Boat Operating Lessons

M

Murry

Active Member
Hi Everybody
I was wondering if anybody know an company or individual that provides boat operating instruction.
My situation is I've been operating my own boat for about 10 years and in general I do OK and am fairly confident in open water. However, navigating in tight place around the dock and parking are still very stressful. All my boat operating knowledge has been self taught and by watch others from afar. I've learned to park and can do so with OK proficiency.
I've just bought a new boat that is significant larger. I would like learn the proper way to PROFICENTLY maneuver through the marina and slip. I think its time for me to learn the proper way and not just by trial and error. The last thing I want is to damage somebody else's boat!
Referral or ideas would be much appreciated.
 
Murry said:
Hi Everybody
I was wondering if anybody know an company or individual that provides boat operating instruction.
My situation is I've been operating my own boat for about 10 years and in general I do OK and am fairly confident in open water. However, navigating in tight place around the dock and parking are still very stressful. All my boat operating knowledge has been self taught and by watch others from afar. I've learned to park and can do so with OK proficiency.
I've just bought a new boat that is significant larger. I would like learn the proper way to PROFICENTLY maneuver through the marina and slip. I think its time for me to learn the proper way and not just by trial and error. The last thing I want is to damage somebody else's boat!
Referral or ideas would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
I understand where you are coming from-had the same experience many years ago when I first got my 27 ft Orca-with a single main-had a large cabin in relation to over-all length so was very hard to steer in tight to a dock with wind. Embarrassed myself a few times until I remembered my driving experience as a kid. Practise practise-where-well used to go to Nootka and Winter harbour a lot-if there was an empty govt wharf '. a log raft a swimming float anything that was deserted I would come along-side from both directions-pretty soon I had some rules and references'speeds that worked-which way the boat turned and reversed well. Do you have a friend who has a large boat? practise with him in your slip--boat hook ready and bumpers out. Perhaps go to the local Power squadron and ask for help there.
 
We have a 30 foot boat. The single best thing you can do is install a bow thruster. Invaluable in tight spaces, with wind or current!
 
If it’s any consolation, I’ve been operating pleasure boats almost 50 years. I still get edgy in tight quarters when there is cross winds/currents around other boats at the dock. Nobody ever wants to hit another boat. I never have, but, I’ve had a few hot landings at the dock requiring some polish to remove docking marks. Wind and currents are unpredictable no matter how much experience you’ve got. Here’s a few things you could do;

1.0 YouTube has lots of video on docking techniques. Single screw and twin. I’ve looked at many and have found some great tips.
2.0. Secondly have your second officer (wife) grab the extendable docking pole whenever in tight quarters.
3.0. If you don‘t succeed the first time do a “go around “. No shame in getting things organized and doing it again.
4.0. Always have a pre agreed plan of action and ensure the crew knows it.
5.0. Remember, slow is pro.
 
pescador said:
If it’s any consolation, I’ve been operating pleasure boats almost 50 years. I still get edgy in tight quarters when there is cross winds/currents around other boats at the dock. Nobody ever wants to hit another boat. I never have, but, I’ve had a few hot landings at the dock requiring some polish to remove docking marks. Wind and currents are unpredictable no matter how much experience you’ve got. Here’s a few things you could do;

1.0 YouTube has lots of video on docking techniques. Single screw and twin. I’ve looked at many and have found some great tips.
2.0. Secondly have your second officer (wife) grab the extendable docking pole whenever in tight quarters.
3.0. If you don‘t succeed the first time do a “go around “. No shame in getting things organized and doing it again.
4.0. Always have a pre agreed plan of action and ensure the crew knows it.
5.0. Remember, slow is pro.
Click to expand...
When in doubt, stop the boat.
 
Nice to see someone that has boating experience still ask for ideas. Good on you. Some boats do not respond well at docking speed.

Have you thought of putting a spinner knob on the wheel? In tight spots, this makes a helpful difference in turning the drive from one side to the other in a hurry.

Use lots of neutral and drift/coasting to see how the boat reacts as you’re coming in. Coming in fast and powering to a stop or to a desired position in tight quarters can be disastrous.

Let’s see this new boat.
 
Aquaholic said:
Nice to see someone that has boating experience still ask for ideas. Good on you. Some boats do not respond well at docking speed.

Have you thought of putting a spinner knob on the wheel? In tight spots, this makes a helpful difference in turning the drive from one side to the other in a hurry.

Use lots of neutral and drift/coasting to see how the boat reacts as you’re coming in. Coming in fast and powering to a stop or to a desired position in tight quarters can be disastrous.

Let’s see this new boat.
Click to expand...

50 years ago, I used to admire the seine boat skippers in Rivers Inlet who would come in at full throttle, throw it full astern, wheel hard over and step off their boats which were parked neatly a foot off the dock. A few of us are that good. Then there was the skipper of the fisheries patrol boat that liked the same move. Failed to engage reverse and did $100K damage to the dock -- in 1973 $$. He had to pay it personally.

I'm with Aquaholic - lots of neutral, drifting and small nudges of power is best for me - that technique is toughest in wind and tide, but a tiny bit more power works better than imagining I'm a seine boat skipper.
 
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My 24 bayliner cierra was a nightmare. Light but tall, lots of windage. Tracked like ****. The two key things that I learned were:

1. Establish and maintain momentum into the dock. I think it's the opposite of a bigger heavier boat with twins like I have now. If you don't get it swinging into place, the wind or current can throw you around.

2. Understand prop walk and how it can help you. Your boat will want to push itself sideways. This can be advantageous.

As other guys have said though, sometimes you just miss and you need to know what the exit strategy is. Full reverse isn't always it.
 
lol this thread gives me PTSD from our first multi-day outing with the boat to a marina this past September. We went to China Creek, and even though it wasn't busy they put me in a slip right next to a really nicely restored Hourston. After a total gong show getting into that spot safely the first time - which I was glad nobody was around to watch, let alone the owner of that Hourston - I looked around and noted that the Marina was 3/4 empty. So I went to the office and explained I was a noob and asked if they could assign me a different slip. Which they did, which gave me a double wide amount of space to play with - me parking starboard side to the dock and the port side adjacent space empty. There was a boat behind us parked lengthwise, but plenty of distance to avoid him. That was good practice, but I still overshot the mark plenty of times. Trying to do the neutral/quick burst of power thing, to swing it around 90 degrees to starboard. If there had been someone parked in that other spot it would have been much much harder for me. Ended up drifting into that open spot or spinning awkwardly a number of times. I found it hard to find the right balance of slow approach speed, but maintaining responsive steering to make the tight turn. I was getting better by the end of the week, but still was glad there was no one next to me and not much of an audience around!
 
About a decade or so ago I graduated from a light-weight corky Arima to a heavy Skagit Orca. Maiden voyage with my daughter I pull into China Creek fuel dock. I was carrying way too much speed (because that's what I'd always done with my ARima which I knew how to control) and no way I could slow that Orca down. I slammed into the fuel dock hard. The Fuel dock guy gave me stink-eye and I immediately saw i'd done some serious cosmetic damage to the gel coat from bolts sticking out of the dock. Maiden voyage----wtf????

My daughter looked at me in a funny way and said...Dad, do you even know what you're doing?

To which I responded...

I don't have a freaking clue!
 
Murry said:
Hi Everybody
I was wondering if anybody know an company or individual that provides boat operating instruction.
My situation is I've been operating my own boat for about 10 years and in general I do OK and am fairly confident in open water. However, navigating in tight place around the dock and parking are still very stressful. All my boat operating knowledge has been self taught and by watch others from afar. I've learned to park and can do so with OK proficiency.
I've just bought a new boat that is significant larger. I would like learn the proper way to PROFICENTLY maneuver through the marina and slip. I think its time for me to learn the proper way and not just by trial and error. The last thing I want is to damage somebody else's boat!
Referral or ideas would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
where are you located?
 
Some most excellent helpful comments/observations/suggestions on here. To add a few more:
1/ Ensure all your mooring lines and bumpers are out and ready. USE YOUR LINES. They are your best friends. It is often much easier get a short spring line tied on the dock 1st and then kick it into gear on idle to keep it alongside until you finish tying-up.
2/ Know how your boat responds in high winds (that usually kick up late morning) - most sportie boats are heavy in the stern and light in the bow that makes the bow get pushed downwind when you slow up and try to dock head into the wind. Plan for this. You have a few options:
a) Dock stern 1st if you have that option (i.e. back upwind). This is the same technique you can use if you have currents from tide or river outflow.
b) Come in head 1st and use short bursts on your props to keep minimal headway w/o going backwards and having the wind push your bow downwind. As Rain City said - understand prop walk as most props are "right-handed" and you will notice a shortened turning radius turning left (port) moving ahead. A single right-handed fixed propeller will tend to push the stern of a vessel to starboard when going forward and to port when going in reverse. If you are lucky enuff to have twins - one can be in forward and 1 can be put in reverse to turn the boat.

propwalk_2.jpg


c) maybe practice alongside an empty dock or a buoy for a bit maneuvering alongside until it gets to be a habit as to the most successful strategy.
d) Don't be afraid to back out away from any entanglements or bumping other boats and try again.

There's a few other threads on this forum that also have sage and experienced advice that you may wish to review:

Confessions of a sportfishing wannabe

Hey guys, the time has finally came to admit.... I'm not like you all. To be honest it was fun to play around and post deals on the buy and sell and have the odd comment here and there, but here's the thing... I don't really "sportfish"! Hell.. I'm a fly fisherman that barely goes knee deep in...
sportfishingbc.com

Boat handling instruction

I have some experience with smaller boats but recently upgraded to a 25' cruiser with single outboard. I found the bigger boat a bit intimidating when docking to my narrow slip. Would like to get some docking instructions on my boat. Anyone can help?
sportfishingbc.com

Trailer or Moored?

Newbie question: It seems that some people keep their boats on trailers, and some keep them moored. I think, living in the city core with little space, I would prefer to just keep my boat moored. Assuming a 24' boat, is that asking for increased cost/maintenance? Do you actually need a...
sportfishingbc.com
 
Last edited:
chille51 said:
lol this thread gives me PTSD from our first multi-day outing with the boat to a marina this past September. We went to China Creek, and even though it wasn't busy they put me in a slip right next to a really nicely restored Hourston. After a total gong show getting into that spot safely the first time - which I was glad nobody was around to watch, let alone the owner of that Hourston - I looked around and noted that the Marina was 3/4 empty. So I went to the office and explained I was a noob and asked if they could assign me a different slip. Which they did, which gave me a double wide amount of space to play with - me parking starboard side to the dock and the port side adjacent space empty. There was a boat behind us parked lengthwise, but plenty of distance to avoid him. That was good practice, but I still overshot the mark plenty of times. Trying to do the neutral/quick burst of power thing, to swing it around 90 degrees to starboard. If there had been someone parked in that other spot it would have been much much harder for me. Ended up drifting into that open spot or spinning awkwardly a number of times. I found it hard to find the right balance of slow approach speed, but maintaining responsive steering to make the tight turn. I was getting better by the end of the week, but still was glad there was no one next to me and not much of an audience around!
Click to expand...
This. Same for me first trip to island west resort. Asked for an outside slip so there were no accidents and she us put in the first slip inside the Marina.
 
Theres a huge difference between twin power and single screw. Twins are vastly easier to control larger vessels. Having stepped up a few times in size and weight, the most important tool is using the momentum from a heavier vessel to your advantage. Go slow and calculate the drift created by the movement and weight of the vessel. You can actually use momentum to crab sideways against wind effects. Where my vessel is moored I park in a shared boat shed and almost always have a wind blowing me away from the side of the boat shed where I need to dock. I position the vessel down wind and reverse up into the wind to create momentum towards the dock then swing the vessel rotating it using differential power to rotate into the correct position while slowly reversing into the slip.

I never use the steering wheel to dock the vessel - always use alternating direction of my twin engines. If you have twins, I highly recommend practicing in an open, safe location, using alternating power (one forward, one reverse) to control the vessel angle and rotational movement.

Additionally, as noted by other posters, you can also walk the vessel sideways using the rotational effect of the props. Couple of other posters offered sage advice - if things aren't going well - stop and reboot. Go slow. Calculate your positioning to take into effect wind and current directional forces. Lastly, few people sound as if they are offering to help provide demonstrations on how to approach docking a larger vessel - great to take them up on those kind offers.
 
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