reversing a inboard outboard boat

[dkorzun21]

when i reverse in a inboard outboard boat is it the same thing like a car or is it opposite? Just wondering im a new boat owener and had a little trouble trying to leave the dock last week almost had the *** end hit the dock so I quickly shut off the engine. But anyway needless to say I was having so much fun that I forgot to check while I was in the middle of the lake. Someone please help. Also Any tips for pulling up to the dock to load boat back on the trailer? took me a good 5 mins to do so with tons of people looking at me. Any help would be great thanks

 

[slasmith1]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

the thing to remember is a boat turns stern first as opposed to a car where the front turns first. the best advice I can give is to practice slow speed operation in a clear area away form everyone and when you think you have that mastered go to the local dock on a slow day and practice docking. just take your time and don't be afraid to pull back out and try again if something doesn't look or feel right about your first attempt.

 

[bigb2008]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

If you think about it, reverse will pull the boat back the direction the stern drive is facing.

So if you turn the the right going forward, the boat goes to the right, when reversing with the wheel in the same place, the back of the boat will go to the right.

 

[bigb2008]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

And as far as going into a dock, typically I kick back and forth between neutral, and drive, that way it keeps my speed down, and I still have control over where the boat is going. Don't try to come in just in forward gear, or your going to come in way too fast for being a beginner(then you'll have to panic into reverse to slow yourself down). Take it nice and easy, and of course practice makes perfect. I spent a good 4-5 hours just going out, and coming into my slip before I was really comfortable with it. ( it was a pretty tight slip, and the water level was about 2-1/2 ft, so I was concerned about the stern).

When it gets windy, your going to thank yourself for practicing, as it typically gets that much more tense. Stay calm, relax, and practice.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

As others have said a million times on this forum.. "Slow and Steady gets you there" Take your time and learn to use the wind.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

depending on the size of your boat yes you should and will need to use reverse as a 'brake' and for directional control. as you come in to dock you can use light to moderate reverse thrust with steering to slide up to the dock. but the first thing to work on is neutral/forward/neutral to achieve a slow drift speed.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

Also Any tips for pulling up to the dock to load boat back on the trailer? took me a good 5 mins to do so with tons of people looking at me. Any help would be great thanks

Practice but don't beat yourself up over 5 minutes. That isn't bad at all.

Yes there are guys who can load/unload in 30 seconds, but it sounds like your are doing fine to start and will get better with practice.

 

[ziggy]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

get the book chapmans piloting and boat handling. in it are some fine tips about docking and backing. maybe check it out at the library. it's a pretty expensive book. it's very thick with more info than you can imagine.

also, about backing a boat. propellers are most effective going fwd. in rev. there anything but effective. they tend to steer in one direction real good, the other real poorly. i think my boat is typical. in rev. it will turn to port real easy, but almost impossible to get it to turn to starboard due to the prop spinning.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

This is what I would do. Get yourself a long 2x10 plank, maybe 12-14 feet long. Some early morning when it is glass calm, take the plank out into a quiet bay and drop it in the drink. Use it as a "dock" and practice approaches from different angles, both sides, backing in, etc. Being un-anchored, it will move if you bump it and being early, the only folks likely to see you are fishermen.

Be sure to bring the plank home with you...

A few things to keep in mind. In reverse, the prop will pull the stern where ever you steer the unit. If you turn the wheel right, it will pull the stern to the right, and the same for left turn. Use this to your advantage and you'll look like a pro in no time...

Scott

 

[scoutabout]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

Some good advice here. I especially like Chinewalker's suggestion for practicing with a plank out in the lake some calm day.
Depending on the size of the boat and conditions, I too pull into neutral well out from the dock and give little shots of forward. This works quite well with my step-father's rather heavy 24 footer that carries a lot of inertia.

Sometimes, smaller boats like the relatively light Scout or windy days mean you need to be under power right to the last moment to maintain directional control.

Someone on this board once posted the best bit of landing advice I've read: "Approach the dock only as fast as you are prepared to hit it."

Another important thing to practice is bringing the boat alongside a person without running over them. You may very well have to do this sometime and owe it to yourself and others to be competent. Use a life jacket for this practice. Above all, never back a boat toward anyone in the water.

Most of all, don't beat yourself up about the odd flub while learning. I've been boating for thirty plus years and blow a docking in a big way at least once a season.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

Go practice in a non-stress full area. the drifting board is great---like anything else, do it a few times and learn . You will improve quickly . Just go S-L-O-W -in --and --out- -of --gear so your boat just "barley kisses" the dock or stops a foot from it...The prop will pull you the direction its pointing when in reverse. You can not see it but you have to know where it pointed.

even us boaters with decades of experiance look pretty stupid sometimes . I look like a fool backing into my slip if the wind blows my bow sideways-the slip next to me has a very nice , new($$$) boat that sticks out past the slip and I sure would hate to hit it with my battle wagon-
stay calm-have fun and do not get stressed out!!!

 

[JoLin]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

Great advice here.

Slow, slow, slow.

Practice, practice, practice. Technique is learned. Every boat is different, and every time you dock, conditions will be slightly different, too. Wind direction, wind strength and current are always in flux. I'm on my second boat and both acted quite differently.

My 21' outboard w/a was light and highly susceptible to wind. As someone already noted, I needed to keep up some speed to maintain control, then reverse. Made for some tense moments and more than one 'bang!' off the dock, but I gradually got the hang of it.

My "new" 24' cruiser is actually much easier (so far) to dock. It's a lot heavier and maintains directional control better. I can use a low-speed F-N-F-N technique to ease it in.

Finally, don't try to "save" a bad approach. Bail out of it and go around again. No harm, no foul. As time goes on you'll gradually start feeling less like an idiot. In the meantime, just remember that every single boater out there started out bumping into stuff

 

[Bondo]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

"Approach the dock only as fast as you are prepared to hit it."

Ayuh,... I believe I said,...Approach the dock only as fast as you Intend to hit it...

 

[Splat]

Re: reversing a inboard outboard boat

I just wanted to add that when revearsing the boat will do some funny things that only practice can prepare you for. What I mean is even with the stearn drive pointed directly backwards, when revearsing the boat due to rotational forces on the prop will pull to port.

This can be helpful if you know how to use it, not only while docking, but if you need to turn sharply inside of a boatlength(such as in a narrow channel) you can use revearse to pull the stern around without changing thee angle of the sterndrive.

Bill