Twin Screw docking book

I bought the Chapmans guide which _kinda_ helped, but he always talked about docking Bow in. I always dock Stern in (in my slip anyway). My biggest help (and I am still learning..aren't we all to some degree) was going out and practice backing into a buoy and learning where the boat pivots. Mine pivots just aft of the drivers seat..ish.

One of the big things that helped me is that it is exactly the same stick motion as driving a ZTR Mower, a Caterpillar, or Bobcat etc. I have loads of experience mowing my 5 acres with a ZTR so I just think about how I would back the lawn mower into the shed.
 
promocop said:
The one thing I have learned is that if you are going too SLOW in the wind, the wind will take over and move the boat more then if you have a little more steam under you use the screws too manuver. Make sense?
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WORD

sb in gp said:
I was always told to "not go any faster than the speed you are prepared to hit something with".
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ALSO TRUE!

The other thing for me is to know when to add more power! Occassionally, when things start to go really wrong a well aimed jolt of power can straighten out the situation.

It gets really hard when things are squirrely. And then your passengers will want to help!!

First thing I tell my passengers in bad conditions is to stay away from the piles and let the boat take the smack! (Passengers will whine when they get banged up. . .then sue me! The boat won't). I also tell the passengers to hang on, because I am likely to gun the engines if a gust takes the bow. . and I don't want people falling over. . .

The hardest part I have is actually not when the bow swings, but when BOTH the bow AND stern start moving downwind TOGETHER 90 degrees from the way I want to go. (Thats the point when you learn about "timing" (boat sliding past the slip, then you "juice it in" at just the right moment) and "laying into a pile" to use the pile as a pivot point to get to where you want to go)
 
Click on the google search links going to.....

www.BOE Marine Docking School

You can get some good practice there :grin:

Just noticed on CSR
The site navigator has the link for the marine docking school also.

Im better with a single srew
 
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jmunro123 said:
Thanks guys. I understand that it takes practise and that is what I am planning for. Those great nights after work just me and the boat - idling , shifting . Ya. But I could use a book to better understand the concepts so I can practise them, especially in tough conditions.
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OK. That's easy. In your mind, place a large "X" over the top of your boat. Rudders amidship, LEAVE THE THROTTLES ALONE and put both shifters in neutral. Make your arms stiff. Push the starboard shifter into forward. Your body is facing at roughly 11 o'clock. That is the
direction the boat is twisting. Pull the starboard shifter into neutral, then into reverse. You are facing at 1 o'clock. That is the way the boat is going to spin.

Oversimplified....absolutely. Hopefully, you get the pix. I spend a couple of hours a month just practicing docking. I spend about 8 hours at the beginning of every season re-introducing myself to the fine art. I am a wreck every time I come out of those sessions.
 
Books may give you the theoretical approach to handling a boat, but Sundancers react a lot differently in lots of respects from a conventional inboard. The reasons are pockets, v-drives, aft COG, among others.

You may get a broad understanding from reading, but you will never learn to be comfortable handling your boat unless you just get out and run it, handle it, dock it,......in all sorts of conditions. Sure, you have to write the check to repair your boat when you screw up handling, but what better incentive is there it learn to do it right?

And I'm sure I'll make a lot of friends with this one, but specific advice on handling a v-drive Sundancer from outdrive owners will be about as useful as general advice gained from reading Chapman's.
 
Here is the best advice I have to offer. I have been running single and twin screw boats since I was 10 and I'm now 63. I have run express boats, bridge boats, steel, wood and fiberglass hulled boats. Each and every boat is different and so adjustments must be made for wind, tide and weight on board. Reading to get the basics is a great start, but nothing beats hands on experience. My 340 DA is still new to me since I only purchased it late last summer. If it makes you feel any better I'm still learning how to dock in a stiff cross wind, but sooner or later I will get it. Just takes time. Make your approach slow and methodical and you will be just fine. Good luck and enjoy your boat.
George
 
fwebster said:
And I'm sure I'll make a lot of friends with this one, but specific advice on handling a v-drive Sundancer from outdrive owners will be about as useful as general advice gained from reading Chapman's.
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+1 for this....

I had a 280 stern drive prior to my v drive 320 and they are not even close to the same boat as far as handling. Firstly, throttles and shifters vs. single throttle/shift combo on the 280. Secondly, 320 is very slow to respond vs 280. And finally, vectored thrust....you know you can turn the stern drive to provide a vectored thrust on the 280 which will make that 280 turn on a dime in any condition. The 320 does not do that, will not do that and you need plenty of throttles at times to get her to turn.

Stern drive is nothing like a v drive.....
 
Use your piles...that is what they are for and if you can get over the fact that you are against a pile, you will be much better at docking. Piles are your friends.

My problem arises not when docking but when at the island. Current going west, wind going east, almost no room and docking next to my neighbors 320. Since we spend the night we need all anchors out the bow, he is already set and here is come fighting current, wind, trying to set and anchor with almost no room to get in the spot they have saved for me.

Sometimes I just want a bowrider so I can beach it......Whats a little scratch between friends.....:)
 
We all learn differently so here are my two cents. Watch the other boats in the marina how do they handle situations like you are thinking of. Go to your local West Marine and get a video on on handling your type of boat. The make them for twin screw, twin I/O and I/O. These people know what they are doing and will show you how to do it right, remmber a picture is worth a thousand words. If your baot has a pivot point make sure you know where it is, usually 1/3 of the way forward from the stern--exluding the swim platform. Knowing where this point is will help you figure out what the boat is doing. After you watch the video--practise, after you practise, practise some more the watch the video again.

Good Luck
 
Thanks for all the advice. The issue I will face the most which has me the most concerned is current. Last summer I was in a basin with no current this year I am on a river. Depending on the recent rain fall the current can be slow .5Knots up to 2.5Knots. Basically, whats the advice for backing in between two pilings so I am stern in.
The current is from the Starboard. There is a boat beside me on the Port side.
 
How to improve your docking in one easy step.

Be the last to arrive at a CSR gathering. They give you a crappy slip to maneuver while 20 half drunk members watch you try to pull in.
 
Pseudomind said:
The Boaters Pocket Reference book section on docking is not to bad, This little book has a large amount of information and it also has pictures and diagrams West Marine...less then $15.00

There is also a book out called PowerBoat Handling

This book PowerBoat Handling it is under $20.00 has a multitude of different docking scenarios with depictions of the current and the wind and the use of spring lines. covers both single and dual engine boats

Still as I say "read, learn practice" practice, practice," and then "read, learn practice" practice, practice," some more. I still hav ea captain friend who I go out with on a regular basis and practice docking procedures with about once a month.
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Have a look at the book in the second link.
 
I went from a single outboard to twin inboards and found that while I knew the basics the best thing was to practice. Unfortunately everytime I tried there was always an audience - people seem to know that boats+wind or currents = good times.
I ended up finding spots which were out in the open and just experimenting with spinning the boat using the engines. Figuring out how different amounts of throttle was just a learn from doing thing for me and now feel very comfortable with handling the boat in tight quarters. Finding a good book and getting a theory down is a good start but just get out in the open and play. There's a lot to learn and once you get comfortable with it - twins are fantastic!
 
jmunro123 said:
I am looking for a book on handling a Twin screw boat. I can do the simple stuff, but I would like to get some reference material I can read and get even better at docking, undocking my boat particulary in windy unstable conditions. I have seen a few on the Internet but was wondering if anyone can recommend a reference book for handling a twin screw boat?
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There's a DVD that covers a lot of this:
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It's not a very well done disc, basically just a dub of a VHS tape. It's not the most well-done video you're going to watch either. But it does go over a bunch of stuff and shows it happening. Don't buy it new, scrounge for a used one on ebay or amazon.

When docking it helps to think two steps ahead. Make note of the conditions and get used to recognizing when your boat is going to get into trouble. Work to avoid that. This beyond just trying to get the docking accomplished. As you start to feel the boat getting into trouble don't be afraid to back up and make another go at it. It's usually easier to back up before getting into trouble instead of getting out of it. Like getting pushed up against a seawall.

Look at the flags to see how the wind is going to push your hull around (the tall freeboard). Then look at the water around the pilings or buoys to see what sort of current is active. Factor those into your plan ahead of time. Take a different path when it looks like conditions would push you around. Hug closer to the wind or current so you still have maneuvering room when they push you around.

Also learn what speed your boat best moves through the marina. If you're traveling at too slow a speed you may find the boat wanders way too much. Just a bit more speed may put the boat on a much more confident track. That and get a feel for how well those twin engines will pull the boat to a stop in a HURRY. It's easier when you have combined throttle/transmission sticks but with practice you can do it with separate ones too. 99% of the time you're not going to be using the throttles (just in-gear idle RPMs) and it's good to learn that way. But don't deny yourself the necessary power to keep things from going wrong (just don't over-apply power and make things 'glass-crunchingly worse!).

I've read a lot of the books and seen the videos but nothing helps are much as practicing with your own boat. I was lucky to have Jim at BOE spend an afternoon with me practicing docking. It was very helpful. Perhaps you can find someone at your marina willing to do the same for you.
 
jrirvine1 said:
How to improve your docking in one easy step.

Be the last to arrive at a CSR gathering. They give you a crappy slip to maneuver while 20 half drunk members watch you try to pull in.
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Yes, but you handled it with such grace and ease...
 
There is a great DVD on Twin Engine boat handling by Bennett Productions. Watching it a few times really gives you the basics needed to gain confidence. Having said that, I agree with the rest of the forumn; practice, practice, practice!
 
I would add that there is no shame in taking as many tries and go arounds to get it right. Everyone does it and sometimes we nail it and sometimes not. Just go around and try again. Screw the dock audience. Important thing is that your boat is in the slip unharmed. Even if it takes several stabs at it.
 
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