What's up with backing into slips??
 

Ok- maybe shame on me for not knowing this cause I've been running boats a while now...

What's the logic of backing into slips vs. pulling straight in?

Is it a larger boat thing?

Stepping on and off via the transom?

The "cool" way to do it?

more for twins or inboards?

required at some marinas?

Perceived better control?

Nose to the incoming wakes/waves?

Some other reason I'm missing?

Give me a clue please. My winter project is to build a new lift (air) for my single engine Pantera. The front pivot type is more common and easier fab but commits you to nose the boat in. I can build a four bar type lift which is always parallel etc but it's more work and at least at this time- I can't see the benefit.

For me, it provides a little more room with out having the bow hit the dock as the boat rocks. Now backing into a lift would be a different story. I'd be nervous about hitting the drive if it wasn't deep enough. Also if the bunks are shallow the boat will center it's self better. Nothing worse than pulling the boat out to realize that it's resting on a chine.

Re: What's up with backing into slips??
 

Easier to board the boat. Anyone can pull in forward. Gotta have skillz to back in. :cool:

What Cord said. NEVER back onto a lift. That would be major disaster waiting to happen

It's done in europe so they don't have to build full docks. All they need are pilings to tie up to. Look at some of the european designed yachts and you'll see gang planks mounted to their sterns which, on some, retract hydraulicly.

We back into slips for ALL of the reasons you stated above. However, two reasons are most important for me:

1) Most docks are not long enough.

2) Most important reason, as Cigracer said, its cool:cool:

So Cattitude, start backing in!!!!!!!:D

on top of the above mention reasons....i was once told that backing into a slip was to welcome visitors and pulling in forward was to indicate that you were going to keep to yourself.

Well, my buddy backs his 42 tiger over his lift- I guess I'll have to check it out. At a slip that was not my own/well padded pilings etc. I'd rather swallow my ego and avoid dings than ding my boat trying to show off my slow speed talent:D

The thought of backing over all that metal, especially in tidal waters, makes me shudder....:eek:

Never really thought about that before,,,,,,makes sense though!!!:)

I'd rather swallow my ego and avoid dings than ding my boat trying to show off my slow speed talent:D [/B][/QUOTE]

It's all part of mastering your vessel. I will not be beat or intimidated by my boat. (However, whenever I do even touch the dock, I think "damn, shoulda pulled straight in" :D :D :D )

Fresh water lake- floating docks, floating lift, let the air out, limit chains keep it from dropping too far. Still makes me a bit nervous though- will have to check it out for idiot proofing.

In my case, I may not have enough depth- especially this time of year- to get the lift low enough for worry free backing in- or for that matter to get the boat off- another advantage to the front pivot lifts- I may have to beg foregiveness for not being cool or welcoming:D

When I installed my new lift, I had the manufacturer install longer arms on the lift so that I could back on under power. You wouldn't want to back on without longer arms as the props will hit the bunks. Trust me, been there, done that.

The main reason I back in is that it is very easy to get on/off.

Ya, what others have said. At my marina I only have about a three foot section coming off the main dock. If I came nose in, it would be hard to get off the boat. Plus my slip faces the direction that the waves come from. Having the bow facing that direction is much better.

Faster getaway!
Right Troutly?
Gary

The only real reason to back in is for waves. Your boat will ride out boat wakes, rollers down the channel and lake waves much better if backed it. Any other time it would be for showing off unless the dock is too short.:D

On a lift so that reall does not matter- leaning towards the easy route now:D

Back in, nose in, what do I know? I parallel park. :D
(Boat is at my parent's lagoon front house.)

Back in......no way!

After a day on the lake with refreshments - I'm lucky if I find my slip! :o

The above reasons...and...I do it so any passing clowns can't bounce off my drives.

Agree with Uncle Toys. Protect the drives. Easier to fix gelcoat chips then steel.

I have a different reason for backing in, at least at home. After most runs, I remove the props so that the propshafts can be greased; thus, retarding corrosion to the shaft' seal area.
Besides, it prevents theft of the props (2@ 3,000 each)

Power boaters back in (because they can). Sailbotes bow in.

Here at the mid-west coast most people back into slips at resturants and bars with performance boats, usually because the slip is shorter than the boat. Since you usually have mid ship and stern cleats it's easier to secure the boat, at least with mine.

When they put them on the lift at their house or marina they nose them in because they are fully protected by the dock. You don't see 1 out of 100 performance v's or cats backed onto a lift here.

Only the larger cruisers back into their home slips here because that is how they board their boat.

We back in for the following reasons.

1. It sounds better hearing the exhaust echoing off the dock.

2. Easier to reach the cooler and adjust the tunes.

3. And it looks so good when we can grab both sides of a dock with 10+ boats tied up stern in.


Jan

REAL MEN BACK IT IN!:D

Docks are too short. I would have to swim in to tie up if i didnt back up

Easier to get into, easier to get on and off, makes it look like I can break 50, and have you tried getting 5 gals onto a boat at one time over the side or front?

Those that can..........do....:D

Bow out! I only park bow in if I'm its just for a second. I wouldn't want anyone to see me.

Brian

Why pull in you ask........
My boat would stick out past the fingers. Kinda hard to enter boat.
Keeps the cockpit and most of the nose under roof, outta weather. We keep the nose covered with a bow cover durning the week.
All our chit is on the dock, fridge, micro, table & chairs. We live on the dock on weekends.
Be way to awkward if boat was nose first.

BTW, the highest point on my lift is at least a foot under the the skegs when lift is down, so backing in is not an issue.

At night you can use the bow nav lights instead of a blinding anchor light..If you have a 38 beak boat and it's in beak first and bounces of the dock you could have a 35 beakless boat(JUST KIDDING!!)..and the worst thing to hear at the dock or anywhere else.."IS IT IN YET?'

I have a 20' finger. Backing in allows me to spring line the back of the boat (where all the weight is) the rear of the boat never touches the finger. If I had the twins hanging 10' off the finger, the moment arm on the finger would be excessive and possibly break the finger or lines in stiff wind. Also, I cannot get off the boat pulling in forward. I did the same with my single engine boats.

BT :cool:

At the Kemah Boardwalk there used to be finger piers out in the channel. The tide really rips through there and my dad begged me not to back in. I backed it anyways and did a 360 with a 27 foot single engine boat in between two peirs 30 foot apart. The boat barely fit and never hit anything, but believe me I was embarassed with all the spectators. The boat makes a lot of racquet with a 540 and stellings. Those that wern't watching sure herd me for miles throttling against current not to hit anything. We never touched the docks and no one in the boat even reached out. I was pretty proud after the whole fiasco not to damage anything. And people around were even clapping.

Cause big pimpin aint easy baby!!:D [IMG]http://www.scopeinfo.com/images/2003.../SCOPE_010.jpg http://www.scopeinfo.com/images/2002...g/P1010099.JPG http://www.scopeinfo.com/images/2002...g/P1010103.JPG http://www.scopeinfo.com/images/2002...n/DSC01502.jpg

If a slip doesn't have a lift, most people will back into it. This makes it much easier to get in and out of the boat. The boat will also handle the waves better if it is facing out. Backing in allows you to secure the aft cleats to the dock which makes the boat more secure in the water. This really helps on those short "courtesy" slips.

However, most people that keep their boat on a lift will pull in. Once the boat is on the lift and the lift is raised, you don't have to worry about waves or securing the boat to the dock.

If you can't back it in, time to leave it at the dock.

Easier to board, protects the drives, etc. If you've had too many pops where you're worried about backing in, it's probably the least of your probvlems.

Yeah, what they said. :cool:

OK I give up on that simulator :D