docking with single surface drive
 

I ran into a problem while docking in the narrow marina. When going in reverse, sometimes the boat follows commands, and sometimes it just sits a little askew and refuses to turn. It go in same direction.
I have a surface drive where the drive goes left-right and up-down.
What am I doing wrong?

Best thing you can do with a surface drive is trim it down as far as you can, and make sure the tabs are trimmed up as far as they will go.
And hope for the best. :D
In all seriousness: many folks are a afraid to give the boat throttle when docking; and just keep the boat at idle. Don't be. Sometimes you need to yank the boat into position, especially in a current or breeze. As such, apply throttle as well as steering inputs.

And sometimes, you have no other choice but to nose in, and will the help of a passenger or dock hand, tie the nose of the boat off to a cleat; and use that as a fulcrum/pivot point to bring the back of the boat around.

This issue is not limited to surface drives. Most single engine V-bottoms will do the same thing and slide sideways. Usually my boat will back down the initial direction you choose, but if you try to change direction it will just slide sideways. I have just adapted to expect that.

You have to remember that the thrust in reverse is pushing into the transom of the boat, not under the boat like a conventional drive thrusting where you point it. They are great but a little tricky in reverse, as well they don't tend to break like the mercury crap..

Some great comments. Recognize the difference forces, wind, current, inertia, and even gravity. Use those to your advantage while recognizing that some maneuvers are just impossible. You are not going to be able to turn a single engine boat in reverse in a way that swings the bow into the current or wind. So if you are trying to swing to starboard against a current or wind you would be better off allowing the bow to swing to port with the current or wind and then backing up until you can find a space that allows you to turn around. As a general rule, when docking try to keep your stern into the wind so your bow doesn't get blown around so easily. Hope that helps. I agree, the problem is not limited to surface drives, but rather all single engine boats.

Gravity is real. If you are park a boat just 6ft off the dock and there are no other forces at play the force of gravity will be enough to pull you into the dock if your patient. Bigger the boat the more greater the gravitational pull.

Plavutka,

Offering this with the assumption that this isn't your first rodeo with your surface drives, so I'm likely stating the obvious....

Also, full admission.... I have zero experience with surface drives. But I'm struggling to grasp why surface drives would behave much different than standard outdrives during docking, as it's still just vectored thrust.

I usually use momentum as my ally. While the boat is still drifting forward, I steer into the dock and shift into reverse, which will pull the transom toward the dock. Once forward momentum has stalled, I turn away from the dock some, and tap forward, which further pushes the transom toward the dock as the boat starts forward again.

I have always been able to steer in reverse. To some degree, at least. Although, as several have mentioned, it is all but futile to try and overcome the wind. In minimal wind, I can back up with steering to one extreme. When the nose starts around, I shift into neutral, spin the wheel to the opposite extreme, then shift to forward, and the boat will virtually swap ends, and I'm headed away. Again, momentum being my ally.

Thanks. Brad.

Surface drives push water into the transom when reversing. Condition is worse with drive trimmed in/down. You have to do the opposite and trim up so prop wash can go under the hull. Also singles always back up to the left if centered with a right hand propeller

We bring center of gravity closer to the stern for better trim. I know that this is to reason for what is happening and I ask the experienced how to do it.
Now it's raining and on Monday, when the sea is calm, I'm going to gather experience and try your advice. I will write when I find something good.

Maybe also this:
Our drive is surface-mounted MSA Marine Systems , but it has a cover over propeller, and I think this cover pushes water under the hull.
Windward in this case behaves like a Z and there should be no problems, but the center of gravity, center of thrust and stern are close together and there is a lack of torque to help initiate the turn.

I think there is a fine balance here. The prop has to be deep enough to grab the water and not cavitate, especially in reverse when it's least efficient.

Yes you can't trim up too much but usually they don't go up as high as a stern drive. You have to use common sense as with anything