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

[JVM225]

I had a boat years ago with a single inboard and my current boat has twin I/O's, but they both turn in the same directions so it handles more like a single I/O. Basically little to no control when backing in to a slip.
It's not always pretty, but this is how I usually get in.
I approach the slip just outside the poles with the slip along my side (whichever one is appropriate). Then I turn my wheel hard to the side the slip is on and bump the contols in and out of gear.
As another poster mentioned, I also find it easier to just concentrate on one side of the slip and try to get as close to it as possible because I know that the other side will be fine.
Forget about tying to back straight in over any distance. You'll almost never be able to control the boat in reverse for that long. The bow will be all over the place.
Go as slow as possible, but don't be afraid to use a little throttle to fight wind or current.
Always make sure you have the lines ready to go because once you're in you need to lock in what you got.
My main goal is to get the swim platform between the poles and then pull it in the rest of the way with lines if possible.
I also find that narrower slips seem to be better than ones that are real wide because the poles on the narrower slip help to keep the boat straight until I have it all tied up.
Most importantly! Don't listen to the people on the dock shouting out directions to you. Some of the most vocal are probabkly skippers of twin engine boats with a counter rotating prop. They don't usually understand that your boat is a completely different animal.

 

[Paladin]

what great posts!

 

[FatPants]

There are plenty of pilots on the board and so I am surprised that none have stated the obvious rules that apply to both boats and planes...1) know how the boat responds to control inputs, 2) observe the conditions and how they affect the boat (and know its operating envelope) 3) understand how 2 effects 1, and 4) MOST IMPORTANTLY.."stay ahead of the boat" - you want your control inputs to relate to where you want the boat to go or anticipate it will go - as soon as your control inputs are to "correct" what is happening then the boat has caught up to you, or is or could get ahead of you.

These rules can be summed up using the single word used by most others...PRACTISE!!

If you figure out the above for your boat, then you can reverse dock in most conditions.

 

[FatPants]

one more point....many have said go very (dead) slow...this is good advice but it is a relative term...relative to 1) and 2) in my post above. The speed of the boat will affect the effectiveness of steering and the effect of conditions on the boat. Speed must be relative to conditions...if you try to go "dead slow" in any kind of wind or current then the wind or current will be in control of the boat and not the operator. Unless the wind and/or current are such that they will take the boat into dock with the boat neutral then you will have to "drive" the boat in against their affect.

 

[WDCboater]

We stern park our 240 DA. When there is no wind it's a breeze (no pun intended), but when there is wind it's difficult.

First we always have someone near the swim platform with a grab pole ready to grab our finger pier. Our slip has a 30' finger, so that definitely helps. Our neighbor is about 5-7' away so we have some wiggle room. Unfortunately the current and wind always blows us towards our neighbor.

Second we pull past the slip and then back in using the engine to pull us towards our finger. We do this at about a 45 degree angle. Once we get somewhat in we forward correct and turn the wheel to bring the bow to the finger.

If you have someone near the stern have them grab a line and step off as soon as possible. We often walk the boat to its final position if conditions are too windy.

It takes a TON of practice.

Good luck!

 

[Summer Fun II]

Rip some gelcoat off and you'll learn much faster!

Thats soooo true. :smt021

 

[Gofirstclass]

Backing a single engine boat into a slip when there's a wind or current means you should back upwind or against the current, bumping the shifter in and out of gear, until the stern is aligned with the slip, then turn the helm and bump it in and out of gear to get back in. Depending on how much current or wind you're fighting, this may have to be done at a faster speed than what you normally would and be ready to put it into forward gear when you get all the way in to stop your momentum. Backing toward the windward corner of the slip helps.

 

[KRB64]

This is all great stuff. Our 260 is stern first. I didn't see anyone mention that it helps to know where your pivot point is.

I've not been turning the wheel before putting in reverse and going neutral before turning again and going back into reverse. Can yall explain why to take her out of gear while steering in reverse?

 

[Quint4]

One of the most dangerous practices I regularly observe is someone standing on the swim platform while the boat is being "positioned".
There is a spinning prop 3 ft below them and the operator is distracted.Stay in the boat if at all possible.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I've not been turning the wheel before putting in reverse and going neutral before turning again and going back into reverse. Can yall explain why to take her out of gear while steering in reverse?

It's not just while in reverse. You can limit the speed of the boat much better if you learn how to bump it in and out of gear and be in gear only momentarilly. To do that successfully with I/O's (by that I mean staying out of gear much more than being in gear) you should turn the lower unit the direction you want the stern to go, then give it a bump into gear to make the change of direction happen. If you try to turn the wheel while you're in gear it's likely that you will be in gear way too long to effectively control your speed.

Even with my boat when I'm bumping it in and out of gear to back into the slip I might only be in gear for a fraction of a second to make minor direction changes. Any longer than that and I'd be moving too fast for my comfort level.

 

[Tonka Boater]

I've not been turning the wheel before putting in reverse and going neutral before turning again and going back into reverse. Can yall explain why to take her out of gear while steering in reverse?

It's not just while in reverse. You can limit the speed of the boat much better if you learn how to bump it in and out of gear and be in gear only momentarilly. To do that successfully with I/O's (by that I mean staying out of gear much more than being in gear) you should turn the lower unit the direction you want the stern to go, then give it a bump into gear to make the change of direction happen. If you try to turn the wheel while you're in gear it's likely that you will be in gear way too long to effectively control your speed.

Even with my boat when I'm bumping it in and out of gear to back into the slip I might only be in gear for a fraction of a second to make minor direction changes. Any longer than that and I'd be moving too fast for my comfort level.

Correct....it's all about control. Boats have a delayed reaction to propulsion and giving it short spurts will give you better control. If you leave the boat in gear it will go wherever the drive is pointed and in the direction of the gear (fwd/reverse) which makes steering unwieldy and it gives you much less time to react. In other words, if you want to pull the stern to port but you start with the wheel centered while you are in gear, the boat will start moving straight back and will make a wide arc as you turn to port. This also pushes your bow wide to starboard....the exact opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. On the other hand, you will have much better control if you point the drives in the intended direction first while the boat is in neutral, then bump it into gear and it will immediately follow your intended path.

Hope that all made sense....it makes sense in my head.

 

[Phlorida]

I've had several opportunities this weekend to try out the techniques described here and the difference in just using the motor for bursts is amazing. I'm keeping the boat in a slip at my marina for the weekend so I've had a chance to back into a slip twice - yesterday with the wind and today with a strong cross wind. We've also docked for lunch at two different restaurants this weekend so I've gotten some practice. Old habits dies hard and that has been the most difficult part - forgetting what I "learned" previously.

The weather forecast appear to promise another boating day tomorrow. Thanks to all for taking the time to share your knowledge.

 

[Iprof]

Make sure your trim tabs are up, they cause a boat to really steer funny in reverse when they are down.

Ken

 

[KRB64]

Hope that all made sense....it makes sense in my head.

It does now. Thank you all for explaining.

I do the short burts already but never thought to not while steering.

And I leave my rabs down too. I'll try raising them next time.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[LetsRock]

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.

Even better, I have a very strong brother in law who is able to man handle the boat as I reach the pilings and he muscles me right into position. When he isnt on the boat then its keeping fingers and toes crossed and hope my slip neighbors are out for the day.