Stee6043
Well-Known Member
This thread should be mandatory reading for the oft recurring V-drive vs IO discussion....
Stern in docking
- Thread starter Captn TJ
- Start date
Gofirstclass
Well-Known Member
So let me get this straight. You're suggesting that moving one's hands from the shifters to the wheel then back to the shifters is somehow easier than just using the shifters?
When I'm backing into a slip I am standing with my back to the helm, to the port side of the shifters, and I move them with my left hand. From where I'm standing I would have to move to my left to reach the wheel, then back to my right to reposition myself.
This blind squirrel has been pretty successful at finding nuts doing it my way, but I guess if your boat is of a size where you can reach the wheel and the shifters from the same point, your way would work.
Another nut bites the dust!
SCORPIO
Well-Known Member
If the wind is blowing hard or the current is ripping on a full ebb, I pivot the boat and try to lay against the down wind/down current piling and then turn the wheel and pivot on the piling. You have to pick a technique that works for you in the conditions that you are working in. There is no one size fits all method when it comes to docking in strong winds or currents.
Woody
Well-Known Member
What does the size of the boat have to do with it? Is there any boat on this site where you can't reach the wheel and shifters from the same position?
How are you able to do this when you're standing to port side of your shifters operating them with your left hand, have you modified your boat?
It's been mentioned that IO's are closer together, being at the rear the pivot point is farther back, that throttle is often, probably more often used with IO's. One thing not mentioned is that like the case of the OP with B3's, there is no propwalk that he can use to his advantage. The usefulness of propwalk is something that was immediately apparent to me when I moved to the 420DA. It would be to the OP also the minute I put him at the controls of my boat.
The whole set the wheel straight and only touch the shifters is made a bit more difficult by the fact he has B3's. Sometimes more throttle is needed, sometimes changing the direction of thrust with the steering wheel is helpful, nothing wrong with knowing how to use everything you have.
Great Lakes
Well-Known Member
- Oct 11, 2016
- 1,444
- Boat Info
- 2008 - Formula 400ss
- Engines
- Volvo Penta D6-350
Not to get tied up in the middle of this but I literally do the same when sterning in. Left hand on the shifters and looking back. If I need a little throttle then I reach over and goose her.
I think somewhere along the lines it went from shifters/throttle combo mounted on SB side to using sticks
This is how I do it... Wind is not a factor. Marina loves me.....
Great Lakes
Well-Known Member
- Oct 11, 2016
- 1,444
- Boat Info
- 2008 - Formula 400ss
- Engines
- Volvo Penta D6-350
Clear disregard for the no wake, haha
JVM225
Well-Known Member
I had the same model boat as Scorpio, mine was an 87. I also installed a counter rotating drive on the port side of that boat.
His advice is solid!
The steering wheel is not your friend when backing in to a slip with twin I/O’s.
Some might be able to do it, but they are way better Captains than I’ll ever be.
Center the drives as you approach the slip and use the shifters to back in.
Judge the drive position by your forward movement before you approach the slip.
You can mark the center position of the wheel with a piece of tape if you want, but I’d still rely on the forward motion before I get near the slip.
While not as easy as inboards (my diesel 410 is easier to back in to a slip than my 300 Sundancer was) once you get used to doing it you’ll be able to get in with no problems. I mastered it and I’m not great at docking. My rule is never approach a dock, pole, or other object faster than I’m willing to hit it.
To practice, find a long no wake zone with curves and turns in it and start at one end with the drives centered and work your way to the other end using shifters only and without touching the steering wheel. You’ll get confidence in the shifter’s ability to make the boat go where you want it to go.
I still do this with my 410 whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Then find a place with a couple of empty slips and try doing the same thing in reverse. I still do this too when the season starts each year.
It would be best if there was nobody around when you practice. I hate practicing with people watching me like it’s a show.
You’ll always have an easier time backing in to the wind, so if you have a choice, choose empty slips with the wind blowing from that way until you get some experience at it.
Given the choice when I pull in to a marina I still always gravitate to a slip where the wind will be at my stern.
Another quick tip that works for me is that it’s okay to goose a throttle a bit to adjust, but it’s best to just do it on a motor that’s in reverse. Especially with I/0’s since the pivot point is under your platform. Goosing a motor that’s in forward will make that bow swing big. I never goose a motor that is in forward gear. That rule for me is in effect whether I’m backing in to a slip, or going forward.
Pick a pole on one side or the other of the slip you want and aim the rear corner of your boat that’s on that same side at that pole, approach it slowly, going in and out of neutral as needed will keep you moving slow, on,y put it in gear long enough to keep you moving, adjust as needed, then use the shifters and or throttle to straighten the boat as you get closer.
I taught my son how to do it that way on my 300 when he was 13, then I taught my brother, a couple of other guys, and the buyer of my old 300 after he bought it from me. None of them had ever run a twin engine boat before, and a few of them had never run any kind of boat.
His advice is solid!
The steering wheel is not your friend when backing in to a slip with twin I/O’s.
Some might be able to do it, but they are way better Captains than I’ll ever be.
Center the drives as you approach the slip and use the shifters to back in.
Judge the drive position by your forward movement before you approach the slip.
You can mark the center position of the wheel with a piece of tape if you want, but I’d still rely on the forward motion before I get near the slip.
While not as easy as inboards (my diesel 410 is easier to back in to a slip than my 300 Sundancer was) once you get used to doing it you’ll be able to get in with no problems. I mastered it and I’m not great at docking. My rule is never approach a dock, pole, or other object faster than I’m willing to hit it.
To practice, find a long no wake zone with curves and turns in it and start at one end with the drives centered and work your way to the other end using shifters only and without touching the steering wheel. You’ll get confidence in the shifter’s ability to make the boat go where you want it to go.
I still do this with my 410 whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Then find a place with a couple of empty slips and try doing the same thing in reverse. I still do this too when the season starts each year.
It would be best if there was nobody around when you practice. I hate practicing with people watching me like it’s a show.
You’ll always have an easier time backing in to the wind, so if you have a choice, choose empty slips with the wind blowing from that way until you get some experience at it.
Given the choice when I pull in to a marina I still always gravitate to a slip where the wind will be at my stern.
Another quick tip that works for me is that it’s okay to goose a throttle a bit to adjust, but it’s best to just do it on a motor that’s in reverse. Especially with I/0’s since the pivot point is under your platform. Goosing a motor that’s in forward will make that bow swing big. I never goose a motor that is in forward gear. That rule for me is in effect whether I’m backing in to a slip, or going forward.
Pick a pole on one side or the other of the slip you want and aim the rear corner of your boat that’s on that same side at that pole, approach it slowly, going in and out of neutral as needed will keep you moving slow, on,y put it in gear long enough to keep you moving, adjust as needed, then use the shifters and or throttle to straighten the boat as you get closer.
I taught my son how to do it that way on my 300 when he was 13, then I taught my brother, a couple of other guys, and the buyer of my old 300 after he bought it from me. None of them had ever run a twin engine boat before, and a few of them had never run any kind of boat.
sbw1
Well-Known Member
- Oct 10, 2006
- 8,185
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Gofirstclass
Well-Known Member
Woody, to answer your questions, normally when I'm backing into the slip I'm standing to the port side of the shifters, in front of that engraved "Beachcomber" sign, facing to the stern of the boat and operating my shifters with my left hand. From that position I can reach the wheel but it's a bit awkward to do it.
Occasionally, if backing into a strong wind and I feel a bit of throttle might be needed I'll stand in front of the wheel, still facing the stern, and operate my shifters with my right hand and the throttles with the left hand.
My preference is to stand to the port side of the shifters and move them with my left hand. That's the way I've done it most often and the way I'm most comfortable.
Occasionally, if backing into a strong wind and I feel a bit of throttle might be needed I'll stand in front of the wheel, still facing the stern, and operate my shifters with my right hand and the throttles with the left hand.
My preference is to stand to the port side of the shifters and move them with my left hand. That's the way I've done it most often and the way I'm most comfortable.
sbw1
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- Oct 10, 2006
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Interesting but not really relevant to the OP which was asking about how to stern into a slip with a twin I/O boat. Your boat handles a bit differently.Woody, to answer your questions, normally when I'm backing into the slip I'm standing to the port side of the shifters, in front of that engraved "Beachcomber" sign, facing to the stern of the boat and operating my shifters with my left hand. From that position I can reach the wheel but it's a bit awkward to do it.
Occasionally, if backing into a strong wind and I feel a bit of throttle might be needed I'll stand in front of the wheel, still facing the stern, and operate my shifters with my right hand and the throttles with the left hand.
My preference is to stand to the port side of the shifters and move them with my left hand. That's the way I've done it most often and the way I'm most comfortable.
timemachine
Member
I/Os are not designed for operating with wheels only. Much easier and safety to dive the boat into the slip. Reason being wheels are too far back and usually to small to bite enough to turn the boat. I’ve owned many dual I/0s and outboards and much easier to use throttles and steering wheel to drive he boat into the slip.
suss1173
Active Member
- Jul 11, 2013
- 411
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- 05 390 QSB 5.9,s
Past- 01- 340 -7.4 Horizon's. Pachanga 27- twin 350's, 94-300 twin 350's
- Engines
- Twin QSB 5.9’s
For whatever it’s worth- I rarely use the wheel when going stern in. I only use the throttle from each engine to turn the boat. This seems to work best on my twin alpha gen 2 set up. I also used this method in my prior boat, Pachanga 27 with twin alpha’s. The Pachanga wasn’t pushed around by the wind the way the SD sometimes is, but either way, I’m using the motors to turn the boat.
- May 14, 2008
- 3,538
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- 1988 390 EC
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- 454 Mercruiser Gassers
Years ago when I had twin I/Os, I would always use the wheel + the dockside engine when driving into a dock and leave the other engine running and in neutral just in case I had to back down & abort. That always worked good for me at the time.
sbw1
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- Oct 10, 2006
- 8,185
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The reason you need to use the wheel in a cross wind with twin I/Os is changing the direction of the prop thrust (with the wheel) gives you more maneuvering capability than the asymmetrical thrust provided by the props left in a neutral position. With props alone, you end up blowing by the slip opening as soon as the wind is abeam of the hull and starts pushing it where you don't want to go. The wheel gets you positioned more quickly.
SCORPIO
Well-Known Member
I have no choice, I MUST back in as there is only a very short finger dock on one side of my slip and it's very difficult to get on and off my boat from the bow, especially since we don't have floating docks and have upwards of 5' of tidal range.
liv2ryde100
Active Member
twin i/o's should be backed into the wind almost always, use the outside engine and the steering wheel to bring the boat around. the pivot point on i/o's is too far astern to use just the throttles like us inboard people. my first boat was a 27 rinker with single bravo 3. always set up to back into the wind even if there is a cross wind. back into and then turn the wheel the drive will pull the boat around.
Flytrade
Active Member
This is the best way to stern dock your boat.
KevinC
Well-Known Member
Apparently these guys give docking lessons since we invariably we see someone pull something like this when they get in trouble docking instead of slowly backing out and reattempting.
-Kevin
paul hsu
Member
- Mar 15, 2018
- 56
- Boat Info
- 2008 280da sundancer
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- twin 4.3 mpi Alpha drives
I have alpha drives, and use 1 and a half turns to approximately center the wheel as I approach the slip. I split screw to turn the stern towards the slip, let the boat settle , then steer the boat with both engines in reverse into the slip by bumping in and out of reverse. I have a difficult time using only the throttles to steer into the dock. I am new at this, and perhaps there are easier ways.
