On May 30, 2:49?pm, "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:
"Joe" wrote in message

link.net...

I am new to boating and would like to get some opinions on docking and how
it "should" be done. I have a Wellcraft 270 Coastal with twin Evinrude
200's.

-When docking (perpendicular) should I be steering the boat when
maneuvering or using the engines to spin the boat 90 degrees? I'm having a
hard time with spinning it and keeping it where it needs to be. ARG!!!
So far every time I've tried to spin it I've had to abandon that effort
and steer it in. It works but I don't want to get accustom to doing that
if it's actually easier to use the engines.

ANY helpful advice on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Interesting question. I'm just lurking here, so I'll tag on another question
that might be related. Inboards, even when in neutral, exert some force on
the boat that can be used to move in a certain direction. Do outboards do
this?

Sounds like you're approaching the dock at almost a 90 degree angle,
and then trying to make a 90 degree turn to put your port or starboard
side against the dock or float?

Many boaters rely almost exclusively on the engines when docking a
twin engine boat under normal conditions.

Don't forget to visualize your "pivot point" which will be about
halfway between your bow and your stern on most twin engine vessels.

Also, you could easily find yourself moving ahead of the spot where
you hope to pivot when you put one engine in forward and the other in
reserse. The reason for this is that the prop works a lot more
efficiently in forward than in reverse, so if you want the reverse
side to come back at the same speed that the forward side is going
ahead you will need to use a bit more throttle on the reverse engine.

You might try approaching the dock at less of an angle than
"perpendicular" -unless you have very strong wind blowing you
directly off the dock and in that case the closer to perpendicular the
better. Try something closer to about 30-35 degrees. As you get close
to the dock use your twins to "pivot" the bow out a bit so that it
doesn't wack anything and that will of course also pivot your stern
toward the dock.Remember that momentum will continue to carry your
boat toward the dock as you pivot, closing the "gap" that would
otherwise exist between the side of your boat and the dock.

Don't approach the dock any faster than you are willing to hit it.

Don't be afraid to back off and go around again. (Just as I had to do
last weekend when a gust of wind blew up at the wrong moment.....)

Don't expect to be really good at this without a lot of practice, but
you can become passably capable in an afternoon.