Boating basics

When we moved up to the 32' Carver with twins I hired a Captain to teach me on our boat and in our waters. The hours we spent with him were worth every penny!!! One of the most important lessons I learned that day was "the power of neutral". When you are not sure how the boat will act/react don't try to "drive" it... you may find yourself in more trouble. Pull back on the sticks and put her in neutral to see where she wants to go. This also helps you to slow YOURSELF down a bit so you don't overreact to a situation. Take your time, go slow and try "the power of neutral"!

Oh, and hire that Captain for a day!
 
Pick up a copy of Chapman's - there are extensive chapters on docking and the use of spring lines. 2nd best purchase you could make.
 
Rest assured that every now and then you'll goof. First time out this season, after several approaches to the fuel dock and a friends lake house that showed my prowess after 5 continuous seasons with an express cruiser (2 with this twin engine boat) I felt pretty good about my first time out for the season.

Then it was time to back into the dock...

1. Came into my boathouse lane... nodded to the folks I know... calmly passed right on by my slip and started to back into the wrong empty slip. What happened to that boat! Its never been gone before!!
2. OK, now a little flustered and very, very close to the rocks at the end of the boathouse. (How does my friend from Birmingham get his boat in so easily right next to the rocks I wonder!).
3. Taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the smiling Admiral and my teens on board I come around again. From my past pilot days I concentrate on making a sound approach.
4. I get lined up on MY slip this time, started around fine. Hmmm, where did that breeze come from? I'm lined up (mostly) and started backing in. Something is not right... Oh, just like the first time last year I'm going a little bit faster than I really need to. OK, slow down.
5. Coming in a LITTLE crooked and a little fast. OK, lets reverse and go back out.
6. Ooops! The other reverse!!! I reversed by reversing the engines, but I'm already going backward. Reverse is forward!! I speed up a little more and PRANG! My swim platform, almost unmarked from 3 owners hits right below the metal roof support and puts a 1.5" gash into the nice neat fiberglass. Man I was upset with myself, but also know from lurking and reading on this site and others that is was just time.
7. I got cocky, I got a little confused at the wrong time, and I did not practice on one of the many buoys that I passed that day just go get back into the groove.

So, if it happens, learn from it. And really most of the time slower is better. In this bigger boat I still occasionally find myself going faster because it feels slower than our smaller cruiser did!
 
First - always help your neighbors... and they will be there for you. Everyone enjoys a hand to make it easier on all. My neighbors come running no matter what they are doing, and I do the same when I see them coming down the lane.

Second - go slow, and don't be too proud to abort and try again. Patience makes perfect, and helps everyone learn each time.

I got up the nerve this year to back her in. 5x now and really beginning to enjoy the experience. In fact, I believe it's easier than bow in for me. I remember one of the guys saying "just imagine the transmission levers move the boat like a pair of parenthesis" ( ). Works for me!

Third - I set the rudder straight when I enter the marina, and only use the throttles (minimally) + FWD/REVERSE (most often) to dock her. This takes the guess work out of where my rudder is at, and its influence when you are challenged by wind, current, or other factors.

Finally, have your ropes set up the way you like them. A Spring line always is a sound way to bring her along side the dock.

You'll do fine. And for those novice smiling faces who find it humorous to watch or comment, offer them a turn in the hot seat next time. My guess is they'll back off rather quickly and quietly. That's enough satisfaction for this captain.

Good Luck!
 
I spent the better part of last night trying to locate the message that I read about the dealers now being required to provide training on boat operation. I beleive it was on the boatus message boards but I can't find the link?
 
I agree. Always help your neighbor.

You know the pro from the novice by the pace people walk to help others. If Joe blow is clueless people walk fast and ask for the lines as soon as possible to minimize the risk and if someone knows what they're doing people walk slow because they know by the time they get there all they will do is say hi and ask how was your trip. If you add strong wind and currents things change a bit but the pro will still makes it look easy while the novice gets the attention of anyone in site.

Nothing worse then a bunch of clueless boaters playing tough of war with a boat on a clam day in slack tide.....
 
All good advice.

Suprised no one here gave you the most LOGICAL advice: 1) Acquire boat 2) Hold onto for a short period of time 3) Utter the words "Veni, Vidi, Vici" 4) Sell boat.

But, most here aren't logical...including myself. ;)
 
When I am pulling into an unfamiliar dock, folks run up to help me 'cause they see a woman at the helm! I'd rather they just wait and see if I need a hand or not.....but most grab on expecting a crash landing! LOL
 
It always amazes me how the owner of my marina and his couple of old salt marina staff shuffle, dock, and lift so many boats every day, whether from behind the helm of a motoring yacht or sitting in an 8 foot whaler with one line attached to a large sailboat pushing it into a narrow slip perfectly (they seem to pride themselves on their boat handeling). Many times I have stood by looking to lend assistance only to have to step back in awe. These are the people at your marina you should be getting advise from as their long experience and knowledge of your marina docking conditions will no doubt be the best.
 
Flutter..
there is nothing worse than a woman backing stern in to a dock and having 6 guys yelling in unison..
"pull your stern around".. "You got it".. "let the wind bring you in".."more starboard".. "straight back now"... "you got it"..

Well.. I had a sign made up and I lean it on my aft deck couch when I back in.

"Yes, I'm a woman, but I am also a licensed USCG Captain. I know how to dock a boat. Please refrain from yelling commands. What you think is helpful.. is really very distracting to me. Thanks, I knew you'd understand :)
 
Les, What was the first most important thing?

Pascal, how do you use the spring line if you are going in stern first?

Also, one of the things I find very frustrating is people trying to rush you or telling you what you need to do. My advise, take your time and do it again if the approach is not right. and if they keey talking, tell em to shut the heck up!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Katie

Flutter..
there is nothing worse than a woman backing stern in to a dock and having 6 guys yelling in unison..
"pull your stern around".. "You got it".. "let the wind bring you in".."more starboard".. "straight back now"... "you got it"..

Well.. I had a sign made up and I lean it on my aft deck couch when I back in.

"Yes, I'm a woman, but I am also a licensed USCG Captain. I know how to dock a boat. Please refrain from yelling commands. What you think is helpful.. is really very distracting to me. Thanks, I knew you'd understand :)
Click to expand...


So true----and what a great solution!!!!
 
Jeff,

the same way, but in reverse with the drive more or less straight...
springline-rev.gif


the best thing is just to completly ignore those who tell you what to do, do your own thing and don't pay attention.
 
Two comments from my own meager experience: Don't be afraid to use short bursts of power. If you're approaching and the wind or current throws you off you may not have enough inertia to straighten her out just with the rudder. A short burst of power, properly applied, will move the boat forward (or astern) a bit but give you lots of swing in the direction you want to go. The key word here is "short". The other thing is that I made one of my kids pull the 28' in the other day. I stood next to her just in case. She pulled in perfectly and only touched when she hit reverse and swung the stern (single screw). I complimented her lavishly, only to have her jump off, grab a line and say "nope, doesn't count until there's no touch". Now I know what she thinks of my docking!

Robert
 
Robert...
Funny story and now you know she does listen. What a great job she did on a single screw !!!

Mark
 
Robert

That's a really nice looking Trojan! Where do you keep her slipped? Was that picture taken near the sandspit off of Franks Tract/Sandmound Slough?
 
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