Richard Kaplan wrote:
I just finished my second 3-day instruction/charter cruise on a motorboat --
last year with my family on a 42 foot single-engine trawler with side
thrusters and this year on a 54 foot twin-engine Bluewater. I feel I have
learned quite a bit and the bookwork/charts/navigation/systems are not a
problem but I am left puzzled regarding a good plan to gain proficiency
docking in a variety of current/wind/dock layout situations. Short of
bringing a captain with me on lots of these trips, what is a reasonable plan
and set of personal limits? Is there docking "simulator" software available
to help? What guidelines do you have for when you feel ready to handle a
given boat? What type of boat would you suggest initially if the goal is to
cruise the intercoastal with a family of 5?

Basically, boat handling is boat handling. The biggest factor of size is
relativity.
A bigger boat may act slower to helm or engine(s), may be more/less
affected by wind and current, etc., but the basic parameters are the same.
There are two types of boat handlers ... mechanics (good and bad), those
who have some degree of knowledge of the "mechanics" of boat handling
and make good or little use of those mechanics, and naturals, those who
just have a "natural" feel for the boat and conditions, and do it with
ease. (this latter is made up of 0.05% of all boaters).
If you consider wind, current, propwalk, line handling, your enemy, you
fall in the mechanic group .... go slow, go easy, always have a way out.
Be aware that no matter how good you may be, conditions may occur that
are beyond your or your vessels capabilities.
G Relax, if you successfully handled the two type boats above and
understand the "mechanics", proficiency will come in time ..... maybe.
Just take it slow, plan ahead, always have an escape route, analyze each
docking looking for ways to improve, never be afraid to go around or say
no, and don't pay any attention to someone who tells you to never use
rudders on a twin screw boat EG.

otn