docking...

[Gunn]

It's a bit tough to visualize, but think of a shopping cart. If you're pushing a shopping cart forward and want to stop you pull back with both hands. If you want to make a gradual turn to the left, you push forward with your right hand while holding the left hand still. If you want to make a very sharp turn (as in doing a 180* turnaround) you would pull back with one hand and push forward with the other. It's the same principle with twin engines. If you can drive a shopping cart you can drive a twin engine boat.

The shopping cart analogy is another piece of great advice from Gofirstclass and is easy to recall in moments of panic.

To go along with that, the shopping cart will pivot around you...where you are standing. A good thing to know is where does your boat pivot when you cross-control the throttles? This will help when needing to make a 90 degree turn. You'll then know how far you need to pull forward to then turn in that direction. I know for my boat with twin sterndrives, the pivot point is nicely situated about where I am standing at the helm. So I can look to my right or left, line up the fairway or other point to turn (accounting for wind/current), remove all motion, and then cross the shifters and end up pointing right in the center of my new direction.

Good luck!

Tom

 

[themikehyde]

Never bump/hit anything that a little wax can't fix!

After you get the hang of docking with the twins, practice with only one engine, for those "oh ****" times. Better to be familiar before hand than when you really need it!

 

[DouglasMB]

Never bump/hit anything that a little wax can't fix!

After you get the hang of docking with the twins, practice with only one engine, for those "oh ****" times. Better to be familiar before hand than when you really need it!

I never thought of that... good idea thank you

 

[Gunn]

Never bump/hit anything that a little wax can't fix!

After you get the hang of docking with the twins, practice with only one engine, for those "oh ****" times. Better to be familiar before hand than when you really need it!

Mike, you mean like what happened to me last weekend when my fuel pump quit??!! Had to back into an unfamiliar slip at 10:00pm on just a port engine...and no power steering! But...never touched a piling.

Sent from my LG Thrill 3D using Tapatalk 2

 

[themikehyde]

Exactly! Been there, done that several times myself!

 

[CBRED]

One method to learn "split in the shifters" is to use the thumb method. My dad thought me this years ago when moving around tight spaces. Now I do it and don't even think about it when at the helm of a twin. Because I am not the best writer I found a video on YouTube that explains better than I could on a write up here. Here the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2TNpfvn6QA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[electricaldoctor]

Try that with inboards ... total different story than I/O's

 

[K-DUB]

As touched on earlier, there is nothing better than a well synchronized first mate/captain team. It takes a bit to get there tough since both are just learning.
It's important to explain that sometimes tact and manners is/are left by the wayside when things go sideways, and due to urgency an order has to be "barked" out to avoid trading paint with the neighbor, etc.
That will be referred to as your "captain’s voice" and in no way should be confused with yelling.
Same goes with anchoring. Back in the day I had a few cold shoulders after using my captain’s voice. Now it's all automatic. Things still go sideways every once in a while, but now there is a mutual understanding:thumbsup:
Good luck and enjoy!

Kevin

 

[CV-23]

great info thank you so much... the guy that owns the boat yard where I will have my boat delieverd said I could buy some of his time to take me out to show me the area and some trouble spots to avoid... maybe i should pay for an extra couple hours just to work on docking in my slip. He did say something about showing me how to dock the boat without ever touching the wheel.

It will be the best money you ever spent!!! Go some extra hours and save thousands of $$$$$, Mike.

 

[DouglasMB]

As touched on earlier, there is nothing better than a well synchronized first mate/captain team. It takes a bit to get there tough since both are just learning.
It's important to explain that sometimes tact and manners is/are left by the wayside when things go sideways, and due to urgency an order has to be "barked" out to avoid trading paint with the neighbor, etc.
That will be referred to as your "captain’s voice" and in no way should be confused with yelling.
Same goes with anchoring. Back in the day I had a few cold shoulders after using my captain’s voice. Now it's all automatic. Things still go sideways every once in a while, but now there is a mutual understanding:thumbsup:
Good luck and enjoy!

Kevin

I could not agree any more... and it seems my son is just that guy... sad that he wont always be on the boat with me. But he seems to see me look in a direction and poof there he goes doing what I need before I ask. It was a work of art last night. My second time docking my boat solo (not solo alone but solo no one around to help who has more exp) and I have to really say I did a bang up job... err... ok maybe not a bang up job... hell you get what I am saying.

My first time docking it solo I was way over thinking it and was trying to use both throttles and do it all fancy blah blah... last night as we approached the dock i just but one engine in neutral and used the other and docked it just as sweet as can be... with the help of my son tieing off the bumper and jumping on the dock with a bow line as we approched it was smooth... i'll take a little victory over a little loss anyday

 

[DouglasMB]

One method to learn "split in the shifters" is to use the thumb method. My dad thought me this years ago when moving around tight spaces. Now I do it and don't even think about it when at the helm of a twin. Because I am not the best writer I found a video on YouTube that explains better than I could on a write up here. Here the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2TNpfvn6QA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

good video nice and simple I will have to play with it a little... that water where he was is nice and calm and that helps

 

[K-DUB]

I could not agree any more... and it seems my son is just that guy... sad that he wont always be on the boat with me. But he seems to see me look in a direction and poof there he goes doing what I need before I ask. It was a work of art last night. My second time docking my boat solo (not solo alone but solo no one around to help who has more exp) and I have to really say I did a bang up job... err... ok maybe not a bang up job... hell you get what I am saying.

My first time docking it solo I was way over thinking it and was trying to use both throttles and do it all fancy blah blah... last night as we approached the dock i just but one engine in neutral and used the other and docked it just as sweet as can be... with the help of my son tieing off the bumper and jumping on the dock with a bow line as we approched it was smooth... i'll take a little victory over a little loss anyday

That's awesome. What boating is all about. Some great father/son bonding and fond memories. I learned everything I know about boating from my father and I cherish that every day.

 

[rmarkko17]

Hi all, just bought a "new" 1990 350EC, I am pretty excited, but a little nervous as I have never had anything this large before. I have some experience at the helm of a friends 40'something Carver, but it's always a little different when the primary responsibility falls on you. I'm sure I'll look to lean on all of you for support and advice as I continue to grow my knowledge!

And to Douglas MB.....GO BROWNS!!!!!!