Backing into a slip with a Sedan Bridge question...

S

SWF340

New Member
Dec 26, 2013
129
Florida
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2005
Engines
Horizon 8.1S
The Sea Ray sedan bridges are beautiful boats, my favorite is the 47 because of the aft galley and the overall layout, but the other models both larger and smaller are very, very nice and I could "settle" for any of them. :)

A caveat for me is the helm being located forward on the bridge versus abaft like most convertibles and sport fishers. It's a caveat at this point because I haven't asked this question. Are you able to back in and get the boat tied off securely by yourself?

Thanks for for your replies.
 
Four Suns said:
Only if you have a decent first aid kit on board.
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Lol!!! I honestly wondered when and where I'd see that. That's so funny!! Oh...I have a decent first aid kit, whether or not it's adequate, well that's not up to me to decide. ;)

When I asked the question I was thinking of your picture actually because I've seen a number of DB's parked at the end of the T, or along side as you are there. I just looked at the Sea Ray model archives, your boat is set up with what I think is the better bridge layout. Passengers in the front, captain in back where he has good sight lines. Nice!

Dquint said:
Yes, no problem. I do it with my 560 all the time.
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Wow D'!! A 560!! Okay, if you have the US version of the 560 then I think your helm seating is aft of the lounge seating on the bridge, is that correct? If so, that's what I think is the best set up for everyone including the passengers. From that position you have great sight lines. I was recently on boat a Meridian 459...a very spacious boat and nicely laid out. However, from the helm you couldn't see the port or starboard stern corners and would need a mate to help. One can always use a landmark, too...the dockbox, or a piling etc.

Two very nice boats there guys. Btw, do you access your engines rooms from the cockpit? The layout drawings look as if the engines are beneath the salons. Thanks.
 
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I back my 550 in all the time, and it's relatively easy even with a breeze blowing. The breeze only changes the angle that I back in as I approach the slip so I'm backing upwind.

Think of it like this. You know your slip is wider than your boat, right? So if you line up one side of the boat with the corresponding side of the slip, you know the other side is OK and doesn't need attention....because your slip is wider than the boat.

Now here's a little secret to help gauge how far to back in. One day when the boat was properly positioned in the slip (fore to aft) I spray painted a black rectangle on the finger dock. The rectangle is about 3"x5" and is located where the helm is when the boat is backed in far enough.

So when I'm backing all I have to do is line up the port side of the boat with the port side of the slip and back it in until that black rectangle lines up with the helm. Bingo.
 
Bingo is right! and thanks for replying GFC. It's the knowing how far back to go, well rather knowing when to stop that I was thinking about. I appreciate the confidence of your post as well.

Btw, I have a canopy on my boat similar to yours. My frame doesn't have the usual diagonal supports that, imo, block the view and gets in the way of dropping a line over the side if we want to fish.

Thanks again for the reply and the tip.
 
The 52DB is easy to back into the slip - from the helm I can look down the stairs and see the port side aft corner of the boat, I use that as my guide (as someone else posted, if the port side is fine then the Starboard will take care of itself). In a sense the harder part is making sure the bow is coming in straight because when you're looking back and down you don't really have a good sense of the bow. That said, I regularly take the boat out and back it in/tie up by myself, no problem.

Regards,
Jason
 
Think of it like this. You know your slip is wider than your boat, right?
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NOw How the HELL are we supposed to figure that one out.... Damn there's so many things to learn before you Back in...
I've always thought the the front of the boat was pointed to pry apart the dock where in narrows...

Just being a smart Ass here ....See it's not only Gary.. hahahahhaah
 
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boltman said:
NOw How the HELL are we supposed to figure that one out.... Damn there's so many things to learn before you Back in...
I've always thought the the front of the boat was pointed to pry apart the dock where in narrows...

Just being a smart Ass here ....See it's not only Gary.. hahahahhaah
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Thats what she said!!
 
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I agree with others that your primary "view window" is down the stairs looking on the small part of the platform. Once you get the boat in line on that side (whether it's a port or stbd, depending on a boat design, in my case it's port side), the other side should be fine. GFC shared good tricks, but they will only work in your slip. Once you start traveling and docking in transient slips you need to pay attention and have good 360* view. There are times when there's no finger on the port side and visa versa, the place could be tight, so you must keep a close eye and control the bow in precise manor.

Docking a bridge boat is different than docking express cruiser due to obstructed viz, but it doesn't take too long to get used to it. You'll learn how to use different objects as your reference points, so don't let the docking intimidate you.

P.S.
While back I was under the impression that having helm moved aft (like in 480/500/520, etc.) you'll have very clear view of the whole stern. When I boarded 520 for the first time I was surprised that it's not so. The bench behind the helm seats actually blocks the view leaving the captain the same view window as you get with model where the helm is forward (like on my boat).
 
After my controlled crash landing yesterday into my slip in strong wind and current both going in the same direction, I will answer the original question with a "no". Maybe one day. Right now I need dock hands talking me in and grabbing the lines we toss to them.
 
I had one of those, except mine was slow.....drifting out of control backwards into a Pylon at the Fuel Dock $14,000 dollar hole, like a soccer ball size, amazing..that's why they're made of fiberglass, they can easily be repaired....
 
boltman said:
I had one of those, except mine was slow.....drifting out of control backwards into a Pylon at the Fuel Dock $14,000 dollar hole, like a soccer ball size, amazing..that's why they're made of fiberglass, they can easily be repaired....
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A $14,000 easy repair!
 
boltman said:
.....drifting out of control backwards into a Pylon at the Fuel Dock $14,000 dollar hole....
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Ok Boltman, I gotta ask. You have two big MAN diesels. A bow thruster - AND I think I saw you posted having a stern thruster too. How the F*&K do you "drift out of control" and hit a Pylon (piling?). Did anyone see you pull this manuever off?
 
ZZ13 said:
After my controlled crash landing yesterday into my slip in strong wind and current both going in the same direction, I will answer the original question with a "no". Maybe one day. Right now I need dock hands talking me in and grabbing the lines we toss to them.
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Bill, sorry to hear about the trouble. IMO, bow thruster will fix (or at least help a lot) your docking issue. Bridge boats are sensitive to high winds and with the strong current it only makes it very difficult, and sometimes unsafe. I would start making calls to have it installed. Otherwise, you have to really pick your days with good weather and watch the tides.
 
Alex F said:
Bill, sorry to hear about the trouble. IMO, bow thruster will fix (or at least help a lot) your docking issue. Bridge boats are sensitive to high winds and with the strong current it only makes it very difficult, and sometimes unsafe. I would start making calls to have it installed. Otherwise, you have to really pick your days with good weather and watch the tides.
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Thanks. It was Ok. No damage or anything. Just it felt Mother Nature had more control over the boat than I did. I am counting on practice to win out in time. I'll definitely keep the bow thruster idea in mind if I don't get skilled enough.
 
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