Backing into slip

[eyschulman]

Its not a stunt if power and access to boat call for a preferred side and stern in. What about the breeze at a hot dock or the view or privacy? what about cleaning or waxing the topsides? Having confident backing ability in your bag is only a plus and how to use it is up to the skipper. By far most of the boats I see backing in have a reason. Good judgement is always a factor and if your preferred side is a stretch too far don't do it, same rule for everything else about boating. I don't see any down side to learning how to back in it is just an extension of tight quarter control. Yes I have owned and backed single engine boats sail and power without thrusters and some were difficult including a 18 ft catboat I now own and back in. On my larger boat with twins bow and stern thrusters and a wireless remote the skill level does not have to be as high. Because of the design priority for maximum maneuverability I can and almost always single hand and if assigned a tight spot usually feel confident about putting my preferred starboard side on the dock. I prefer to see a slip as a safe haven not a frightening challenge.

 

[psneeld]

I made the point various times, if wanted or necessary, back in..... and know how to do it even if rarely done.

If not necessary ...dont....unless you want to practice for whatever reason.

But "generally" it is way easier to go bow in as most beginners find out and experienced skippers too when in new or difficult spots.

Sometimes just waiting for tide or wind or a boat to move is all it takes to make the mamuever much easier....and thats part of the decision msking game.

But to feel pressure to do it because it signifies handling skills is just silly.

 

[Puffin_NT32]

After 47 years hanging on a mooring (a real mooring and not a slip referred to as a "mooring"), my current docking skills leave a lot to be desired. I might average going into a slip a couple of times per season. Under pressure from the wife (tired of rowing to and from mooring with "stuff", dog, etc), I've moved to a double slip with a finger pier for each boat. I dock the boat bow in, primarily for privacy, plus it's generally easier to get in with finger pier on starboard side (same side of helm).

Not much discussion here of current at slip. Our marina is up in a river, and has a constant downstream current, running some 2 knots or more in Spring with winter melt and after heavy rains. Current declines through Summer and Fall, and there are minor tide effect slacks. Current runs perpendicular to slip, and I'm on the downstream slip.

That puts situation close to eychsulman's "frightening challenge". Backing straight out in this current is impossible. My left-hand prop walk will always kick stern to starboard (to the finger pier). As soon as the stern clears the pier, the current grabs the stern, and I'll pivot off the end of the finger pier. Even with thruster, there's no way to kick stern to port while in reverse. Reverse prop walk overrides any position of rudder. "Goosing" throttle, and any attempt to back and fill within the slip is not an option. I just installed an 18" Taylor Made dock wheel, and that helps. At least now I'm pivoting off something rolling and soft.

Regardless of single or twin, thruster or not, bow in or bow out, docking at our marina appears to be a definition of "Chinese fire drill". So to schrater's comment on no steerage in reverse, your key to backing in is to know and to use your boat's "prop walk" capabilities. It could be worse.

 

[schrater]

Not much discussion here of current at slip. Our marina is up in a river, and has a constant downstream current, running some 2 knots or more in Spring with winter melt and after heavy rains. Current declines through Summer and Fall, and there are minor tide effect slacks. Current runs perpendicular to slip, and I'm on the downstream slip.

Finally someone who understands the challenge! I'm in a river as well (with a constant current of 3.5kts in the spring). Sorry, but the subtleties of prop walk have no power against that. I too have my stern grabbed as soon as I get past the end of the pier, and I too use a dock wheel which helps. Entering/exiting my slip is like going to war. I need forward momentum and steerage. Thankfully, I've never yet contacted anything not owned by me, but it's taken 30min or more to get in on some occasions.

My new plan is to find a sheltered marina somewhere out of the current where I can practice the subtle maneuvers discussed in this thread like the rest of world seems to enjoy

 

[psneeld]

My marina 2X a month and for several days each occurance gets up near 3 knots where the current is almost but not parallel to the slips.

Many of the experienced pleasure boaters dont even bother to move their boats at the peak current of 3 knots, they know better.

I dont move my boat except near slack tide.....and now bow in only.

The professional captains around here dont have that luxury, but commonly break pilings and occasioally smash boats....have broken a few pilings myself.

If you guys are operating all the time in that kind of current, good luck.

Practice a lot and I bet you can get a captains job most places in a heartbeat.

 

[Art]

Where we dock it is correct/easy/comfortable and visually-appealing looking outside of the boat... to come in bow first. Also, entry to our boat happens on starboard side; meaning that swim step can be an innie - or an outtie! lol

Each slip location has its own distinct variables/needs.

 

[alormaria]

I feel your pain, Puffin.

This is the first season in a long time that I won't be at a real "Mooring" either - I'll be in a slip. Luckily the only slips they had left were double finger-piered 50'ers that are setup for bow in docking. They are so wide I'll be able to turn around and leave bow out! There is also a generous amount room to maneuver in front of the slip so I don't expect a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Still I'll miss the privacy and serenity of a mooring.

It seemed the marina could not find an insurance company to cover their moorings. Or at least that's the story and we're sticking to it.

The only time I ever felt comfortable docking was during that summer long cruise in 2000. I must have docked, locked and held position 20 times per day in all weathers and currents. It got to be second nature. In Canada they don't use the radio on the Rideau canal system. You have to dock and go find the lock master. Then undock and dock in the lock. Then help with the lock operation. Then undock and move to the next lock and dock again. A summer of this and I could put Angelina anywhere, anytime in any position under any circumstances without thinking. My line handler got pretty darn good too.

 

[Seevee]

I'm still in learning mode when it comes to docking, and guess I've been there for 20 years.

With my "new to me" Mainship, I'm getting an experienced trainer to work out the deficiencies. Then I'll practice and go back for a refresher. Getting a GOOD trainer is not easy, but there are a few around.

I've been practicing the back and fill method a bit and have a few questions: Turning to starboard, with full starboard rudder......

With the burst of forward the stern moves and of course the bow responds with a port turn. When I put it in reverse I get the port prop walk. I'm trying to be a bit more aggressive in reverse and then put it in idle and "glide" a bit backward and the rudder seems to have an effect opposite the port walk.

Is this good technique in backing into a slip when more or less prop walk is needed... just glide a bit after a burst of reverse?

Took me 20 minutes to back in the other day, no wind or current, but had to use the stern thruster to bump the stern out a bit to keep from hitting the dock. If I stay a bit farther to avoid the dock, I can't get the boat to walk back in without thrusters (docking to starboard side).

 

[ranger58sb]

With my "new to me" Mainship, I'm getting an experienced trainer to work out the deficiencies. Then I'll practice and go back for a refresher. Getting a GOOD trainer is not easy, but there are a few around.

I've been practicing the back and fill method a bit and have a few questions: Turning to starboard, with full starboard rudder......

With the burst of forward the stern moves and of course the bow responds with a port turn. When I put it in reverse I get the port prop walk. I'm trying to be a bit more aggressive in reverse and then put it in idle and "glide" a bit backward and the rudder seems to have an effect opposite the port walk.

Is this good technique in backing into a slip when more or less prop walk is needed... just glide a bit after a burst of reverse?

I forget, did you get a single or twins?

Also, not sure I understand when you say with your helm locked to starboard, a shot of forward moves the bow to port... Maybe I'm missing something? Maybe how much is a "burst"?

Anyway, guessing you're in a single, if it helps I always thought of the movement with ours as a kind of backward "L" -- short leg facing to port, versus a real "L". And then forward movement is a little forward, and then with reverse the short leg of the L moves slightly further to port. Repeat, and the short leg of the L eventually gets over where you want it. Very short periods of gear, in either direction, at least with ours, since the prop seemed to do most of it's work in the first second or so of rotation.

In our current twin boat, it's more like two parentheses. Amidships helm, forward with one gear moves the bow one way and the stern the other. Reverse with the same gear moves the stern one way and the bow the other. "Wiggle" (the technical term) as necessary.

I mention that because the backwards L thing with our earlier single worked like our current starboard parentheses... only with slightly more movement to port each time in reverse.

Hard to describe this with mere words... need hand and arm movement...

-Chris

 

[Seevee]

I'm still in the learning class when it comes to docking... seems like I've been there for 20 years.

I've been working more with the "back and fill" method of trying to keep my Mainship backing rather straight into a slip. Did one the other day and took 20 minutes only to need the stern thruster to kick it out a bit to miss the dock.

Question: Backing in, boats prop walks to port, rudder full starboard, using back and fill method:
I'll goose it forward, stern turns port, bow turns starboard nicely. In backing up slow, the stern walks to starboard. But if I goose it in reverse and then come back to neutral, the rudder seems to take effect turning the other way. Is this a good way to get the boat running straight? Hard to do a lot because I get close to the seawall and dock.

 

[BaltimoreLurker]

I backed into my slip for years with a single screw MT 34. On occasion, rarely, it even looked like I knew what I was doing. That was a great feeling!

But, more often than not, I was docking by braille, if you know what I mean.

Maybe find a calm, protected area and just practice backing down to get a feel for how your boat handles.

 

[Art]

Another reason for: Twins - Baby - Twins!! With decent sized rudders too.


Similar to handling a full track tractor... ezie peazie - in either direction!!