Approach slowly at about a 45° angle, then when you get real close to the dock go to neutral and turn the wheel towards the dock and quickly hit reverse
That pulls the stern to the dock at the same time it basically stops forward momentum.
After a few attempts you will know exactly when to do it so you are within inches of the dock

 

This

 

Exactly what Fyshndad said but remember to make allowance for wind.

 

and current!!

 

What Hank said, and I have learned that no matter where I put out a bumper, I will hit in a different place anyway.

That, and dock plates and cleats are always higher or lower that your rub rails.alm:

When docking alone in a cross wind, you can have a perfect landing.....and you still have to run like hell and wiill still be holding onto the dock by your finger nails..... in the event that you fail to hang on. It is usually customary to yell out a warning to others, like ...
OH sh$t, Sorry, Oh sh$t, Sorry.

 

Can't add anything to it. But, a boat stick (adjustable aluminum pole with a hook on the end) to grab the dock is always a good thing to have. Comes in handy snagging crab lines too. I also have a small grappling hook on 25' of 1/4" line. If I'm solo, it's pretty easy to toss and pull the boat up to the dock. Crosswind blowing over the dock is always entertaining for onlookers.

 

Not approaching the dock faster than I'm willing to hit it.

Another great trick is making sure no one on your boat is going to jump off and on to the dock as you approach. This makes me cringe anytime I see it.

 

:laugh: once when I was younger we had a dory, and everytime my Dad docked he would put the bow in the slip and I would jump of the bow and catch the boat. Then one day he hit reverse and I jumped into the bay...

 

I might add that most folks on the dock are very helpful, and will go out of their way to lend a hand.

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

Use your spring line!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

D4D Thanks for posting that clip.
Made me laugh and one of my favorite movies.
A person can learn a lot from old Captain Ron!!!:cheers:

 

This is a such a learning thing. Every new bump or rub on our boat, my boat partner says is mine. Funny I have gotten to the point after witnessing many mistakes he has made that we all can make that big embarrassing approach to the dock. What Hank says is the correct way and takes time to get it right but then throw in the wind, current and a crowded dock. Some folks like to run their boat right off the docks, some like to put spaces between folks just a little to small for your boat. The harbor can get very crowded at times. A lot of the time folks will help out but not all of the time. Backing out of a tight spot can be just as tough as getting into one. I have tried to back out and thought I was far enough away from the dock putting it in forward I turned the wheel the wrong way and right back to the dock I went. I had 2 guys watching as I bounced off the dock almost hit the boat in front of me and put the motor nearly under the dock:doh:. Very embarrassing and not something I want to relive. Look up spring line.

So what is IMO is a good idea just to get use to different conditions is to take your boat over, alone or with a friend and just practice. Go on windy days, a big current and try docking over and over until you feel comfortable. Then wait a couple of weeks and try it again. You will see it is not a one and done thing.

 

My friend has these HUGE bumpers on his side if the slip at the marina. He like to come in a little hot. :excited:

 

Now these guys know how to dock. And the last one here has the technique NAILED:

 

Now these guys know how to dock. And the last one here has the technique NAILED:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXWiMMSg4ZI

Those east coast guys with their direct drive inboards put on quite a show during their annual competitions. Amazing skill on display. And people say direct drives can't back up. :doh:

 

With twin engines, in at 45 degrees, don’t turn at all, idle inboard engine forward and outboard idle reverse.

 

 

How to dock like a boss (English version) - YouTube

:bowdown:

 

First thing I do is ask everyone to stay where they are at and not shift weight around until I get ropes on the boat...this keeps someone form jumping off or running to the rail to get a rope and throwing your balance off and then you have to scramble to adjust.

 

"Slow is pro"- advice given to me by a tugboat captain.

Make small inputs to throttle and steering and let the boat settle out- a lot of people get in trouble by making too many inputs and getting lost.

Practice a ton-hang a bunch of fenders and go out and do 50 touch and goes and you will get good in a hurry.

Have a system- we leave our lines on the dock and always tie up the same way every time we dock.

My deckhands grab the spring first and yell "spring on", so I know I can't back into the dock once it is on and I can use the spring to maneuver against if I need to.

We also line our slip with horizontal fenders so we don't have to worry about putting fenders out or rolling one onto the dock and hitting the dock.

Like Mark said, have everyone stay put unless they have a specific job, as I had a guy almost crush his leg by trying to "help" me stop a 48' 20 ton boat that he thought was coming in too hot.

Also, make sure you have an excuse in case someone sees you hit the dock hard.

Mike C

 

I want a couple of Batman line systems with darts for the nasty windy day.

I fought a leeward berth for years. I'm lucky now to have windward berth for quite some time. The more the NW winds blow the easier it is to tie up, just coast in and let wind dock her. My biggist issue is slowing down for the turn in.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

When you think you're going slow enough, go slower. Start your turn early and stay off the throttle. The boat will keep turning with the motor in neutral. If the wind is blowing the wrong direction or the current won't cooperate, you're going to hit something.


I think Wak'm has been watching me. One thing that makes it difficult, my boat won't go in a straight line in reverse. I have almost no control over it and turning around in a tight spot to get wind and current right is impossible.

 

DogZ it sounds like you need to add side thrusters

 

On CO we back in. Like parking a truck, it helps moving the front around. On the Carkvader I nose in and use Hanks method. Just a kiss of reverse.

Edit: my boats run dual motors. That’s sort of cheating. Like running a skid steer.

 

Most people I observe go to slowly so they can't overcome current and wind. I do just like Hank says but the more wind and current you have, the faster you have to cone in to keep steering control. Just like running whitewater downstream. If it's dead calm, creep in. If it's nautical, keep enough speed to keep steerage and be ready with plenty of reverse. Or cheat and have twins.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

This^ I see more people having a hard time going to slow then to fast! The only other thing I can add is to think plan what you going to do before you start your approach. I use Newport mostly and as soon as I come in to the marina I’m looking at flags for signs of wind direction and speed. Sometime if I have a up wind slip I’ll find an easy spot to drop a crew member on the dock and they go to the slip to help catch/tie the boat. I almost always make sure my kicker is down when in the marina.

 

One thing you will notice in the video of the boats in the docking contest video is the are never in neutral. Can we learn anything from that? If you are out of gear your drifting and very seldom is that a good thing.

I prefer to come in a little faster than most people are comfortable and use power to position myself!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

I arm my 2 friends on board with the boat sticks. Rubber tips to fend off a dock or other obstruction and hooks to grab the dock if I screw up my “Captain Ron’s” attempt. I open my pilot house windows also, trying to make it catch less wind.

 

I transition between an inboard prop boat and an inboard jet boat , I enter at a 45 degree angle, but the inputs to get stopped and have the stern come to the dock are totally opposite from each other, sometimes it takes a split second to realize ,oops wrong boat

 

Back to port. forward to starboard. Basically keep in mind the direction of your prop spin makes maneuvers easier when working with the prop walk.

The back of the boat turns first.

In close quarters movement, turn the wheel the direction you want and then apply throttle. If you apply throttle and then start turning the wheel, your making it harder on yourself. That took me years to beat that habit into to me.

Bumpers and spring lines are helpful. Watch some videos on big cruisers using spring lines.

A 6’ boat hook in the right crew members hands can be a life saver.

Finally- failures are always the crews fault.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

...In close quarters movement, turn the wheel the direction you want and then apply throttle. If you apply throttle and then start turning the wheel, your making it harder on yourself. That took me years to beat that habit into to me...

^^^ This is a big one for me. I think of it as thrust vectoring. In tight quarters it is rarely beneficial to turn with the motor in gear and the prop spinning.

If you want to turn a single screw outboard on-a-dime, put the throttle in neutral, turn the motor hard and fast one direction, put it in gear and give it a short burst of throttle (usually in the direction opposite of which it is already moving, but thats not always possible/desirable), back to neutral, turn hard the opposite direction, back into gear and give it another burst of throttle in the opposite direction (just enough to counter forward/reverse momentum from the last touch of throttle), back to neutral and straighten the motor out. At this point your boat should be rotating on its axis. When it is pointed in the direction you want to go, get back into gear and on the throttle. This maneuver is helpful for when you need to go past your slip in a narrow alley, get turned around in tight quarters, and approach the slip from the opposite direction so the wind/current direction are more favorable... or if you miss your approach the first time and get blown past the slip, down the alley, towards a dead-end :doh::doh:alm:alm:...

 

I love my Tolman Jumbo, but docking has been a huge learning experience. She has two traits that make it challenging. First, at slow speeds she blows sideways like a leaf on a pond. Second, if I use Hanks method of docking (how I always docked other boats), when you go to reverse to pull the stern in, I doesn’t happen, but instead the bow bounces out away from the dock. That has been a hard habit to break.

I approach slowly, using reverse to stop almost all forward motion. When I’m at the right position considering wind and current, I give it more throttle than I like to make the turn into the slip under control. Upon getting into the slip, go back to reverse thrust straight back to keep from hitting the dock. Most of the time it works great, but once in a while I scratch my head wondering what in the *!*, just happened.

I love every other aspect of the Jumbo, but slow speed handling and docking has been a learning experience.

 

Did I miss it in reading this thread? Have everyone seated except the person with the boat hook. Maneuver the boat in slowly considering waves, wind and current. Rely upon your over sized fenders to do their job including the one near the bow that allows you to lightly kiss the dock at an angle.

 

Having that 250lb crew member running back and forth from side to side can affect handling. Good point.