Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

This is fun to watch for a minute. Every year in Crisfield, MD on
Chesapeake Bay they have a contest for single engine working crab
boats to see who can dock the fastest. Don't try this at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4UGxFiziM

Having spent a little time in Crisfield I can tell you that these guys
drive their boats almost like that every day. It's impressive to
watch them maneuver. Someone once said that these guys spend more
time with their boats than they do with their wives.

Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

On 12/30/2014 1:37 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:34:26 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

This is fun to watch for a minute. Every year in Crisfield, MD on
Chesapeake Bay they have a contest for single engine working crab
boats to see who can dock the fastest. Don't try this at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4UGxFiziM

Having spent a little time in Crisfield I can tell you that these guys
drive their boats almost like that every day. It's impressive to
watch them maneuver. Someone once said that these guys spend more
time with their boats than they do with their wives.

That is not that big a trick.
We have had a lot better docking tricks posted here.
I like seeing guys who can almost walk a single prop boat sideways.



When I first bought the twin screw Navigator I hired a seasoned captain
of a tugboat to teach me a few things about boat handling.
He had me moving it sideways using the props (one forward, one reverse)
throttles, and the rudders.

Having also had a single screw Grand Banks, I can't imagine doing the
same thing unless you are using wind or current as an assist. I learned
to use prop walk and the "Back and Fill" method
to back into a slip but I don't know how you'd be able to go sideways
or even close to sideways. The rudder has no effect in reverse.

Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

In article ,
says...

On 12/30/2014 1:37 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:34:26 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

This is fun to watch for a minute. Every year in Crisfield, MD on
Chesapeake Bay they have a contest for single engine working crab
boats to see who can dock the fastest. Don't try this at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4UGxFiziM

Having spent a little time in Crisfield I can tell you that these guys
drive their boats almost like that every day. It's impressive to
watch them maneuver. Someone once said that these guys spend more
time with their boats than they do with their wives.

That is not that big a trick.
We have had a lot better docking tricks posted here.
I like seeing guys who can almost walk a single prop boat sideways.



When I first bought the twin screw Navigator I hired a seasoned captain
of a tugboat to teach me a few things about boat handling.
He had me moving it sideways using the props (one forward, one reverse)
throttles, and the rudders.

Having also had a single screw Grand Banks, I can't imagine doing the
same thing unless you are using wind or current as an assist. I learned
to use prop walk and the "Back and Fill" method
to back into a slip but I don't know how you'd be able to go sideways
or even close to sideways. The rudder has no effect in reverse.

You're discounting magic.

Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

On 12/30/2014 5:51 AM, Boating All Out wrote:
In article ,
says...

On 12/30/2014 1:37 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:34:26 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

This is fun to watch for a minute. Every year in Crisfield, MD on
Chesapeake Bay they have a contest for single engine working crab
boats to see who can dock the fastest. Don't try this at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4UGxFiziM

Having spent a little time in Crisfield I can tell you that these guys
drive their boats almost like that every day. It's impressive to
watch them maneuver. Someone once said that these guys spend more
time with their boats than they do with their wives.

That is not that big a trick.
We have had a lot better docking tricks posted here.
I like seeing guys who can almost walk a single prop boat sideways.



When I first bought the twin screw Navigator I hired a seasoned captain
of a tugboat to teach me a few things about boat handling.
He had me moving it sideways using the props (one forward, one reverse)
throttles, and the rudders.

Having also had a single screw Grand Banks, I can't imagine doing the
same thing unless you are using wind or current as an assist. I learned
to use prop walk and the "Back and Fill" method
to back into a slip but I don't know how you'd be able to go sideways
or even close to sideways. The rudder has no effect in reverse.

You're discounting magic.



Ah! Guess I was fresh out of magic with the GB.

Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

On Tuesday, December 30, 2014 2:34:03 AM UTC-8, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 12/30/2014 1:37 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:34:26 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

This is fun to watch for a minute. Every year in Crisfield, MD on
Chesapeake Bay they have a contest for single engine working crab
boats to see who can dock the fastest. Don't try this at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4UGxFiziM

Having spent a little time in Crisfield I can tell you that these guys
drive their boats almost like that every day. It's impressive to
watch them maneuver. Someone once said that these guys spend more
time with their boats than they do with their wives.

That is not that big a trick.
We have had a lot better docking tricks posted here.
I like seeing guys who can almost walk a single prop boat sideways.



When I first bought the twin screw Navigator I hired a seasoned captain
of a tugboat to teach me a few things about boat handling.
He had me moving it sideways using the props (one forward, one reverse)
throttles, and the rudders.

Having also had a single screw Grand Banks, I can't imagine doing the
same thing unless you are using wind or current as an assist. I learned
to use prop walk and the "Back and Fill" method
to back into a slip but I don't know how you'd be able to go sideways
or even close to sideways. The rudder has no effect in reverse.

I agree about the rudder comment. I found that out on my Chris Craft Cavalier.

Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:34:26 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

This is fun to watch for a minute. Every year in Crisfield, MD on
Chesapeake Bay they have a contest for single engine working crab
boats to see who can dock the fastest. Don't try this at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4UGxFiziM

Having spent a little time in Crisfield I can tell you that these guys
drive their boats almost like that every day. It's impressive to
watch them maneuver. Someone once said that these guys spend more
time with their boats than they do with their wives.

Good one, Wayne. Thanks.

Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 05:34:01 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

The rudder has no effect in reverse.

===

The trick is to give it a quick blast of power in reverse, get the
boat moving, and then shift back to neutral. I used to do that in
sailboats all the time. They have enough momentum that they'll keep
moving quite a while once you get them started. The rudder will work
as long as there is water flowing past it.

Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 11:02:18 -0500, wrote:

On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:46:55 -0500, Poquito Loco
wrote:

On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:34:26 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

This is fun to watch for a minute. Every year in Crisfield, MD on
Chesapeake Bay they have a contest for single engine working crab
boats to see who can dock the fastest. Don't try this at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4UGxFiziM

Having spent a little time in Crisfield I can tell you that these guys
drive their boats almost like that every day. It's impressive to
watch them maneuver. Someone once said that these guys spend more
time with their boats than they do with their wives.

Good one, Wayne. Thanks.

This guy is pretty good. Jump to the half way point

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...v=W36rDKl4T5s\

===

It's a very competent job but not all that difficult with twin engines
and bow thrusters. The thrusters are what is making that funny
whirring noise as he's moving sideways.

Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

On 12/31/2014 1:31 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:20:25 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 30 Dec 2014 05:34:01 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

The rudder has no effect in reverse.

===

The trick is to give it a quick blast of power in reverse, get the
boat moving, and then shift back to neutral. I used to do that in
sailboats all the time. They have enough momentum that they'll keep
moving quite a while once you get them started. The rudder will work
as long as there is water flowing past it.

That is one thing I like about outboards. You get thrust and
direction, either way. I have mine on a shortened operating bracket so
it turns faster and farther. It makes close quarter tricks easier.
(like turning around in a tight mangrove hole)

http://gfretwell.com/ftp/Yamaha%20quick%20steering.jpg



An outboard or a inboard/outboard drive is a totally different animal.
You have vectored thrust working to your advantage.

Not very practical on a larger boat although pod drives like the Volvo
Penta IPS are slowly becoming more popular.

I am old school in this regard. For larger boats I like diesel engines,
a fixed prop and a rudder, be it a single or twins. Every boat responds
differently depending on displacement, length, size of props and rudders
but with a little practice a halfway competent skipper can maneuver the
boat around in close quarter handling.

The best lesson I learned was "neutral is your friend". With twins, let
the boat respond to short applications of forward/reverse and set up to
the accompanying affects of wind or current. I rarely used throttle to
maneuver and when it was used it was only to make minor corrections such
as getting the stern precisely lined up between finger piers. The
Navigator displaced over 40,000 lbs loaded, so over zealous
docking could result in some serious damage to things like finger piers,
other boats or to it itself. Fortunately it responded well to simple
forward/reverse adjustments at idle due to it's 30" by 30" props.

The Grand Banks was a bit more challenging to back into a slip being a
single with a little 120 hp diesel and relatively small prop. It took
some practice but the trick was was size up wind and current conditions
*before* setting up and turning the bow away from the slip. Here,
rudder and throttle is used in the "back and fill" method using short
jabs in forward, then reverse relying on prop walk to line the stern up
and into the slip. Several iterations are usually required.

Annual Crisfield Boat Docking Contest
 

Greg, I'm sure they're multi big outboards too!