, repeat.

Here's my routine with the finger pier on my port side: I pull up perpendicular to my slip about 5' out. I bring the boat to a stop with the pier about mid-ship. Crank hard to port and bump into reverse then back to neutral. This pulls the stern in. Crank hard to starboard while in neutral and bump to forward then back to neutral. This pushes the stern toward the dock and pushes the bow to starboard. Crank to port and bump into reverse. Repeat until I am lined up and pull straight back.

Practice, practice, practice.
 
Thanks for the tips, I am going to wait for a few weeks & try it - Hardly anyone will be left at teh marina and I know the harbor master well so he will let me "borrow" a slip to practice on. I don't need to worry about current but the wind is always a factor.

LK
 
Backing my single 290 into my slip, in the wind is a royal pain. Have an abort plan and recognize a bad approach early. Do not hesitate to abort and try again....several times if needed. A good captain will not try to force a bad approach.

I do go relatively slow but when it's windy / current it is a balance between too slow and no control. I have fenders tied every where in my slip, especially the fronts of the fingers where you may accidentally strike your stern.
 
Nothing more than practice. Take is slow and easy as others have mentioned.
I always pull in stern first. I pull up to the slip, see how much the wind or tide is affecting me. I then compensate and make my move to align and back down. I want to make sure whatever I do the movement of the boat is going into whatever wind or tide movements there are. Once to do this a few times you will quickly see how your boat responds. Just go practice several times over and over. After 30 minutes of doing this you'll feel much more comfortable.
 
LK - thanks a lot for starting this thread, I've really gotten a lot out of it! I'm ready to go try some of these recommendations tomorrow.
 
I have fenders tied every where in my slip, especially the fronts of the fingers where you may accidentally strike your stern.

I have an inflatable dock wheel at the end of my dock. It's nice when you need to use the corner to help pivot...

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