"parallel parking"

leaving the dock, it's easier of you have the current or wind coming astern as it helps kick the stern out. That said, with twins, it's just as easy to kick the stern out against the wind or current anyway...

landing, i much prefer getting in facing the wind or current... indeed since you need a little more power, that's more propwash on the rudders. downwind, i guess if you need to reverse to slow the boat down you can use throttles to steer the stern, so it's no big deal either way.
 
It is not uncommon for us here in the NW to visit docks that could be 300 feet long easy.
You may get a mooring in the inside , meaning you have docks to port and starboard lined with boats. No way to turn your boat around when in the inside. So you had better know how to drive in reverse and back out with boats on each side of you. At check out time and boats waiting to come in with reservations the dock master does not care about the currents or wind.
Some palces have room and can make accomendations to leave you where your at then that is great, but other places want you out and the next boat in.
I have witnessed some bad manuvering under these conditions when the currents and or wind is blowing.
 
I have been following this thread with much interest, however most of the discussion seems to be directed at inboards. How do the experienced operators handle twin I/O drives? I have heard that one approach is to leave the helm centered and to do everything with differential throttles. Any suggestions?

Mike
 
"walk the boat sideways" Turn the wheel opposite the intended direction of travel.Put the corresponding shifter in forward all of the corrections can be made with the shifter and throttle of the other side which is in reverse to start the process.Also the post's by capndick are 1oo% accurate and reflect his experience and I sure am glad he shares it.
 
This topic always gets my attention and I'm wondering what I'm missing from VEEBYES comments.

VEE, Can you make it clear on how you work the wind/current from the stern ??

Orcbait asks a great question and I thought more responses would hint that he didn't mention wind and current with his question.
 
I didn't know how lucky I was, but the first boat I learned how to handle, a 20 ft Mako, was parallel parking on a tidal mangrove creek in the FL keys. Current, wind, and fortunately a patient father who had forgotten more about boating than I'll ever know. I think the most important thing I learned was feel... how to balance all the different elements that were present and make a decision about how to approach the docking situation at hand. I can still remember him asking me each time we got near the dock what each element was doing and how I was planning on getting the boat into our spot. After some time it got to where he didn't have to ask anymore. Times on that boat are some of the best memories I have of me and my dad.
 
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