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Twin engine docking

On Wed, 30 May 2007 16:45:02 GMT, Joe
wrote:

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.

With outboards, you have to remember that you are using vectored
thrust.

"Spin" a boat with outboards is possible, but it requires practice.
The simplest way to manuever is to put the opposite engine in reverse
(or forward depending) and use the other engine to change the
direction of the bow. Occasionally, you will need to reverse that
process while manuevering as conditions warrant.

Backing into any spot is also the best way to use vectored thrust in
my opinion. In reverse, you are pulling the boat much like you would
a front wheel drive car - the way you turn the wheel is the way the
boat will go - much like backing up a trailer. Once you get a line of
the dock, the rest is just applying power in the appropriate direction
to bring the bow into alignment.

What I find very helpful in teaching docking manuevers is to pick a
bouy ( or even a floating dock if there aren't any swimmers around)
and use that for practice. Just spent an hour or so learning how the
boat reacts using different approaches and experiment with the proper
combination of power and thrust.

Twin engine docking

On Wed, 30 May 2007 20:07:24 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

"D.Duck" wrote in message
m...

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 18:20:52 -0400, "JimH" wrote:

Push left, go left. Push right, go right. Just the opposite of a
tricycle.

Huh?

He's correct. Same on a motorcycle. Push the left handle forward, the
bike will make a left turn. Push the right handle forward, bike turns to
the right.

Try it sometime.

Ok I just did.

Pushing the left handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the right.

Pushing the right handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the left.

Twin engine docking

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...

Ok I just did.

Pushing the left handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the right.

Pushing the right handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the left.

Ya gotta be riding it .... and moving.

Eisboch

Twin engine docking

"HK" wrote in message
. ..

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
Ok I just did.

Pushing the left handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the right.

Pushing the right handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the left.

Yeah, I wonder where the error came from...

Non believers ... all of you.
Believe me .... it's true.

Eisboch

Twin engine docking

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Wed, 30 May 2007 20:07:24 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

"D.Duck" wrote in message
...
"John H." wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 18:20:52 -0400, "JimH" wrote:

Push left, go left. Push right, go right. Just the opposite of a
tricycle.
Huh?
He's correct. Same on a motorcycle. Push the left handle forward, the
bike will make a left turn. Push the right handle forward, bike turns to
the right.

Try it sometime.

Ok I just did.

Pushing the left handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the right.

Pushing the right handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the left.

Yeah, I wonder where the error came from...

Twin engine docking

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"D.Duck" wrote in message
...

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 18:20:52 -0400, "JimH" wrote:

Push left, go left. Push right, go right. Just the opposite of a
tricycle.

Huh?

He's correct. Same on a motorcycle. Push the left handle forward, the
bike will make a left turn. Push the right handle forward, bike turns to
the right.

Try it sometime.

Eisboch

Hmmm. Actually push the left side of the handle bar away from you while
pulling the right side towards you and you go right.

Twin engine docking

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 20:07:24 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

"D.Duck" wrote in message
om...

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 18:20:52 -0400, "JimH"
wrote:

Push left, go left. Push right, go right. Just the opposite of a
tricycle.

Huh?

He's correct. Same on a motorcycle. Push the left handle forward, the
bike will make a left turn. Push the right handle forward, bike turns to
the right.

Try it sometime.

Ok I just did.

Pushing the left handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the right.

Pushing the right handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the left.

Give that man a cigar!

Twin engine docking

"JimH" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"D.Duck" wrote in message
...

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 18:20:52 -0400, "JimH"
wrote:

Push left, go left. Push right, go right. Just the opposite of a
tricycle.

Huh?

He's correct. Same on a motorcycle. Push the left handle forward, the
bike will make a left turn. Push the right handle forward, bike turns to
the right.

Try it sometime.

Eisboch

Hmmm. Actually push the left side of the handle bar away from you while
pulling the right side towards you and you go right.

No. On a moving motorcycle, (and I assume a bicycle, although I haven't
tried it) pushing the left handle away from you will cause the motorcycle
to turn towards the left ... same side that you are pushing. Push on the
right ... bike will turn towards the right.

I can see several people are having trouble with this. Don't feel bad. So
did I until I tried it.

Eisboch

Twin engine docking

"JimH" wrote in message
...

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 20:07:24 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

"D.Duck" wrote in message
news:z4ednS8WPaSOkMPbnZ2dnUVZ_uSgnZ2d@giganews. com...

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 18:20:52 -0400, "JimH"
wrote:

Push left, go left. Push right, go right. Just the opposite of a
tricycle.

Huh?

He's correct. Same on a motorcycle. Push the left handle forward, the
bike will make a left turn. Push the right handle forward, bike turns to
the right.

Try it sometime.

Ok I just did.

Pushing the left handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the right.

Pushing the right handlebar forward moves the front wheel to the left.

Give that man a cigar!

Not yet.

True, standing still, the front wheel will move as described.
But when moving ... the bike (not the front wheel) will turn to the side
that you are pushing on.

Eisboch

Twin engine docking