- Aug 17, 2010
- 1,589
- Boat Info
- 2008 44 Sedan Bridge
2017 Avon 380DL RIB w/ Yamaha 40
2022 Sea-Doo GTX LTD
2020 Sea-Doo RXT-X
- Engines
- Twin QSC-500 HO
When backing into a slip with a finger on the port side, docked boat on the starboard side, and wind and current on the port side, the boat is going to drift into the docked boat, with the bow moving faster than the stern. As soon as you start turning that wheel to move the stern closer to the dock or fight the current, the bow is going to go hard into the docked boat.
This describes my slip, and the conditions about 50% of the time. Add into that the fact that the boat beside me is 40+ feet long with an anchor sticking way out on a pulpit! It is a challenge for sure, and directing the sterndrives can be helpful.
As long as the wind isn't so strong that I can't rotate the bow into it while reversing, which is most of the time, what I find useful is to back towards the finger at roughly a 45 degree angle (somewhat into the wind), with the big boat/anchor off the starboard side of my gelcoat/windsheid...and face! All the while the wind wants to push my bow into it. Use the shifters to start rotating to port, maybe over rotate a little, neutral, steer to port to bring the stern back over to port, reverse and out, centre the wheel, reverse both engines, rotate or over-rotate, steer, back, rotate, etc. Once I am in far enough I can usually just port reverse to get straight, then straight back.
Sometime I pivot a bit around a fender against my neighbour's boat, but it is expected (when my neighbour is tied a little loose, I always have to nudge him over to squeeze in, and that what fenders are for. Just don't let them roll up.
This is controllable and determinate. Timing the wind is a crapshoot for me. Oh, the wind stopped, wait now it's a big gust...doh, let's try again!
It's not easy and my wife hates returning in those conditions, but it's not a big deal if your reactions are automatic (which mine are about 70% of the time!) and you take your time.