Docking Bungles
#11
#13
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 332
Likes: 150
Not surprised to hear a lot of single engine stories popping up. Much more difficult than twins. I’ve done many of the reverse of shame to get out of a bind. Luckily have only put a few rashes on my boat.
Have noticed that a bigger prop and external steering affects the singles a lot. My buddy’s 25OL with a 23p prop and no external steering handles docking much better than my 266 with external and a 29p prop. Must be turning radius and less slip at idle.
Happens to the best of us.
Have noticed that a bigger prop and external steering affects the singles a lot. My buddy’s 25OL with a 23p prop and no external steering handles docking much better than my 266 with external and a 29p prop. Must be turning radius and less slip at idle.
Happens to the best of us.
#14
Thread Starter
Member #154

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,007
Likes: 1,087
From: SW CT & Long Island Sound
Finally got out with a bloody knee like yours, got to the car and with my luck I took my manual shift Mustang to the boat that day which I never do, had to steer and shift with my left hand to get to help.
Surgery and months of therapy. I'd have rather pooped my pants like ICDEDPPL.
#15
VIP Member

Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,516
Likes: 2,137
From: SW Ohio
Not surprised to hear a lot of single engine stories popping up. Much more difficult than twins. I’ve done many of the reverse of shame to get out of a bind. Luckily have only put a few rashes on my boat.
Have noticed that a bigger prop and external steering affects the singles a lot. My buddy’s 25OL with a 23p prop and no external steering handles docking much better than my 266 with external and a 29p prop. Must be turning radius and less slip at idle.
Happens to the best of us.
Have noticed that a bigger prop and external steering affects the singles a lot. My buddy’s 25OL with a 23p prop and no external steering handles docking much better than my 266 with external and a 29p prop. Must be turning radius and less slip at idle.
Happens to the best of us.
I lost a small amount of steering throw when I did the hydraulic steering conversion this winter. I can tell when I'm making my spin-around approach to retrieve the CFO, but it's not so much I can't learn and accommodate. I just have to approach at a slightly lesser angle and start my swing a bit earlier.
Thanks. Brad.
#16
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 392
I had an embarrassing moment a few seasons back in my 29 Fountain. Pulled the boat off the trailer and docked it so I could park the truck. Family and guests boarded the boat and when I got back, I jumped in started the engs and untied the dock lines.
There was a strong cross wind right to left and I had docked the starboard side against the dock. I was expecting the wind to blow me away from the dock so all I had to worry abt was backing up then use the shifters to spin the bow to the starboard once I cleared the dock and pull away.
When I put both engs in reverse, the boat started going backwards. I was expecting the wind to push the boat to the left but it seemed it was moving to the left faster than I was expecting. To my left abt 50' was another private dock only used for the party boats. After I cleared my dock, I put port eng into fwd and the starboard eng in reverse to swing the bow to the right into the wind. To my surprise, the bow didn't swing to the starboard. Instead the boat just seemed to be accelerating to the left. Tried going back to both engs in reverse so I would at least clear the neighbors dock, but that just made things worse. Finally realized I was going to hit the neighbors dock where there were 2 party boats were tied-up. Put both engs into neutral and ran back to try and cushion the collision. Wasn't able to climb over people fast enough and smacked into the dock broadside. Both party boat captains heard the thud and came up from below yelling at me to "slow-down".
About this time, I finally realized the steering wheel was turned fully to the left. Apparently someone was playing with the steering wheel while I was parking the truck.
Luckily. the rub rail absorbed the impact and there was no damage to the boat, just my pride.. I just barely missed hitting one of the party boats.
Since that day, I try to get a visual on the drives from the dock and verify they are straight before jumping in the boat.
There was a strong cross wind right to left and I had docked the starboard side against the dock. I was expecting the wind to blow me away from the dock so all I had to worry abt was backing up then use the shifters to spin the bow to the starboard once I cleared the dock and pull away.
When I put both engs in reverse, the boat started going backwards. I was expecting the wind to push the boat to the left but it seemed it was moving to the left faster than I was expecting. To my left abt 50' was another private dock only used for the party boats. After I cleared my dock, I put port eng into fwd and the starboard eng in reverse to swing the bow to the right into the wind. To my surprise, the bow didn't swing to the starboard. Instead the boat just seemed to be accelerating to the left. Tried going back to both engs in reverse so I would at least clear the neighbors dock, but that just made things worse. Finally realized I was going to hit the neighbors dock where there were 2 party boats were tied-up. Put both engs into neutral and ran back to try and cushion the collision. Wasn't able to climb over people fast enough and smacked into the dock broadside. Both party boat captains heard the thud and came up from below yelling at me to "slow-down".

About this time, I finally realized the steering wheel was turned fully to the left. Apparently someone was playing with the steering wheel while I was parking the truck.
Luckily. the rub rail absorbed the impact and there was no damage to the boat, just my pride.. I just barely missed hitting one of the party boats.
Since that day, I try to get a visual on the drives from the dock and verify they are straight before jumping in the boat.
#17
Registered


Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 275
Likes: 156
From: texas
Hold my beer
last October
Pulled boat up onto trailer
Wife was watching the winch
But it stuck in nuetral
I had to keep engines in gear or it would slide back off trailer
Being the great husband I am
Instead of going through cabin and popping out a hatch then leaning over to help
I went up and over windshield , the boat pic is for reference of windshield to deck journey
Cool
Except coming back...my foot slipped on cockpit side of windshield and i fell hard to the deck
broke my foot, pic is from January. It says march but that was march office visit..taking forever to heal.
Omg


last October
Pulled boat up onto trailer
Wife was watching the winch
But it stuck in nuetral
I had to keep engines in gear or it would slide back off trailer
Being the great husband I am
Instead of going through cabin and popping out a hatch then leaning over to help
I went up and over windshield , the boat pic is for reference of windshield to deck journey

Cool
Except coming back...my foot slipped on cockpit side of windshield and i fell hard to the deck
broke my foot, pic is from January. It says march but that was march office visit..taking forever to heal.
Omg


Last edited by powerboatr; 04-22-2026 at 12:10 PM.
#18
Thread Starter
Member #154

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,007
Likes: 1,087
From: SW CT & Long Island Sound
Hold my beer
last October
Pulled boat up onto trailer
Wife was watching the winch
But it stuck in nuetral
I had to keep engines in gear or it would slide back off trailer
Being the great husband I am
Instead of going through cabin and popping out a hatch then leaning over to help
I went up and over windshield , the boat pic is for reference of windshield to deck journey
Cool
Except coming back...my foot slipped on cockpit side of windshield and i fell hard to the deck
broke my foot, pic is from January. It says march but that was march office visit..taking forever to heal.
last October
Pulled boat up onto trailer
Wife was watching the winch
But it stuck in nuetral
I had to keep engines in gear or it would slide back off trailer
Being the great husband I am
Instead of going through cabin and popping out a hatch then leaning over to help
I went up and over windshield , the boat pic is for reference of windshield to deck journey

Cool
Except coming back...my foot slipped on cockpit side of windshield and i fell hard to the deck
broke my foot, pic is from January. It says march but that was march office visit..taking forever to heal.
Why do I do this again??
#19
Registered


Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 275
Likes: 156
From: texas






