"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.

"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

Aren't you talking about 'drifting'.. as you might see on a dirt racetrack?

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.

Eisboch


For some, that idea is very hard to conceptualize. It then catches up to
them in an emergency situation.

"D.Duck" wrote in message
...

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


"Joe" wrote in message
rthlink.net...
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.

Thanks.

Think in terms of a bicycle handlebar.........turn left and your left
hand
(port engine controls) pulls down (reverse) or towards you on the
handlebar,
right hand (starboard engine) up (forward) or away from you......turn
right
and your left hand pushes up (forward on the port engine) and your right
hand down (reverse on the starboard engine)..........all the time with
both
engines in idle and the wheel in the forward (straight ahead position)
and
not touching the wheel.

When I would stern in with our larger boat (with twins) I would slowly go
past the slip (on the starboard side) while centering the wheel and
engines
at idle, put port in reverse while bumping starboard in and out of
forward
or reverse as I needed to adjust my position. When finalizing the
approach
and parallel to the slip I would nudge both engines in and then out of
forward to stop the boats reverse progress.

This worked for me.
This worked for me


Not to be picky, but if you're going at any speed on your bicycle and
pull
the left handlebar towards you, you will turn right.

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

Huh?


John Herring is a boatless bitter old man who obviously has no experience
with twin engines or bicycles. It is best to ignore him.

On Wed, 30 May 2007 19:47:33 -0400, "D.Duck" wrote:


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


"Joe" wrote in message
rthlink.net...
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.

Thanks.

Think in terms of a bicycle handlebar.........turn left and your left hand
(port engine controls) pulls down (reverse) or towards you on the
handlebar,
right hand (starboard engine) up (forward) or away from you......turn
right
and your left hand pushes up (forward on the port engine) and your right
hand down (reverse on the starboard engine)..........all the time with
both
engines in idle and the wheel in the forward (straight ahead position) and
not touching the wheel.

When I would stern in with our larger boat (with twins) I would slowly go
past the slip (on the starboard side) while centering the wheel and
engines
at idle, put port in reverse while bumping starboard in and out of forward
or reverse as I needed to adjust my position. When finalizing the
approach
and parallel to the slip I would nudge both engines in and then out of
forward to stop the boats reverse progress.

This worked for me.
This worked for me


Not to be picky, but if you're going at any speed on your bicycle and pull
the left handlebar towards you, you will turn right.

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

Huh?


Go try it! Just so you're not influenced, do it with only one hand. Then
you'll get the idea.

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


"Joe" wrote in message
thlink.net...
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.

Thanks.

Think in terms of a bicycle handlebar.........turn left and your left hand
(port engine controls) pulls down (reverse) or towards you on the
handlebar,
right hand (starboard engine) up (forward) or away from you......turn
right
and your left hand pushes up (forward on the port engine) and your right
hand down (reverse on the starboard engine)..........all the time with
both
engines in idle and the wheel in the forward (straight ahead position) and
not touching the wheel.

When I would stern in with our larger boat (with twins) I would slowly go
past the slip (on the starboard side) while centering the wheel and
engines
at idle, put port in reverse while bumping starboard in and out of forward
or reverse as I needed to adjust my position. When finalizing the
approach
and parallel to the slip I would nudge both engines in and then out of
forward to stop the boats reverse progress.

This worked for me.
This worked for me


Not to be picky, but if you're going at any speed on your bicycle and pull
the left handlebar towards you, you will turn right.

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


Oh my! You sniffin' the wife's nail polish again? Shame on you!

On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:05:08 -0300, "Don White"
wrote:


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


"Joe" wrote in message
rthlink.net...
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.

Thanks.

Think in terms of a bicycle handlebar.........turn left and your left hand
(port engine controls) pulls down (reverse) or towards you on the
handlebar,
right hand (starboard engine) up (forward) or away from you......turn
right
and your left hand pushes up (forward on the port engine) and your right
hand down (reverse on the starboard engine)..........all the time with
both
engines in idle and the wheel in the forward (straight ahead position) and
not touching the wheel.

When I would stern in with our larger boat (with twins) I would slowly go
past the slip (on the starboard side) while centering the wheel and
engines
at idle, put port in reverse while bumping starboard in and out of forward
or reverse as I needed to adjust my position. When finalizing the
approach
and parallel to the slip I would nudge both engines in and then out of
forward to stop the boats reverse progress.

This worked for me.
This worked for me


Not to be picky, but if you're going at any speed on your bicycle and pull
the left handlebar towards you, you will turn right.

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


Oh my! You sniffin' the wife's nail polish again? Shame on you!


No, I've spent many hours teaching prospective motorcycle riders how to
ride.

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 May 2007 21:05:08 -0300, "Don White"
wrote:


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


"Joe" wrote in message
arthlink.net...
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.

Thanks.

Think in terms of a bicycle handlebar.........turn left and your left
hand
(port engine controls) pulls down (reverse) or towards you on the
handlebar,
right hand (starboard engine) up (forward) or away from you......turn
right
and your left hand pushes up (forward on the port engine) and your right
hand down (reverse on the starboard engine)..........all the time with
both
engines in idle and the wheel in the forward (straight ahead position)
and
not touching the wheel.

When I would stern in with our larger boat (with twins) I would slowly
go
past the slip (on the starboard side) while centering the wheel and
engines
at idle, put port in reverse while bumping starboard in and out of
forward
or reverse as I needed to adjust my position. When finalizing the
approach
and parallel to the slip I would nudge both engines in and then out of
forward to stop the boats reverse progress.

This worked for me.
This worked for me


Not to be picky, but if you're going at any speed on your bicycle and
pull
the left handlebar towards you, you will turn right.

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


Oh my! You sniffin' the wife's nail polish again? Shame on you!


No, I've spent many hours teaching prospective motorcycle riders how to
ride.


Lord help us all!

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.

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.

The big issue with twin engine outboards is that the engines are are
usually mounted close together, and the props are relatively small.
As a result, most twin engine maneuvering tricks don't work
particularly well or take longer than you'd like.

Get some practice in open water and find out what works on your
particular boat. If you want to spin quickly to port, put the
starboard shifter forward, and the port shifter in reverse. In
addition, turn the wheel hard to port for some vectored thrust.
Everything is opposite for spinning to starboard. Be wary of trying
to spin the bow into the wind in close quarters.

Wind is not your friend on a lighter boat and you need to maneuver
quickly and decisively, all the time controling your speed to the
minimum required to accomplish all of that. It can be a delicate
balance at times and requires practice.