That's exactly what I'm trying to describe. The two-stage part is where you're moving forward and put it in reverse, with rudders and CB down, the boat will act like a keel boat until it's moving slow enough that the reverse thrust that's not centered ('cause the wheel's not centered) overpowers the rudders and pulls the stern in the opposite direction you want it to go, so you have to spin the wheel over to pull the stern into the dock (for instance).sunshinecoasting wrote:OK, I'll ask the obviuos question, why back it in? Why not drive it in and back it out? Much easier in my opinion, especially if the slip is tight. I agree with tkanzler's idea except I dont know that it needs to be a two stage approach, this probably wont work in such confines as you describe but what I have been pretty successful at is (CB down, rudders down) coming in a lilttle quicker than you would normally at about a 20 degree angle, say walking pace and then quickly reversing the wheel and applying moderate reverse, this slows you down and also walks you sideways towards the dock, if you get it just right the boat simply stops dead a foot or so from the dock and parallel to it (never happens while people are watching though for some reason), I only apply this method when I have a hand on deck, if you get it wrong you dont have time to run forward and stop the inevitable smack in to the dock. It is imperative to remember to reverse the wheel before hitting reverse, otherwise the stern will walk away from the dock and you end up at 45 degrees to it. sure can be confusing though, when I have an audience I just come in extra slow and am happy to have any part of the boat touching the dock at a stand still, then jump off with a rope in your hand and walk it to birth.
It takes getting used to. My FIL gets all flustered, as he's used to his trawler, which steers like a keel boat, and the directed thrust from the prop can mess you up when the boat is moving forward and the engine is in reverse. I usually come into a wall, often between two boats, at a shallow angle, run the forward part close to the wall with rudders straight (engine in neutral), cut the wheel to swing the stern in if there's room (and if not, hit reverse to slow to a crawl), then spin the wheel toward the wall and burp some reverse to stop forward motion and swing the stern in at the same time. It takes practice, but it's not hard to grease it in like you know what you're doing.
But the I/O style power boat and inboard keel boat in one package thing definitely takes getting used to.
