hard time docking

[Francis]

The other day, or I should say for a couple of days I have had a heck of a time trying to dock. I had the outside winward side slip and and tight fit with a boat next to me. I was trying to come in with arund a 15 mile an hour wind I would estimate hitting me at a 90 degreee angle. When I slowed the boat down as I approached the dock the wind just carried me over to a few slips down the road. I had all rudders down and my center board down as well.

I have a 26x 2001. I not quie sure how to approach this problem. I guess I can go farther down the lanes and turn around and go back toward my slip into the wind and then turn in, but I'm not quite sure. And lately when I try to throttle down to put the boat in netural and then reverse, the motor dies.

That's another problem I'm haveing. I just don't know when it is going to die. I am wondering if I shouldn't throttle down all the way and throw it in netural then reverse with a little more idel speed. It seem when I try to do the prop walk it really doesn't work very well. My stern will drift out instead of pull into the dock. With the motor I have had it tuned up, and try to keep the gas good so I don't know why it stalls on me at times. Maybe I need to set the idel speed up some. Any advise on ways to dock under these conditions would be greatly appreaciated. I will be going out this weekend and the winds are supposed to be around 15 this weekend. I'd sure like to get it in without bouncing around like a pin ball in front of everyone.
Thanks

[Phillip]

I ALWAYS reverse in.
I stand in front of the pedastal facing backward.
Where-ever I point the motor, that is where the boat is going.

Only problem.....you may get confused as to which way to push the throttle....especially when you get into a bit of a pannick....it is reverse to normal operations.
Helps if you get it right

For me in my conditions, I have always found the boat easy-ier to manouver when reversing....the boat just follows the motor.
Cheers
Phillip

[NiceAft]

Well Francis, you now understand about the problems of having a high freeboard.

I am in full agreement with Phillip. The wind will still make it difficult, but you should find it easier to get into the slip if you do the whole process in reverse.. Once your in the slip, it's another story.

In our slip, the wind can be fierce at times. In order to maintain some control, I keep my boat pole handy, and unfasten the lifeline on the side of the boat you will be disembarking. I use the pole to catch a dock cleat. Using the process of backing into the slip, the boat will be going verrry sloooooooow. I step off of the boat. I have a line in my hand, and tie very quickly. I try to use the boat pole to grab the boat as far forward if the wind wants to pull it away. It can be done alone, but in the wind, it's easier with a helper.


Ray

[Gazmn]

Reverse it is

Regarding the engine issue. What kind of motor do you have? If it's a carbed, as opposed to one with EFI; it could be the carb bowl is dirty. That would give you the kind of scenario you've described.

-Gaz

Oh, you might want to put your boat information in your profile.

[socalmacer]

One thing I would also suggest is try using the wind to your benefit. Rather than fighting it....which I've seen a lot of people try to do and the wind usually wins. Understand where the wind is blowing and how fast and get it to work for you! As an engineer you learn about vectors which is a mathematical way to looking at velocity, acceleration, force, etc and direction. If you have a 15 mph cross wind.... no matter how fast going forward (90 degrees from the cross wind) you motor you are still going to be going sideways at 15mph (drag not considered). Now by simply changing your direction such that you have a componenent of your speed that is close to the wind (now not a cross wind) your approach can be more manageable. Timely changing of this direction, as you approach your destination can also help in slowing, position, reversing, etc your boat. This will take some practice but it is something that can prove very helpful in the long run.

[tangentair]

There are some very short but informative videos on docking at the Latitudes and Attitudesweb site. Backing in is a solution but you might also like to know how to use a spring line or other single handed solution should you choose to try and put the nose in first.

[Russ]

I would back in, but our slip is 24' long and I don't know how to tilt the motor and lift the fins if they are butt up against the dock. I might try that though, who knows, maybe I can make it work somehow. Right now, the back of the boat hangs out, that bugs me because I'm waiting for some other boat to come snap off a rudder.

Here's what I have tried and have had some limited success.
I tied a line from the bow and ran it back outside to the stern cleat. Then I pulled up to end of the slip at a 45 degree angle and hopped off the bow grabbing the line pulling the boat around and into the slip.

As a backup, I just orderd a bunch of rubber dock guards.

[Trouts Dream]

How about using 10 or 12 bumber guards on each side and then just park it like a pinball.
Actually sounds like you use a similiar system I do when loading single handed. I use and extra long bow line and hold the bow line in one hand and the stern line in the other. When its between the uprights I drop the stern line and move to the front, monkey climb over my van to the trailer tongue (keeps my feet dry) and pull the boat into the V.

[phil kelly]

Francis, I to have a similar problem docking when the wind gets up and quite often have to pass my slip,turn back and approach it upwind using the wind to help turn the bow in the direction I need then blast in with the engine and use full revs in reverse to stop.
I also initially had the problem of engine stall between changing gear,50 hp yamaha 4 stroke, but discovered the engineer that did the last service had set the idle speed too low.
Mine now runs at 1000 rpm when warm since I adjusted it to handbook instructions and does not stall, might be worth checking yours out.

[tjinca1]

I started a post about my engine stalling too, and had no one with any ideas to post.

I've had the same problem as you docking with the wind and current. Most people say to go in the slip SLOW, but I find in those conditions that I need to have some motor speed, so the boat is going where I tell it, not where the wind and current want it to go. But, if your boat stalls going into reverse, that won't work because you have to hit the reverse or you'll plow the dock!

[Francis]

It is a bit frustraing. When I go out to the boat this weekend I will look into the idle too. I heard if you over adjuste the idel then your gears will grind and you won't go anywhere. I guess you have to get it just right.
I will try some of the suggestions and hope for the best.
Thanks for the advise.

[Phillip]

best place for advice on engines, go to iboats.com then click on forums....take your pick
You may not even have to post a question...just check the 1st few threads.
It is even broken down in to different breeds of motors.
Lot of blokes there are very experienced in their fields.
Cheers
Phillip