Backing into slip

[schrater]

Does anyone with a single engine and no thrusters back into your slip? Although I've read that this method can be preferable for combating current and wind, I have been unable to develop any steerage in reverse. I've heard a lot of people recommend "goosing" the throttle, but I suspect they're all working with twins.

 

[psneeld]

I can, but I rarely do.

My boat loads from the side decks so backing in with a dingy hanging is sort of counter productive.

Goosing the thottle on a single with the wheel hard over kicks the stern sround and if going slow, thevrudder isnt affecting direction too much. But the instantaneous thrust will.

Unless you come and go on the same tidal current direction, I see no benefit to backing in unless you want to, not because it makes docking easier.

 

[sunchaser]

Sure, watch the Utube lobster boat contests. It's a race to back up into slip!

 

[denverd0n]

Used to with a sailboat, all the time. Took a while to become comfortable enough with controlling the boat, though, before I started doing it regularly.

 

[High Wire]

SHORT bursts of throttle! Did I say short?

 

[dhays]

Used to with a sailboat, all the time. Took a while to become comfortable enough with controlling the boat, though, before I started doing it regularly.

MUCH easier with a sailboat.
- A sailboat has a rudder that actually works in at "ghosting" speeds, in forward or reverse
- A sailboat with a fin keel will pivot around its keel instead of "drift"
- A sailboat typically has much less "sail" area than a large cruiser.

To the OP, every boat is different. Typically, the rudders on a power cruiser are small and ineffective at slow speeds, particularly in reverse. As psneed points out (he has years more operational experience than I ever will) pulsing the engine can do a couple of things. The first effect is it will tend to kick the stern in the direction of the prop walk, typically to port in reverse, starboard in forward. In my boat, I get more pronounced prop walk in reverse. The second thing it does is to increase flow over the rudder, making it effective for the length of the power pulse. On my boat, this is much more effective when the pulse is in forward.

If you can spin your rudder fast enough, you can use this to move your stern to port or starboard as you back in. Going slowly, rudder hard to port, pulsing the power will mover your stern to port. Rudder hard to starboard, a power pulse will move your stern to starboard.

I wish my boat had a jog lever, it would make this much easier.

 

[schrater]

Agree, sailboats (and lobster boats) are very different animals compared with a big disp trawler.

In placid conditions (like a calm lake) I agree that prop walk can be your friend, but I find that it is no match against a 3kt current or 8kt winds.

 

[Chuck34]

Stern in is the only way I've ever docked a boat and the majority of our marina neighbors do it as well...power and sail.
Been a while, but I seem to remember my Catalina 30 backing in without much prop walk. My Catalina 34 is a different story. It has a strong prop walk to port. I use it to my advantage. When I'm backing in, I keep my wheel turned hard to port. If I need to get my stern more to starboard, I goose the engine forward and push the stern to starboard and use that momentum when I hit reverse again.

 

[dhays]

In placid conditions (like a calm lake) I agree that prop walk can be your friend, but I find that it is no match against a 3kt current or 8kt winds.

I agree. Knowing how to take advantage of of the prop walk and how to use power pulses is helpful, but it can only go so far.

 

[Sealife]

I do it everytime. If the finger pier isn't full length, our bow is too high to get off of, and sometimes the electrical connection is too far otherwise. It just takes practice. Lots of practice. Our last boat was a 1982 34' Mainship, so same single no thruster set up.

 

[ranger58sb]

Does anyone with a single engine and no thrusters back into your slip?

That was the only way we ever docked, when we had the Mainship III.

Helped to enter a fairway so we were approaching the target slip to port, since that was the best way to work prop walk on that boat.

But we got into slips on our starboard side several times, too.

Didn't think of it as any big deal. Got easier -- especially at destination marinas/slips -- as crew got the hang of tending a spring line, too...

-Chris

 

[eyschulman]

Some boats are harder to back into a slip but most with some forethought planning and patience can do it. Once a skipper gets the hang of it it can become relatively easy even in boats that don't back well. Bow thrusters are very helpful but it is best when they are only used for minor adjustments rather than the main stearing device as is often the case. When approaching a slip many considerations come into play. Which way does your prop kick your stern in reverse-wind direction and strength-current if any-the arc of the turn and the boats natural side drift while in a turning arc. I will often go past the slip and turn the boat around to approach from the favored side. With a single engine boat I do not try to line up straight with the slip before backing I take the prop walk wind and current into account and often swing the boat in a predicted curve into the slip. Every docking can be a little or a lot different the tick is to get the experience and feel for it to make the necessary adjustments. The more you do it the easier it becomes. Yesterday at Elliott Bay marina a 38-40 ft sail boat hit three boats hard sending one with its bow ko-ing the dock box bow on dock. I don't know all the details but evidently the boat was trying to dock or turn in the fairway. what ever the situation the prime rule of go slow was broken. Goosing the throttle has to be done in a way that keeps speed down and boat under control best practiced away from other boats.

 

[O C Diver]

The term is "Back and Fill". Do it with my charter boat, 35' single screw no thruster. Do it with my trawler, 45' single screw and bow thruster. You need a big rudder for best effect. Much prefer to back in as there is a less obstructed view. The prop walk pulls the boat's stern to port or starboard depending on whether a left or right hand propeller. Having the rudder hard over and shifting to forward, kicks the stern back to where you want it. It's rare for me to use the thruster when stern in docking. As with any boating maneuver, nothing replaces practicing the technique with your own boat.

Ted

 

[Nomad Willy]

I've done stern in for awhile w my Willard.
I like it since I'm in covered moorage and much less light gets aft so I feel my anti-fowling bottom paint lasts longer. And cleaning the bow is much easier than the stern.
When it's windy it gets tricky and speed helps a lot to a point. When she's lined up do it now and quickly before current and/or wind moves your boat sideways so you may need to completely abort and reposition the boat.
One should practice maneuvers. Notice that the boat will do the same thing every move you make. Rudder dead ahead, boat stopped X amount of throttle and the boat will do the same thing every time. Notice when you back from a standstill the same thing happens. Won't be the same for all boats. My boat backs to stbd innitially but very soon she goes almost straight back. So backing out of a slip I push the stern out about a foot as I get aboard. Then I back smartly (1500 to 1800rpm) w the rudder dead ahead. She pulls to stbd a bit so the boat soon becomes straight as it was before I pushed it out. My boat is easier to back out that go bow out.
Practice many maneuvers and make observations .. record them if it helps.

It's not so much you controling the boat but you knowing what the boat does when you do x,y or z. If you know what's going to happen you can do any maneuver w confidence.

 

[markpierce]

Berths here are "pointed," so the designer's intent was probably to strengthen the fingers' connection and for the bow to enter first. Most boats do but some like to back in for whatever reason. Bow-in for me is against the prevailing wind. Find the mechanics of backing out easier than the reverse.

 

[Nomad Willy]

In your case Mark the piling I see at the end of the finger should hold the finger in place.
HaHa

My round butt boat fits in rather well backwards. Haven't tried backing in w a strong wind though. The bow sticking up and fwd will likely catch the wind and on most boats the bow responds to wind much more so than the stern. Bows swinging downwind is more than common. That and the stern has the rudder and hence considerable control. It's easy to poke the bow in. Then one can position the stern w the rudder and your "home free" w a bit of fwd way. So running in bow first should be the preferred act.

 

[Islanddreamer]

No wind and no current stern in is OK. I never have that where I dock. We're bow in, and the view off the stern is better anyway..

 

[AusCan]

It took some practice for me to work out how to back into the slip. Now I find it is just as easy as going bow in. I don't back in often, as I prefer a more private cockpit away from the dock, but if the wind is blowing >20 kts on my nose pulling into the dock, I find it is easier to back in.

I find that if I spend a minute or two prior to pulling into the berth working out how the wind or current effects the boat at the approach angle I am planning, docking will work out much more smoothly.

 

[HopCar]

As has been pointed out, you need to bump into forward to swing the stern the way you want it to go. With the rudder hard over to push the stern the way you want it, you'll be surprised at how little forward motion you'll pick up.

The only time I had any trouble was when a friend on the dock got hold of one of my stern lines before I managed to swing the bow from side to side so my wife could get the bow lines on.

Take your time. Don't be afraid to pull out and make another attempt. Nobody who counts will think less of you. The only ones who count are the ones who have done it.

 

[Sealife]

I learned early. What the boat will do and what the boat won't do. No matter how hard you want it, it won't happen. Work with what it will do. Abort and start over completely otherwise.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. s. Let me assure you. Even with twins I'm not always on my game. ANY landing you can walk away from is a good one.

 

[koliver]

The most serious test of your boat handling skills is backing into a mooring. This is especially challenging in a vessel with a single screw and no other propeller.
What you have is the only control of the boat acting at the stern, with reverse propulsion, sideways movement in reverse "propwalk" of varying quantity, and limited effectiveness of rudder surfaces. In order to succeed, you need to understand the forces and how to use them to your advantage.

Backing in a strait line? Yes it is possible, but it requires enough water flow past the control surfaces of the rudder to allow the rudder to actually direct the stern of the boat in the direction that you want to go. This will not occur at very low speeds, where the influence of Propwalk is much greater than the influence of the rudder.

Entering a moorage slip in reverse? Also possible, once you have made the propwalk your friend. Most engines turn clockwise, so in reverse, your propeller will turn counterclockwise, pulling your stern to port. If you want to enter a slip in reverse, it must be on your port side, your rudder must be set for a turn to starboard. Then the "back and fill" action will quickly move your stern to port and with some practice you can back your boat into that port side slip. If your slip is to starboard, you will need to go past the slip, turn around and put the slip on your port side, then you will be able to back into it.

 

[CDreamer]

Schrater- it's totally worth looking around for an accessible marina with some empty (un-rented) slips, and just practicing. Usually a weekday is good. Hang a bunch of fenders over both sides and the transom first. Borrow a few if you need more...
You might only get one wind/current condition each time but it will still be a "learning moment".

I started with an oversized slip and went super slow. If it wasn't working out, well, nobody was around to see me bail out and start again on a Monday afternoon. It also taught me where to set up my dock lines and which one mattered in different situations.

Personally, I think this stuff is half the fun of boating...getting mad skills and feeling competent. Also, thrusters are very handy and I'm all for them, but they're sorta like the Google map function in my car...people used to get around fine without either of them.

PS - I'd also recommend practicing "parallel parking". That's an art in itself. (Arriving OR departing!)

 

[eyschulman]

I often have a greater sense of security when I get a new dock neighbor whose boat is backed into the slip. Right or wrong my reasoning is the skipper knows his boat and has skills and is less likely to damage my craft. I get a little worried if I observe multiple nose on dockings with a lot of thruster action. I consider the backing and turning of a boat with confidence in tight places a big step in the process of mastering ones craft. I belong to a yacht club with lots of out stations where tight docking is called for. I am always impressed at the number of skippers who can handle there medium to larger sized boats with ease and finesse. Many but not all are old salts and have many years of experience. They also because of the size of their boats and the tight conditions and the many eyes of club members on them have sufficient inducement to learn to get it right, and by en-large they do.

 

[psneeld]

The OP asked about single engine with no thruster.

Its one thing to know your home dock...another to stern in at many transient places you have never been before.

Unless necessary to back in for whatever reason... if not, thats like saying dont use a thruster as it is unecessary.

I can do it, and I can put my single, no thruster where many dockmasters suggest I dont...but that doesnt mean I back in most of the time. Especially in new places as the unexpected could happen and if shorthanded, why struggle through life.

If boathandling is a hobby, go for it.

However... if I see someone doing it when they dont have to, and conditions are less than perfect, I might wonder about their judgement as a skipper. Then again, that could be as erroneous as thinking they are good just because they nailed it that time....and the next time they may nail you boat.

 

[Nomad Willy]

eyshulman,
I thought of that.
And connected to that thinking I think most here consider backing into a slip a stunt that only old salts can do. Not so as some boats are quite easy to back into a slip. Mine is.
I think I hear bragging to some degree re backing into a slip. Not accusing any specific person except maybe myself. I was supprised so many do it until I thought about it and I AM a bit analytical. Now I'm supprised so many TRY it. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't for the darkness I get backed in. And since sterns are so much wider than pointy bows (even mine) the boat gets less weather backed in. Especially when the slip is open to the east where most of the rain and wind comes from. At least in the PNW.

 

[ranger58sb]

I was supprised so many do it until I thought about it and I AM a bit analytical. Now I'm supprised so many TRY it. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't for the darkness I get backed in. And since sterns are so much wider than pointy bows (even mine) the boat gets less weather backed in. Especially when the slip is open to the east where most of the rain and wind comes from. At least in the PNW.

FWIW, mostly we always backed in simply because the finger piers around here are usually too short to get off the boat if we entered the slip bow-to. There are some exceptions, a few marinas with nice floating docks and full-length fingers, but they don't grow on trees in this area...

-Chris

 

[Poach]

Does anyone with a single engine and no thrusters back into your slip? Although I've read that this method can be preferable for combating current and wind, I have been unable to develop any steerage in reverse. I've heard a lot of people recommend "goosing" the throttle, but I suspect they're all working with twins.

I have twins screws, but I always back into my moorage. It eliminates concern for cross winds. And the way I analogize it is that it's like front-wheel drive, pulling rather than pushing. Because I generally operate from up top when docking, I can see better aft than forward. The only thing I have to remember this time of year is to DUCK--the roof beams on my covered moorage are darned hard!

 

[psneeld]

Based on how many dock crashes I have seen, I wouldnt say either way eliminates any concerns for many skippers...

Comparing docking most twins against a single, no thruster is like comparing a bicycle to a unicycle....can be done but many boat operators I know struggle with twins, getting a single in unless no current, no wind aint pretty if happening at all.

 

[dhays]

In the marina behind us (a 40' fairway separates us) there are two boats that routinely play bumper boats as they come into their slips. I have yet to see them achieve it without contacting their neighbors boats. One, a sailboat, tries backing into his slip. He has no clue how to do it. The other is a smaller boat with an outdrive. He has no concept of how an outdrive actually steers the boat. In each case, they appear to be newer owners with little to no experience. Most of the time, their dockmates have to come to the rescue to fend them off the docks, pilings and other boats. Fortunately for all, they only go out on nice weather weekends when there are other boaters at the dock coming and going.