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Brian Suhl

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I bought my first inboard powered boat mid summer last year. '06 Silverton 34C. I am getting the hang of backing it into the slip and am actually getting quite comfortable with it, at least compared to the first couple of days with it.

Question, when I pull into a lock and snug up to the wall on my port side I never quite know the best way to get off the wall when it is time to exit. My thought over the winter is what if I set the wheel/rudders hard left and kick the port motor in forward and the starboard motor in reverse? I know it would kick the bow out but with the rudders turned would it force the port thrust against the lock wall and possibly push the stern out too?

Any other ideas?
 
You've got it, if forward is clear you might not need need the reverse. That is how you "walk" a boat. The rudders steer the stern the engines the bow. My buddy has a Silverton and they will "walk" easily.
 
never had the luxury of twin engines... I always had to use spring lines.
 
Brian, when I'm leaving a lock wall, the first thing I do is push off amidships, then I do as you suggest. Sometimes though, if wind is pushing me against the wall, it gets tricky.
 
What you have suggested works well, up to a point where the side current is just too strong.

If the current is too much I'd leave the rudders alone if the locks are narrow. Reason being is as soon as you are off the wall, you want to execute your next move and not have to take a few moments to get the rudders back to center. Leave a spring line on to keep the boat in place or just put fender next to your stern to cushion between the stern and the lock wall. Your maneuver then essentially "pushes" off the lock wall by pivoting on your stern. Once your bow is out you can then just go in forward gear. Until then you need to keep the boat stationary, which you can either use a spring line or if your practiced you will know the difference between fwd/rear thrusts to keep the boat in one place.

Of course before trying anything fancy, usually when lock doors open, water flows in towards your boat. Often you can just release your bow line, keep hold of the stern and let the current push the bow out.

Have fun.

bp
 
Twins are nice, I just don't see why people don't want to take full advantage of them. If you don't use the rudders you've given like 60% of the advantage away. Learn to use the rudders and look like a pro.
 
"the first thing I do is push off amidships, "
"Learn to use the rudders and look like a pro."

in all fairness, i dont' think anyone will look like a pro trying to push off a boat, unless it's real small... it's always funny when i see guys trying to leave a sea wall when the wind has then pinned down and even 5 to 10kts can make it tricky.

ideally, you woudl pivot off the stern but it's difficult to keep a fender in the right spot and not hit. if you have a swim platform, it's even more difficult and risky. the only way it will work is if you have a crew who can keep a large fender in place; if that's the case, assuming wall is to port, put stbd in reverse, port in fwd and leave the rudders amidship.

i much prefer backing out... place a couple of fenders at the bow, then port in reverse, stbd in fwd and FULL rudders to port. that will kick the stern even against 20 or 25kts wind, if you use some throttle. the key is to have the fenders along the bow in the right spot... this way you dont' need spring line or crew. once you're at a 45 deg angle, rudders amidship and both engines in reverse to back out...

i do that all the time when leaving a bulkhead and it works. to pushing, no running...

i've seen too many people hit the boat in front of them or scrapping their platform trying to leave a wall in fwd.
 
Pascal, I don't think you will "walk" a 53 too far, but I know you can "walk" a 34 Silverton, I do it all the time. I do think you can get a 53 off the wall without wind, you might have to use the reverse to give it more time to move.
 
Got to go with Pascals method.. Works for us also.
Ron
 
Brian you have it right. Do just as you describe and you will not need fenders or spring lines. One more thing, when you fine tune your procedure you will notice that after the bow comes off the wall a short burst of forward with starboard shifter will help the stern get off quicker.After you master the fine art of crabbing,people will accuse you of having thrusters. Good Luck.
 
Brian,
You have the right idea, but I dont think it will work well with your (our) boats, if anyone thinks I am wrong please chime in.

The reason I say this is the boat has prop pockets and 5 to 10% of the rudders surface area is below the props. I never have a problem when I am pined up against a wall, I have a stern and bow thruster. :)

Walter
 
"....I don't think you will "walk" a 53 too far...."

C'mon Jim you know better than that. If it'll walk at all it'll walk as far as you have fuel for. Size has nothing to do with it; bigger boats also have bigger props and rudders.
 
stmbtwle, The windage is a problem. The thing is, the mass is also a problem, I have "walked" a 55 before, they "walk" aircraft carriers.
These guys are not pros, Brian was trying to be, he had it right. Pascel whated to back up in a lock???????????????
Some people know, some don't.
 
i don't care if I'm in a lock... if i'm pinned with wind, I am not going to leave paint from my stern on the wall... i will pivot off the bow, back up just enough and turn...

walking is nice little maneuver in calm weather... but it doens' work against the wind... maybe with a flat bottomed boat, but not with a keel.
 
In my experience, walking doesn't work too well in deep-draft veseels (as Pascal said). The problem is that usually the bow is too much drag to move sideways and, unless you have virtually zero wind or current pinning you, it's not going to work too well.

Regarding leaving a lock by pivoting the stern out, you can use Pascal's method without gaining headway or sternway. It's all in the balance of power between the engines.

Different boats will handle differently, factoring available power, wind/current, how much of a kick is needed and the application of rudder (should always be hard over, helping the stern kick). After you swing out far enough, you simply mick astern a little bit. Because you are now angled to the berth/wall you just left, you'll have more room to move astern. It doesn't require too much. When you hav cleared enough (or are running out of astern room), simply reverse your swing. Now, your bow will follow (you MIGHT gain a little sternway, but unless you're REALLY jam packed, it shouldn't be a problem). The result is that you will be parallel to the wall, dock, etc, a good distance off. From this point, you can move ahead with plenty of swing room to clear the wall/dock.

This does take practice and you really just need to know your boat and what kind of power it takes. Remember that it is all about balancing the power between the two engines.
 
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