I have owned both I/O and inboard. With the inboard you just learn how to
use the physics of the screw to "prop walk" the boat to the dock. Since I
started with an I/O, and did most of my learning there, I found I was able
to dock the inboard boat after a few times of playing around.


"JimH" wrote in message
...
If you now or previously owned one how long did it take you to learn to
maneuver it properly at low speeds, most especially in reverse and in
wind?

I have always owned either outboards or IO's, including twin IO's (most
recently with counter rotating props) that normally made docking a breeze.

My friend owns a vintage 26' Lyman with single screw. He (and his sons)
can walk the boat alongside a dock without effort. I have been on the
boat when his oldest son (now a US Marine proudly serving in Iraq) walked
the boat into a 30 or so foot dockside space (boats in front and at the
aft). It was indeed a pleasure to watch.