Maneuvers

[asherl33]

I am a new owner of a older 17' Bayliner open bow. I have the boat moored at my dock on a floating home. I am also a newbie to power boating. My problem is that there isn't a lot of room to maneuver. I am looking for a professional boater in the Portland Oregon area to work with me on maneuvers so that I can safely dock and move out. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Maneuvers

I might suggest taking number of empty plastic gallon jugs (like milk) and tying some twine & a weight (brick) to them and heading off to some quite shallow water to set them out in a pattern (rectangle or whatever). With this you have a real stationary target that you can practice maneuvering in and around. You can work on backing into the rectangle as if it were a slip. This will give you some low impact practice on familiarizing yourself with the controls and how your boat handles, and in this situation you don't need to worry about doing any damage. How ever you go about learning, enjoy & have fun. You are already doing one of the most important things, you are asking for help to learn.
Neighbors of ours have been in a similar situation with their 34' power boat & I have been working with them.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Maneuvers

Welcome Ash! The use of "spring lines" can greatly assist in the docking and undocking process. Try doing a web search on this topic. Also, you might think about picking up a copy of Chapmans "Piloting & Seamanship". It contains a wealth of information on just about everything. Best of luck on your new purchase. Enjoy!

 

[bowman316]

Re: Maneuvers

also, hang bumper's over the side of the boat, so that they are all that hits the dock. just make sure you don't hit the dock that hard.

Remember, when in reverse, point the engine to where you want to go.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Maneuvers

I'm interested to see pictures or a sketch of the area you are dealing with.

It seems with a 17' boat it might be easiest to just get close and then manually guide the boat into the tight spot if you can walk on a dock or something.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Maneuvers

boat hook comes to mind. http://www.iboats.com/Premium_Teles...98736870--**********.309580477--view_id.37902

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Maneuvers

You could try to find this guy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8F_GyUBYU

 

[Bondo]

Re: Maneuvers

Ayuh,.... Always Remember,...

Never approach a dock Any faster than you intend to Hit it......

 

[22E6441]

Re: Maneuvers

Ayuh,.... Always Remember,...

Never approach a dock Any faster than you intend to Hit it......

Thanks for my new signature line, Bond-o

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Maneuvers

OldePharte thrusters are wonderful on a boat that size.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Maneuvers

Welcome aboard mate!!!

Alot can be said for "never approaching the dock no faster than you intend to hit it". Just take your time it's like anything else new practice will gain experience. When I started I would line myself up straight on and basicaly coast in have your mouring lines ready and possibly someone to help guide it to the dock side by hand once your close enough. Once you become familiar with your boats control characteristics ( throttle & steering ) it gets even easier. One other thing I have seen used @ personal docks are floating mouring lines strung through a milk jughandle that is wieghted to the bottom a few feet away from the dock and grabbed by a hook or by hand after shutting down and they just pull thier selfs in. Anyway good luck and you will love this forum for any ?'s answer in the boating world everyone likes to help.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Maneuvers

What i have learned is to pay attention to everything, Such as poles, where are the waves lapping, is the tide coming in or out, wind direction, everything, buoys what are they doing what way are they getting pushed. Boats that are docked what way are they being pulled, what side lines are tight and what side is loose.

Come in slow, real real slow, maybe watch someone else come in, in front of you.

Are you going to get pushed to the dock by the wind or waves, when to cut the engine, will the forward momentum be enough to just touch the dock..

17 foot boat is not a giant boat and not terrible heavy.

But one thing i do know if your going slow, real real slow, creeping along you aint gonna hit anything that hard to do real damage.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Maneuvers

Disagree "
Are you going to get pushed to the dock by the wind or waves, when to cut the engine, will the forward momentum be enough to just touch the dock.."

Never cut your engine until you are secure to the dock. idle in neutral. or secured with an anchor.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Maneuvers

Wrong words, should have pull back on throttle not shut off motor, my mistake.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Maneuvers

I went on a fishing trip out of Tarpon Springs while on vac. in Fla. this was years ago, Anyhow at the days end the Captain or pilot whatever you want to call the guy maneuvered the big ol head boat into a slot between two other boats with only inches of clearance, to this day I think back of his technique every single time I pilot up to a dock, I like to idle in about 45 degree to dock, then hit reverse turn wheel into dock give a little blip of the throttle and suck the transom right up to the dock, I found that if I have just enough forward momentum before reverse thrusting it works perfect, but if not you can just reverse your boat right back out of position and have to start all over, not a good thing in traffic. Also as cheifalen said wind waves current all comes into play, so sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Anyone can look like like an expert when the conditions are perfect.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Maneuvers

Wrong words, should have pull back on throttle not shut off motor, my mistake.

"Come in slow real real slow" sounded like you were trying to say nothing above idle, but if you have to pull throttle back ?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Maneuvers

as Bondo said, "Never approach a dock Any faster than you intend to Hit it......."

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Maneuvers

Been boating all my life, and on lakes, there are other boats causing waves.

The hardest place i had to dock was a ramp that i sometimes use on the Raritain river, and the current does reverse with the tide.

So using that dock i always come in slow and make a pass slow, i watch whats going on with that dock cause it's treacherous.

The current is always swift no matter what way it's going.

I come in to finally dock into the current, never with it, and always come in about a 45 degree angle also. This way the current is helping me by pushing me into the dock, i come in dead slow, and when i run close pull the throttle into neutral. Then i or my son or whoever has a firm grasp of a cleat on the dock, we tie up.

The conditions in my opinion are the major factor of how you dock, and can only be learned by trial and error. No 2 docking's are the same, and speed is the all important factor.

All the above is my own personal opinion.