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.

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

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

So Cattitude, start backing in!!!!!!!

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

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

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