twin engine docking tips?
 

just got my first twin engine boat after having 3 single engine boats , any tips on docking ? heard twins is easier than single to dock ?

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Best to try using gear shifter movements only, no throttles, with the drives straight, and no touchee the steering wheel. Neutral is your friend. Check which way the current is flowing and wind is blowing to push you in neutral sideways to your berth.

If backing in, use the wind/current to drift you in neutral sideways until you line up, shift one gear only to back in, using short, neutral to reverse, neutral to reverse, movements.

If you get lopsided, and can't straighten out with just forward and reverse gear shifts on one side or the other, place one gear in forward, one in reverse to straighten out. You can spin the boat within it's own length this way, and I have steered home with broken steering by just using the gears and throttles to thread the channel. Hence everyone's preference for twin engines.

Never approach the dock faster than you want to hit it. Hence neutral is your friend.

Practice at a dock with no other boats around to hit. Preferably when a wind is blowing to get the drift bit. If the wind/current is drifting you faster sideways than you can back in, you will need to goose the throttle a couple of times, and may have to use the steering wheel to straighen out as well.

If in a fast drift, best to angle the boat 45 degrees to the dock, apply more throttle to the nearest reverse shifted motor to drag you into the slip, twisting you straight in the process.

I am still trying to get fast drift stern docking right after a lifetime of doing it. Always helps to have someone on their boat with their feet out to keep you from swinging sideways into their boat. <gg>

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Have moved up to twins just last year myself and the best i can tell you is practise, practise, practise. My single was a breeze to dock and put any where I wanted, but the twins are in a larger boat with a whole lot more snoot that seems to have a mind of its own. I am getting better with them this season and other than the obvious ( Twin screw to turn ) I can tell you that what works for me is dont over power when trying to work them both , short manuvering burst's at idle will get it moving in the direction your wanting to go . You can still work your wheel as you did with your single and just pull or push the stern with the out board engine that is relitive to what you are doing. When docking in crowed areas where space is tight I work my wheel as explained above and take it EZ :D the twin screw method with the drives stright will be of great use as you start sliding in the HOLE :eek: to give her that bump one way or the other. Just remember small bumps in and out of gear once you got her stopped and maneuvering this will keep you from over correcting and getting the snoot going one direction and the stern in another. One trick I am using with much sucsess is a WALK, Wheel hard over to one side or the other ,twin screw the OPPISITE direction of the way the wheel is turned. Example: turn wheel hard to port ,put port engine in FWD, and stb engine in REV. this will ceate a kind of a crab walk just with a LITTLE throttle on the reversing engine. It works when you have your stern close to where you want to be and want to tuck in the bow or straghtin her out as you close in on a TIGHT HOLE :evilb: . Good luck with your learning curve and keep a lot of legs and arms handy to catch those not so presice docking maneuvers :drink:

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Hardly ever will use the throttles or wheel to dock.

Think of it this way. Looking at the top of your throttles and shifters, imagine bending the shifters out flat, port toward port, SB toward SB. Now you shifters are spokes on a steering wheel. Turning to port means port drive in reverse, SB drive in forward. Turning to SB means SB drive in reverse, port drive in forward. This is for quick swinging the boat. To do it a little more gently, only use one shifter, and keep the other in neutral.

It really works. I taught my father and my brother-in-law how to dock my boat this way.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

I'm in the same boat as 26 Sonic (so to speak). Moving up to twins. This method seems pretty easy to visualize. Thanks!

Others? Thnks

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Tony, what did you finally end up with?

jim

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

I tried explaining this to someone a week ago. Leave engines at idle (as your skill level increases you may on rare occasion need to bump throttles a little) drives STRAIGHT!
Consider which direction you want the boat to go, put the shifter that would be on the OUTSIDE of the turn into that direction. The inside shifter would then be opposite.

EX:moving forward and to port would be starboard shifter in forward, port in reverse.
EX:moving backwards to starboard would be port in reverse, starboard in forward.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

I taught boat handling for 6 years included in the mix were some nasty powered ones, most I/O's tend to have the engines set to close for good up close maneuvering and are usually far better off docking on one engine. Try one engine docking and you will see little to no difference using either engine, the plus is you will get into less trouble as things happen in a more manageable fashion. I/O boats will always go in the direction the drive is turned steering works better then shifting. For one reason or another most boats have one engine that never dies and one that can be finicky, I always told my clients do your docking with the finicky one, if it craps out there is -0- panic simply grab the reliable ones shifter and finish docking. Using that practice has stood well by many of my customers over the years, try it many will find it may make your life easier.

Phil

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

consider prop walk also. With props turning outward in forward gear, inward in reverse (rt hand prop on stbd engine, left hand turning prop on port engine) Placing the port engine in reverse with the wheel straight will cause the stern to walk to starboard. ( the prop grabs the water and "claws" the stern in that direction. Think about the spinning prop pulling the stern in the direction it is spinning) A little application of throttle will accelerate this effect. The stbd engine in reverse will cause the stern to walk to port. Try this a few times. The effect will vary with the length / weight of the boat and the prop pitch and diameter. (a larger diameter / pitch prop will walk harder than a lower pitch / diameter.) This is very effective on large yachts and sportfisherman with large diameter props but also works well on my 39 stinger, just with less effect unless I add some power to spin the prop faster and accelerate the walk effect. I use this procedure all the time and it works great.

Just my $.02. Everybody does it different just find what works best for you after trying different ideas.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Something else that works is many will ask when the drives are straight. while on the trailer position the drives straight. look at your steering wheel and note the position, then turn it hard port and count the turns, same then to SB, counting, generaly speaking its 4-6 turns lock to lock, center should be straight drives. Use your wheel as a guide, if there is a fast current, you can tell by lookiing at your wheel where the drives are. I repostioned my wheel so when running straight the the posts points straight down.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

All this info is great until you only have one engine functioning. Then get close, pray that somebody is on the dock and throw the lines.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Hydraulic steering is an exception. The wheel will not return to the same position.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Same as sex

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Practice.......... :)
Seriously...plan a day for docking, get your bumpers out and just dock over and over (when no one is around). After doing it 25 times you will know what method works best.

I remember how stressful docking could be, I practiced in the rain and on a very windy day, with a strong current. I did it over and over and docked in all spaces that were open. I remember pretending that boats were parked on both sides and I had to get in one of the inner spots, it really helped. I'll probably do the same thing with every boat I buy in the future. Good luck with your new boat.

Oh, one more pointer...don't hesitate to start over if your not approaching the dock the way you intended.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

but will get you in the general vicinity, Its more just a quick reference point, but not exact. I hated when I was driving on flat water and straight as an arrow, and the wheel was cocked. I found once I took the 6 set screws out and changed it, docking became much easier....I saw a guy do the walk thing in a 45 donzi, and took the boat perfectly sideways, I called him Capt ron the rest of the run, I want to learn that:D

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

LMAO!!! So many opinions! Just practice! Remember, port is left, starboard right.. Port has 4 letters and so does left. Thats my 2 cents!
Good luck!!

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

SLOW :drink:

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Back when I was a Coasite we used to take a large Norwegian style fender and attach it to an anchor line. Find an uncrowded spot with plenty of good water around, drop the fender/anchor rig with just enough line for the anchor to touch bottom.

Then practice running up slowly and touch the fender to the bow,vack off and then touch port forward quater, same for midships, and aft quarter. Repeat for the other side.

Do this in different wind and current conditions and after awhile you'll be able to put the boat anywhere you want without even thinking about it. It becomes a reflex with enough practice.

Good Luck!

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

I think there is only 1 really good rule of thumb.









DO NOT APPROACH THE DOCK FASTER THEN YOU WANT TO HIT IT! :eek: :eek:

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Words to dock by!

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Great post. A 26 footer is probably an 8 foot beam and the I/Os are probably close together. Add that to the fact that the props extend so far behind the boat (as opposed to inboard screws which would be closer to midships) and you are better off docking a narrow twin I/O on one side.

Let the combined effect of the wind and current act as one screw, and use one side of the boat to counter that force= the ability to go zero to one-half mile an hour around the dock.

Using the trannies/screws for manuevering works great with fat cruisers with widely spaced screws far inboard of the transom.
But not for small I/Os.
I have a 26 footer with twin I/Os and I dock on one side.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Tres goes over some great fast drift docking tips that helped me out greatly.

Also, Boating mag has an article about a docking tournamnet in MD with some great tips as well.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Are boats with drives/props set to turn in vs out when going forward more difficult to back up ?
I have a very difficult time backing my boat with this set-up.

ed

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

I would't shut one engine off. If you can't dock it with the sticks and you have to dock it like a single, at least keep it running. Only one engine with a power steering pump.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

If the boat isn't a staggered setup, using the sticks works just fine. I leaned on cruisers from 25 to 43 footers as I grew up. Making the transition to a 36 pache was no problem at all.



Practice!!!!

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

First of all... a 36 Apache is NOT a small I/O.

If you learned on cruisers you know that a boat with I/Os just can't leave a seawall sideways like a cruiser with twin IBs and rudders.

There is a fundamental difference between having the props under the boat and spread versus a couple feet behind and 18 inches apart.
Plain and simple. There are moves that I can make with inboards that I can't possibly make with I/Os.

But I'll keep practicing jeff.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

I explain our situation, not everyones. But it can be done relatively easy with a 36 foot fast boat with I/O . I wouldn't dare try it with one drive only.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Every V hull I've driven with inside rotation
has handled poorly around the dock.


The difference appears to be whichever one is in
reverse, it doesn't seem to have much "pull".

The only thing I can factor to this is that the water
off the props ( on the keel side of the drives) are
being thrown upward, and hitting the V portion
of the transom, reducing total reverse thrust
of that prop.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Rule one above

Rule two below.
Don't hit anything any harder than you are than you are willing to pay for! :drink:

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

I read a small piece on docking and the author said to imagine yourself standing in the middle of an X. If you do this, you will always know which drive to engage to move the boat the correct way. This is very similar to sydways info above and it works for me.

Netural is your friend. I don't know how many times I've said this to my wife as she's learning to drive as well.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

My best method is to stand up facing rearwards and operate the shifters like joysticks. No having to think about it. Steer it like a bulldozer.
Course with the levers on the left side of the dash make this easy to do.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

I changed mine from in to out. World of difference in backing up control, and all around docking.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Bigger the prop. pitch, faster the reaction time per gear shift. My 24 skater with 34"p cleavers reaction time is 1 to 2 seconds at the most. This boat can spin around in a couple of seconds. No throttle needed. By the way, I took it out Moriches Inlet this weekend in 3 to 4 foot swells and had the best ride of my life. Every landing was perfect. Can't wait for the next off-shore trip. Also have an 18 skater for sale. Anyone interested please give Bill a call at 516 398-7132 for any information. Thanks Bill A.

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Drive it like bulldozer. :D

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

Yup, that sums it up. If you can't understand that, you have bigger problems ;-)

Re: twin engine docking tips?
 

I switched mine in, got 1mph, looked like a 12 year old around the docks. not worth the 1mph.

Bump for good information for someone that is moving from a single I/O to twins.

same

Go out some place in open water, and practice to see how the boat reacts etc, the only tip I can say is experience, experience, experience....

Do not come in hot...if you manage to screw up, back out and do it again, don't panic...slow and steady wins when it comes to docking...there's no first place for smashed fiberglass or how loud that lovely noise you hear when you smash the dock coming in overly aggressively...

I know that my boat with 17" cleavers turning "IN", can be fun around the docks. It defintly takes some getting used to. Mainly, backing up is the problem. Sometimes, I find myself having to use the steering wheel when trying to reverse in a straight line. Sometimes I have no choice but to back up, put one in forward to straighten it out, then back up some more.