Is it just me or does everybody get knots in there gut every time they have
to dock?

I Have had boats up to 22 feet for a long time, but end of August I bought a
32 footer, with twin inboard outboard engines. WOW it sure a lot tougher
than I expected.

I dock in a boat house, which you would think would be relatively
easy..Wrong trying to keep it straight and steady I find quite difficult.

I've heard some people say "don't touch the wheel"
others say "idle speed only"

any pointers to help regain my confidence would be very much appreciated,
please remember I have an I/O twins.

Thanks

Don't touch the wheel, keep it at idle, and out of gear except to correct
course. Just bump it a little this way or that and ease it in.

My personal rules for docking a twin screw vessel:

-approach the dock and STOP about 100 yards away

-remain stopped for a minute or two and determine what the wind and current
will be doing to you during docking

-the boat will want to go beam to the wind and bow to the current

-once you've figured out what nature is gonna do, and how fast...make a plan
to deal with it

-explain your plan to all on board who will be expected to help with docking

-make sure they understand the plan

-put out your fenders and lines before moving toward the dock

-using what you learned about the wind and current, approach the dock slowly
into the wind and into the current

-remember that the rudder(s) must have water flowing over them to offer any
help in controlling the boat

-once you get within 20-30 yards of the dock, still moving slowly,
straighten and center the wheel

-take your hands off of the wheel and move them to the engine controls

-by manipulating the controls, you can move forward, backward, or spin in a
circle within one boat length. Directional control is accomplished by using
one engine alone for slight changes, or both engines for larger changes.
Don't hesitate at all to put one engine in forward and the other in reverse,
this offers excellent maneuverability

-if you get within 10 yards of the dock and are not on your planned course,
back off, regroup and try again

-learn to use you lines as docking aids, especially spring lines run to
midship cleats. These can be your best friend in a tight docking situation

-did I mention moving slowly through this whole process? You'll respond more
accurately, won't stress out, and won't holler at the crew. Even if you
screw up, if done slowly enough, nobody will notice. Throw a line around the
nearest piling or bollard and pretend you're moving along with your plan.

-by the way, gliding into contact with the dock at 1 knot beats the heck out
of ramming it at 10 knots!!

Hope this helps,

James

Get some jugs, fenders or whatever and mark out a "dock" out in some protected
piece of water, away from anyone watching and practice. When you get to the
point where you can approach it from any direction, with any wind or current
conditions, shug your boat up against your target spot and not run over the
jugs you should be ready for anything a dock can throw at you.
The secret is practice. When you see the captains sliding those boats up
against the dock so smooth it isn't a magic trick. It is doing it a few times a
day for a bunch of years.

"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
Get some jugs, fenders or whatever and mark out a "dock" out in some
protected
piece of water, away from anyone watching and practice.

might want to do this when the water is really warm. I would anticipate
wrapping a few lines around the prop.....

Rod

Rod McInnis wrote:


Get some jugs, fenders or whatever and mark out a "dock" out in some
protected
piece of water, away from anyone watching and practice.


might want to do this when the water is really warm. I would anticipate
wrapping a few lines around the prop.....


Not if the lines are only long enough to reach straight down to the
bottom....no line swaying out to grab a prop.

I used the "milk jug method" to learn how to get Solitaire into the slip
with an engine out right after I bought her, while mechanics were still
working on getting her engines running reliably again...took a bunch out
to a cove, along with some bricks and poly line, and set 'em to
represent my slip and other things I needed to avoid hitting while
maneuvering to back in. Spent two whole days abusing milk jugs in that
cove with first one engine out and then the other....approaching upwind,
downwind, crosswind. Never caught a prop. Great way to learn...'cuz you
can hit milk jugs all day long without harm to your gelcoat or anyone
else's while you figure out what makes your boat go where and how to
use wind, current etc.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Peggie,
Good tip, I was wondering about wrapping the line around the props also.
Paul

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...
Rod McInnis wrote:


Get some jugs, fenders or whatever and mark out a "dock" out in some
protected
piece of water, away from anyone watching and practice.


might want to do this when the water is really warm. I would anticipate
wrapping a few lines around the prop.....


Not if the lines are only long enough to reach straight down to the
bottom....no line swaying out to grab a prop.

I used the "milk jug method" to learn how to get Solitaire into the slip
with an engine out right after I bought her, while mechanics were still
working on getting her engines running reliably again...took a bunch out
to a cove, along with some bricks and poly line, and set 'em to
represent my slip and other things I needed to avoid hitting while
maneuvering to back in. Spent two whole days abusing milk jugs in that
cove with first one engine out and then the other....approaching upwind,
downwind, crosswind. Never caught a prop. Great way to learn...'cuz you
can hit milk jugs all day long without harm to your gelcoat or anyone
else's while you figure out what makes your boat go where and how to
use wind, current etc.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Is it just me or does everybody get knots in there gut every time they have
to dock?

I Have had boats up to 22 feet for a long time, but end of August I bought a
32 footer, with twin inboard outboard engines. WOW it sure a lot tougher
than I expected.

I dock in a boat house, which you would think would be relatively
easy..Wrong trying to keep it straight and steady I find quite difficult.

I've heard some people say "don't touch the wheel"
others say "idle speed only"

any pointers to help regain my confidence would be very much appreciated,
please remember I have an I/O twins.

Thanks

Its alot of fun trying not to bump into other boats and things. I got back
into a boat that I have to keep in a slip and I have to learn the boat's
particularities all over again. What I do is go out with enough people bumpers
to help me learn how to dock the boat.

Good luck
Rick

I would recommend that you never use people as a bumper. It is much easier
to repair a scratch than a broken bone.

"Diver1055" wrote in message
...
Is it just me or does everybody get knots in there gut every time they
have
to dock?

I Have had boats up to 22 feet for a long time, but end of August I
bought a
32 footer, with twin inboard outboard engines. WOW it sure a lot tougher
than I expected.

I dock in a boat house, which you would think would be relatively
easy..Wrong trying to keep it straight and steady I find quite
difficult.

I've heard some people say "don't touch the wheel"
others say "idle speed only"

any pointers to help regain my confidence would be very much appreciated,
please remember I have an I/O twins.

Thanks

Its alot of fun trying not to bump into other boats and things. I got
back
into a boat that I have to keep in a slip and I have to learn the boat's
particularities all over again. What I do is go out with enough people
bumpers
to help me learn how to dock the boat.

Good luck
Rick

"Nigel Featherston" wrote in message news:_dwjb.782403$YN5.773993@sccrnsc01...
I would recommend that you never use people as a bumper. It is much easier
to repair a scratch than a broken bone.

No kidding. One of the scariest incidents I have recently seen was a
friend of mine getting his right arm caught between a roller on a the
dock and a 40' aft cab criuser. He was on the dock "helping" another
friend of ours dock the 40 footer. I was at the other end of the dock
and could not figure out why he was pushing the boat off the roller -
the roller was doing exactly what it was supposed to do. His arm got
caught and it was like he getting sucked through a clothes wringer.

Amazingly, and luckily, he suffered on a slight scrap on the arm.

People get fingers and hand pinched or broken trying to fend off a
dock. Don't worry about scuffing rub rails - thats what they are for.
If you want a human to fend off, uses a boat hook or something
similar. But even then you should be careful.

I normally tell guests on my boat to just sit and watch when docking.
My wife and I have a good system. I sometimes find myself telling
well-intended people and even marina employees on the dock not to
"help" either if it looks like they are not in a good spot.

Fenders out and lines prepared early. Take your time and think ahead
of your boat.