Docking with twin IOs

[garmett]

All comments on here are correct,....emphasizing on practice and getting comfortable.
You will be fine once you get the feel of what the boat can do using the controls, and not the steering.
and adding throttle, and reversing engine's when necessary.
Go slow and pull out if you feel it is not working. Last weekend I was putting a new pontoon into a slip with a lot of wind, it took 5 attempts to get it done. You will be a master in no time!

 

[JVM225]

JVM,

Sounds good, and it's easy..... until there's wind, and then it's a *****, unless going into a dock where you'll tie upwind of the dock, in which one lets the wind blow them to the dock. Easy. Also easy if the wind is straight in or out. It's the crosswinds, when you want to be downwind of the dock, so the boat isn't blown constantly back into the dock.

It's the docking downwind (the dock is upwind of the boat), and unless one has the techniques down and doesn't hesitate, it's all but impossible. So, backing in at idle won't work.

I'm looking for the little techniques that will allow the boat to get close enough to get a line off before getting blown down wind into the next boat. Don't have that down, yet.

Do you know how to post a pix here? I can download one but can't get it into the message. Thx.

I have to dock in wind frequently. When I have someone with me that knows what they're doing it is easy because you just direct them. When I'm alone I have a plan in my head as I'm approaching the dock as to which cleat is the most crucial to secure in order to avoid being pushed around by the wind, and a line ready. I get the boat where I want it, secure the line/cleat I determined was most crucial first, and then the rest.
Practice is the most important thing. That will build confidence and keep you calm. Calm is critical. Once you are really comfortable with the boat you'll find ways to use the wind to help you when possible, and the wind will be less of a problem for you.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

I have to dock in wind frequently. When I have someone with me that knows what they're doing it is easy because you just direct them. When I'm alone I have a plan in my head as I'm approaching the dock as to which cleat is the most crucial to secure in order to avoid being pushed around by the wind, and a line ready. I get the boat where I want it, secure the line/cleat I determined was most crucial first, and then the rest.
Practice is the most important thing. That will build confidence and keep you calm. Calm is critical. Once you are really comfortable with the boat you'll find ways to use the wind to help you when possible, and the wind will be less of a problem for you.

Well said.

One thing I have not agreed with with many boaters is not using the steering with twin sterndrives.
Why not be more efficient with the forces by directing the thrust?
That would be like saying twin pod type drives should not be turned - just forward reverse only :smt101

On a normal calm day I pass my slip stopping with the stern even with my neighbor (on the port side). Turn the drives to port and back in with the starboard engine in and out of reverse at idle. The offset drag of the port drive helps push the bow over. As I approach I straighten out the drives and bump port forward to push the bow more if needed. 90 percent of the time I only have one engine in gear and it makes a perfect arc in every time.
Now with winds:
I deal with 20 to 30 mph quartering cross winds from East or West many times through a season. The above approach gets reversed if the Easterly winds are really strong. I have often found turning the drives toward the wind as i enter the slip and powering hard one forward and the other reverse necessary to make a controlled backing into my slip. Turning the drives actually allows me to crab the boat sideways using the downwind drive in forward to push the bow into the wind.


Practice, a thought out plan as you approach and smooth controlled actions are the key. Power is OK as long as it's not applied in a panic and there's nothing wrong with making multiple attempts to get in safely.

 

[Woody]

I confess, I don't swish it every time I enter the slip, forward or back makes no difference, sometimes I'm up against the dock on one side or pilings on the other before the boats 1/3 the way in. Unless some ones on the dock there is no getting a line on it cause the wind has me to far away. I haven't hurt anyone yet or hit another boat so I figure I'm doing good.

 

[Kameroo]

One thing I have not agreed with with many boaters is not using the steering with twin sterndrives.

I'm with you 100% on that one. When we had our 280(300) with twins and Alpha Ones, sometimes it was easier to pick one engine and dock it with the help of the wheel like a single. Anybody who's never tried to dock with that configuration just wouldn't get it. Practice is everything, and the reward is people saying, "you make it look so easy!"

 

[Seevee]

I'm with you 100% on that one. When we had our 280(300) with twins and Alpha Ones, sometimes it was easier to pick one engine and dock it with the help of the wheel like a single. Anybody who's never tried to dock with that configuration just wouldn't get it. Practice is everything, and the reward is people saying, "you make it look so easy!"

Kameroo,

I'm still in the learning stage, and need a lot more practice. I've been at it with twin IOs for about three years, one with a bow thruster. Down wind is a no brainer, no wind is easy. What is hard is upwind, especially when there's another boat downwind of me, allowing no room for a mistake. That's what I still need to learn. I've played with several techniques.

As for not using steering, I agree, but can't be done with idle power with wind, so figuring out how much and when is the issue, and if one makes a mistake it can easily damage something.... so it's not easy to practice. I will generally come in and get "close" and use the dock hands to help me. Without them I would have trouble. If there's another boat downwind of me, the only way I's go in is if I could get a two lines to the dock from the swim platform before backing up. So one person could tie off the bow to keep it from swinging and gradually tightening as the other pulled the stern back. I can do it with one line, but need a dock hand that really knows what they are doing (which is unlikely).

I have found that there is some authority if you get close, turn the wheel toward the dock, full swing, with the drive nearest the dock in reverse and the other in forward with some power I can ease toward the dock, but not easy to control. Anyone tried that?

So, I keep practicing.....

 

[garryowen]

Kameroo,

I'm still in the learning stage, and need a lot more practice. I've been at it with twin IOs for about three years, one with a bow thruster. Down wind is a no brainer, no wind is easy. What is hard is upwind, especially when there's another boat downwind of me, allowing no room for a mistake. That's what I still need to learn. I've played with several techniques.

As for not using steering, I agree, but can't be done with idle power with wind, so figuring out how much and when is the issue, and if one makes a mistake it can easily damage something.... so it's not easy to practice. I will generally come in and get "close" and use the dock hands to help me. Without them I would have trouble. If there's another boat downwind of me, the only way I's go in is if I could get a two lines to the dock from the swim platform before backing up. So one person could tie off the bow to keep it from swinging and gradually tightening as the other pulled the stern back. I can do it with one line, but need a dock hand that really knows what they are doing (which is unlikely).

I have found that there is some authority if you get close, turn the wheel toward the dock, full swing, with the drive nearest the dock in reverse and the other in forward with some power I can ease toward the dock, but not easy to control. Anyone tried that?

So, I keep practicing.....

wasn't going to post as seems to be well covered.

a couple of points you may or may not realize. with your i-o drives, this changes the pivot point of your boat as apposed to v or i-b drive.

was told several time just use the drives and don't touch the wheel. the boat will pivot in its own length.

after watching a 310 like mine with v drives and trying to mimic his maneuver, we figured out the pivot point on the b-3 i-o is a lot longer than the vee drive.

the props are set 3 or 4 feet farther back to stern. this make for a pivot point more to the back or middle of the rear cockpit. from the helm perspective, this creates more of a bow swing than a pivot. the i-o can turn and point the thrust where the i-b are constant to the direction of the boat. using both causes the maneuver to snap around much faster. before you know it, your chasing your tail. in the end making bigger and wilder sweeps till you are totally out of position.

i find it's easier to use the wheel or the drives but not both. as already stated using wheel and drives to steer, you have to be very quick on the helm.

also the reverse drive doesn't keep up with the forward drive so this will add to the slew. when using drives, give a little more reverse or less forward. i find it more effective to idle engines and bump in and out of gear for control.

we use the center cleat first also.

everyone has given good advise and i am only trying to point out the difference between i-o and v,direct drives.