First off, what boat and motor/prop set up?
Prop walk? Which way? Use this to your advantage.
Ya can use the wind and or current to your advantage.
Practice in open water, away from other boats.
When backing, you need enough speed for steerage, but not too much
that you can't stop in time.
Once in the slip, in any cross wind, I quickly tie on a short spring
line and leave the motor idle in gear, rev. or forward depending on
the wind, to keep the bow off the forward piling.

--
Scott Vernon
Plowville Pa _/)__/)_/)_


"Rick" wrote in message
news
Would those of you who single handedly sail your boat give a new
sailor some tips on bringing the boat into the slip without
attracting
a crowd of gawkers? The dock angels I don't mind, but the sauced
vocal
contributions only add to the already high tension level. I don't
mind
being the local entertainment occasionally, but it would be nice to
know how to do this better.

I realize practice makes perfect, but a few tips can speed up the
learning curve significantly.

Thanks!