Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

[JimKW]

I know it takes time to get used to doing this. But I was coming into the trailer yesterday and was lined up what I thought was perfect then I drifted a little too far to the left heading towards the dock so I just tapped it into reverse to avoid hitting the dock. Next thing I know I am sideways in the loading area with the back end ready to hit the opposite side dock. Luckily some young people were there and kind of caught me and pushed me away so I wouldn't hit. Once I got out in the middle I just backed all the way out and came back in and pretty much hit the trailer perfect, but I felt pretty much like an idiot for looking like I did the first time and had I missed it again I would have felt like a total idiot.

Any idea what I could have done differently or what I did wrong? Is there something that would help with steering the boat at slow speeds? It's really unpredictible what will happen when I put it in reverse while drifting forward.

Thanks, Jim

 

[ziggy]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Any idea what I could have done differently or what I did wrong?

don't know that your method is wrong. but i do it differently. i walk my boat onto the trailer. even then sometimes i'll miss. but it's of no major consiquence. i just push it out a little and pull it in straight. i suppose i don't look as cool as the folks that drive on. but then again, i ain't out to impress or look cool at the ramp. i just want my boat either on or off my trailer, whichever i'm doing.

Is there something that would help with steering the boat at slow speeds? It's really unpredictible what will happen when I put it in reverse while drifting forward.

practice makes perfect. go out in the middle of the lake and try different moves and see how your boat reacts. transfer that info into how your do your docking thing..

 

[BumbleBeeTuna]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

When retrieving I pull my boat on to the trailer and wench it up as well.

I think I remember hearing trim tabs will help with slow speed control though.

 

[jkust]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

i/o's are just not very effective in reverse. One reason I personally would not power load aside from the fact I have a roller trailer and don't need to and the rules against it is I would struggle to line it up especially if there was any wind. A slow speed approach to a dock or whatever really shines a light on the fact I have only driven an I/O for a year. I just don't have that problem with my outboard bowrider. Nice Crownline by the way...do you have the 4.3 mpi in it?

 

[JimmyOOOOO]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

+1 for Trim Tabs... they really help a LOT!

You can get the Nauticus Smart Tab SX for under $100, and you will notice a night and day difference.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

I'm on a river so I play the drift a little bit. I stay above the current and go with it at very very slow speed until i hit the trailer. I drive my boat onto the bunks and power load. Marina guy doesnt care. If you hit the bunks and dont have them burried in the water you will stick and then someone can winch you right up. This method is controversial here but I havent missed at all this year. Power steering makes all the difference in the world to as far as lining her up to hit the bunks.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

if you throw it in reverse you have to compensate your steering in the opposite direction this may be happening to you if you went sideways-like was said earlier practice makes perfect

 

[YkDave]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

if you throw it in reverse you have to compensate your steering in the opposite direction this may be happening to you if you went sideways-like was said earlier practice makes perfect

I good point and ALOT of people have trouble with this one...

When the boat is drifting off to the port side of the trailer, naturally you would try steering to the starboard. Then, say you didnt catch it in time and you are now too close to correct it, so you slam it in reverse with the steering still cranked to the starboard.... Now, under power you are basically just completing that unwanted turn and doing donuts in the middle of the boat ramp!

Same theory applies to boats as backing up a trailer, turn the opposite direction you want to go and dont be scared to use a little throttle!

 

[AngelC]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Trim tabs + a 4 blade prop will work miracles..

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Make your approach slow enough that you won't need to use reverse at all. If you see that you're going to need reverse, it's often best just to use power to reverse out and try the approach all over again. Once you get crossways in tight quarters it's best to power out and start over. If there is current or wind, approach from the lee side and sort of crab it toward the trailer till the very last second and then straighten her out.

As mentioned before, practice makes perfect.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

I am going to read up on the trim tabs since I am not sure what they are and I am at work right now.

When I say I tapped it into reverse I mean I was really almost at the back of the trailer when I did it. Once I went cross ways then got straightened out with the help of people on the dock, I did back all the way out and came back in just fine.

It's been a long time since I owned a boat and even then the part I hated was loading and unloading with the trailer. The backing the trailer does not bother me though. It's just the boat in the tight quarters and everybody in a frigging hurry.

I never understand why people are so impatient to get out and enjoy themselves. Like my favorite prayer line "Grant me patience oh lord, but hurry the hell up".

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

I don't see how trim tabs will doanything at low speeds. They are for leveling the boat on a plane. Good to have but please do not approach your trailer on a plane.
Everyone needs to go t the ramp when it's not crowded and practice dozens of "touch and go's" from different directions, esp. when there's current and wind.
Backing a boat: the boat will follow the motor. Easy on an outboard b/c you have the visual. Going forward, you are turning the stern, not the bow.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

With an I/O there is no way to see the drive's position without hanging over the transom. However, you can always get it back to the centerline position. The next time you launch and you're waiting for the engine to warm up, turn the wheel all the way in one direction. Count the turns of the wheel as you turn it all the way in the other direction. If it's three complete turns, you know that 1.5 turns will be centered (or very close).

Many people get nervous and constantly shift, throttle up, and slam the wheel to one side, then the other. One of the best pieces of advice anyone ever gave me is to "pulse, wait, react" while you're approaching a dock. Pulse the tranny for a second, pull it back to neutral, and see what the boat wants to do. React, pulse again, observe, and react. Because you'll be going dead slow, you'll have time to correct.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

and everybody in a frigging hurry...

Don't let anybody rush you - they won't pay for your damage.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Many people get nervous and constantly shift, throttle up, and slam the wheel to one side, then the other. One of the best pieces of advice anyone ever gave me is to "pulse, wait, react" while you're approaching a dock. Pulse the tranny for a second, pull it back to neutral, and see what the boat wants to do. React, pulse again, observe, and react. Because you'll be going dead slow, you'll have time to correct.

Excellent advice.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Sounds like you just need a little more practice, and understanding where your boat pivots when at slow speeds when you are in forward and reverse. If you were to the left of your trailer, and cranked the wheel right and hit reverse, your bow pivoted even FURTHER left because the prop was pulling the stern to the right, and the boat was probably pivoting about a point somewhere around the middle of the boat. Not surprising you ended up sideways.

If I back my trailer in till the fenders are just above the water, I can idle onto it fast enough to maintain good control. The boat will stop on the bunks about 2 - 3 feet from the bowstop, then I just winch it the rest of the way up.

A little bit of practice controlling the boat at low speed in open water (not learning just when you're actually docking!) and it'll be simple for you.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

ALot depends on the boat. Different boats handle different a low speeds. My old trihull with cable steering was terrible. Didn't have docks so I just beached the boat went got the trailer and walked it on. Got a little wet but it was better than the humor everyone got from me trying to steer it on.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Actually I have trailered it about 8 times now and that was the only time I had a problem, so that's not bad. And I do just like 45Auto said, get the boat about 2 feet or less from the bowstop and then winch it from there.

One time my son in law, who can really help me cause he can back the trailer down the ramp and my wife can't, put the trailer in a little to far. I was floating up over the bunks and the boat got a little crooked. He straightened it out by hand and got it secured just fine though. I just told him to not back in quite as far next time and it worked perfect once I hit the trailer just right.

Sure having a great time on the boat though. I had 8 adults, two infants and a toddler on board the other day. Boat was a little sluggish I have to admit. With just my two son in laws, my son and me in it we got up to about 50 mph. That sure seems fast to me on the water though.

The other day we were on Alum Creek and I saw another all red boat. Turns out is was a 20' Crownline. He was putting his on the trailer the same time as me so we sat and chatted while the trailers were being backed down. He had the V8 in his with some special performance exhaust. Sounded pretty good. His originally had gold lettering and he didn't like it and took it off. Said he liked my chrome lettering and would have left that on.

 

[calvinman]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Glad to hear you are enjoying your boat, she's a beauty!

I wonder if plastic guide pipes at the back of your trailer would make things easyer. I have been thinking of trying them out myself.

My wife or daughter usually drive the boat onto the trailer after I back it into the water. It usually goes well, I think I have more trouble than they do when I am the one loading the boat.

We just idle the boat onto the trailer with the leg trimmed up, then I put the strap on and winch her up. I don't know if this is power loading, most times the motor is off just as soon as it looks like she is coming in straight.

Calvi

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

good advice from Rick--unlike a car, that you leave in gear, the easier way to run a boat at low speed is to coast in neutral, and bump occasionally. A good driver will seldom use reverse as a brake. Practice nudging up to a soft surface without reversing, or reversing very little.
The boat I learned on as a young teen didn't ahve reverse so I had to do it that way. Stuck with me.