Need More Practice....

[DCarl320]

Well, I finally was able to get back out on the lake today, and it felt GREAT!!! Right after work I had a friend pick up my oldest son and meet me at the lake, and we took her out for a quick run. He was trying to convince me to let him tie off his wake board rope to the center grab bar on the transom. I told him I will have a harness by the end of the week, but he seems to think that it will hold the weight? Any thoughts? :huh:

We had a good run around the lake and I had been stressing over docking procedures as this is the largest boat I have driven. But I was able to do the 45 degree nose in, cut the wheel towards the dock, and then bump into reverse thingy and it worked well, I was able to snug up twice. :thumbsup: What an unbelievable boost in confidence that gave me. I will have the admiral and the mates with me tomorrow, so I get to practice some more. Can anyone recommend any other skill drills I can work on while tooling about? :grin:

 

[MXer478]

Congrats on the trip out! Not exactly sure what your talking about with the bar, but I'd wait for the harness if youre not sure.

 

[Sundancer]

Well, I finally was able to get back out on the lake today, and it felt GREAT!!! Right after work I had a friend pick up my oldest son and meet me at the lake, and we took her out for a quick run. He was trying to convince me to let him tie off his wake board rope to the center grab bar on the transom. I told him I will have a harness by the end of the week, but he seems to think that it will hold the weight? Any thoughts? :huh:


We had a good run around the lake and I had been stressing over docking procedures as this is the largest boat I have driven. But I was able to do the 45 degree nose in, cut the wheel towards the dock, and then bump into reverse thingy and it worked well, I was able to snug up twice. :thumbsup: What an unbelievable boost in confidence that gave me. I will have the admiral and the mates with me tomorrow, so I get to practice some more. Can anyone recommend any other skill drills I can work on while tooling about? :grin:

1) Same drill, blindfolded!
2) Wax on, wax off......

 

[Skip]

We travel to many different marinas each season-and each docking situation is a little bit different. When I first bought the 420 I had to get used to a 6 knot idle speed and the "going there right now" when you put her in gear aspect of diesels. To practice backing the boat down I would toss an orange life preserver in the river and simulate that the jacket was a piling or finger pier. I'd then work the shifters while standing in front of the shifters looking towards the stern-facing the direction of travel, with hands on the shifters behind me-and try to get close to the jacket.. This really helped a lot, and I used the same technique to teach my wife how to back down the boat and maneuver in close quarters. She can pivot the 420 and back it down in a tight fairway pretty well now.

regards
Skip

 

[Morpheus]

Do it again with a 20kt cross wind

 

[DCarl320]

Thanks for the input, sounds like I'm on the right track. MXr, I will post pics later as I am on my way out there now.

Sundancer, Morpheus, I might try the blindfold :wink: but I will pass on the x-wind for now, even though I'm sure its coming whether I want it or not.

 

[Morpheus]

Trust me you want to practice the x-wind at some point before you actually need to do it I was at a ramp with my 240sundeck and I had to try 10 times before I could get it on the trailer that was not fun, luckly no one was waiting on me.

 

[DCarl320]

WHY, WHY Did you curse me Morpheus?!? I got out to the lake and lo and behold, cross wind into the dock!!! Going AND coming!! I was able to come off the end tie pretty good, and back out into the lane although it looked real close. And on the way back while I was trying to coach my wife on how to jump off the boat with a line and pull me in, I saw one of the fuel attendants.... Very helpful bloke, I had to clear one BR, and came a little close, but I took my time, and landed with minimal assistance. :thumbsup:

MXr, Here is the bar on the transom my friend was looking to attach a tow rope to.

 

[Morpheus]

WHY, WHY Did you curse me Morpheus?!? I got out to the lake and lo and behold, cross wind into the dock!!! Going AND coming!! I was able to come off the end tie pretty good, and back out into the lane although it looked real close. And on the way back while I was trying to coach my wife on how to jump off the boat with a line and pull me in, I saw one of the fuel attendants.... Very helpful bloke, I had to clear one BR, and came a little close, but I took my time, and landed with minimal assistance. :thumbsup:

MXr, Here is the bar on the transom my friend was looking to attach a tow rope to.

View attachment 2697

SORRY :huh: but I knew it would happen sooner or later cause it happened to me. At least you had people there to help you with lines to pull you in for me it was me and the boat while the admiral was standing next to the truck yelling "What's taking you so long" :grin:

Also I don't think I would tie a ski rope to that grab bar.

 

[At Ease]

My vote is no one using the grab bar. Wait for the harness!

 

[Pirate]

Regarding the hand grab bar as a tie off for a tow rope.... No, not if you like the bar and the fiberglass surrounding it! :smt001 While it may work for a few minutes, a failure ranging from spider cracks to a complete failure would be imminent.

 

[DCarl320]

The Harness is on its way!!! And with the $4.06 at the pump, I am in no rush to pull anything. Thanks All.

 

[icu812]

Hey -
I think using the grab bar is a real bad idea (unless maybe you're good at fiberglass repair). Use one of the transom eyes until you get the harness. - Bob

 

[DCarl320]

Hey -
I think using the grab bar is a real bad idea (unless maybe you're good at fiberglass repair). Use one of the transom eyes until you get the harness. - Bob

Yeah thanks Bob, The harness that goes eye to eye is inbound. It looked like Presentation was using the same eye on his vids.

 

[gengiant]

DCarl320,

On our 270DA with the extended swim platform I found that the harness you are talking about gets caught up on the swim platform when swinging side to side. I now attach the harness to the stern cleats about 1.5' above the extended swim platform. This solved my towing issues.

Cheers!

 

[DCarl320]

DCarl320,

On our 270DA with the extended swim platform I found that the harness you are talking about gets caught up on the swim platform when swinging side to side. I now attach the harness to the stern cleats about 1.5' above the extended swim platform. This solved my towing issues.

Cheers!

Thanks TONS!! That info is really helpful. Has there been any adverse affects on the gel coat?

 

[dpvandy01]

And on the way back while I was trying to coach my wife on how to jump off the boat with a line and pull me in,
View attachment 2697

I'd say keep practicing.... Your wife should never have to JUMP off the boat for any other reason than an extreme emergency. IMO.. Good luck

 

[DCarl320]

I'd say keep practicing.... Your wife should never have to JUMP off the boat for any other reason than an extreme emergency. IMO.. Good luck

LOL I agree, but when I tried to tell her how to drive the boat towards the dock under power, she said "you do it I would rather jump off." She is a bit of a daredevil with some things. :grin:

 

[Loneranger]

Have you received the tow harness yet? Did it work as well as you had hoped?

I have roughly the same boat as you and just this past weekend my wife and I were talking about how to tow behind the 270.

Thanks
John

 

[wickeral]

LOL I agree, but when I tried to tell her how to drive the boat towards the dock under power, she said "you do it I would rather jump off." She is a bit of a daredevil with some things. :grin:

Carl, your wife belongs on the Bow, ready to throw the Dock Boy the Bow line. Too many boaters never learn that the Bow is the first line secured and the last line released! The operator can swivel/pivot the rear of the boat with the Bow tied securely. You cannot swivel/pivot the Bow with the Stern tied. As mentioned, NEVER, EVER allow anyone to jump ashore from a vessel underway, (meaning untied). Another helpful suggestion is to always stay away from using Throttles during docking, Clutches only! You will stay out of trouble that way until your experienced to stay calm when things go wrong. Al W.