Twin engine docking instruction

M

Maxwell

Member
Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
RO Number
31042
Messages
378
Hi guys,

A friend from our yacht club who has been a sailor for the last 20 years has recently decided that he wanted a bit more comfort and the ability to get places without taking an eternity. I delivered a new to him Tiara 4300 Sovran last Friday and have been spending time with him giving him lessons at the helm and just getting him to know the boat in general. The boat is IPS equipped however I have not let him touch the joystick as I want him to understand how to properly run a powerboat before resorting to gadgets. He is slowly picking things up but I was wondering if anyone has a good website or article they could suggest to supplement the on the water training. I did a quick google search and found a bunch but none that I found overly helpful.

Any suggestions?
 
Good for you! I remove the belt for the power steering and braking from the car when I teach the kids to drive, so they know how to handle a car properly first.
 
quote:
Originally posted by EdFitz

Good for you! I remove the belt for the power steering and braking from the car when I teach the kids to drive, so they know how to handle a car properly first.

Click to expand...

What? Are you serious?

George
 
Books, videos, etc are all well and good. The best way to learn is by actually doing the docking.

I have no idea of how an IPS equiped boat handles but I think that if you show him one or two times the should then be able to try on his own with you standing at his back. Just do not try in very tight quarters the first time. Just get out in clear water and let him see just what happens.

Can you back an IPS equiped boat by the shifters alone(no joy stick) as you do on a straight drive?

George
 
At one time in my very checkered past I was involved with training midshipmen in the many arts comprising "seamanship". I found that it is helpful to keep things as simple as possible and to set the stage for many times at bat under controlled conditions. Maneuvering around a pier is basic. Perhaps you might let the new guy find his own way once you've exposed him to the effect of rudder, prop wash and quick and slow application of torque. Perhaps you've done quite enough and should encourage your student to start collecting hands-on experience himself with you perhaps observing from a distance, suject to a decent critique from time to time. Sounds to me that you've done your job,
 
Max

One very good excercise is to hover close to piling, bow first. Star him 6' or so away, bow to the wind and let him feel the boat and how the boat reacts to gear inputs, by wiggling the bow left to right. As.confidence builds up have him bring the pulpit closer and practice hovering and within a couple of feet

Do the same with the stern

It teaches people to get a feel for the boat and how it reacts to inputs . Having a hard object makes them overcome the fear of hitting. It s also a lot better than the float many people use as the sight line amd angles are more realistic
 
In my opinion with IPS drives you aren't really doing him any favors teaching him standard docking twin engine style. You are more likely to have an engine failure than a joystick IPS control failure. He should make use of the IPS control system and get used to it. That is unless he intends to use other twin engine boats other than the one he purchased?
Ed you are too funny! You owe me a keyboard for spitting coffee all over my laptop after reading the way you teach your kids to drive.
Bill
 
no shortage of videos and written instructions if you google

"twin engine boat docking"
 
quote:
Originally posted by gcolton

quote:
Originally posted by EdFitz

Good for you! I remove the belt for the power steering and braking from the car when I teach the kids to drive, so they know how to handle a car properly first.

Click to expand...

What? Are you serious?

Click to expand...

No, just pointing out how ridiculous it is to not use the equipment that is installed on the vehicle. Now, I'm sure you'll all tell me that the new captain should know how to handle the boat without all the fancy equipment, but seriously, do we do the same thing with cars? Of course not. But what if the power brakes fail? But what if the power steering fails? What if the IPS joystick fails? Fact is, it doesn't fail that often, and the new captain isn't going to remember how to dock without it anyway, even if you do teach him now how to do it.
 
Max - sorry to hijack temporarily, but did you sell him yours? Are you moving up already, and if so, what's the next one?!
 
If there is one thing I really take great pride in is docking.

I still practice docking just to keep myself sharp. The biggest thing your friend needs to realize is that its a boat. Hitting something isnt a big deal because it can be fixed. May not be the best way to look at it, but its a good thing to keep in the back of your head.

I would take him out into the bay and just let him have a feel for the throttles and how they react. Let him maneuver around some oranges or something in the water before he gets in tight quarters...
 
"oranges"????

Now, you've gone to far, Matt!
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

"oranges"????

Now, you've gone to far, Matt!

Click to expand...

As Obama said the Blue one's or the Orange one's?
Your to funny BC, I have to agree though to some degree I also pride myself in docking proficiently. Yes I have a thruster but rarely need it, but since it's there I tap it now and then to make sure it is operable when needed.
Bill
 
That Orange Trick was used in many fairweather days at sea when training young naval officers. Cheap, available on short notice, and visable. No harm if it hits you hard.
 
You need to learn the right way, no thrusters or anything else, once you do you will know how. All the extras are nice but they will fail, usually at the worst time. Dock on single engine too. No training whells anymore you're grown up.
 
I am far from great t dcking, but I get the job done. No subsitute for practice. It's one of those things you just need to keep doing.
 
Best advice I got when newly using twins was to think of it handling like a shopping cart would if you had both hands on the corners of the handle....
 
quote:
Originally posted by PhilipLankford

Best advice I got when newly using twins was to think of it handling like a shopping cart would if you had both hands on the corners of the handle....

Click to expand...


Sounds like a good tip. I think about it like driving a tank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top