Making tight S turn to slip causes too much side slip.

[Frank C]

Al,

Not sure if this is somewhere above in all those hints, but when I first started approaching docks with my brandy-new Mac, I found it was much easier to back in ... YMMV!

[ALX357]

hey that simulator is great, - it is almost exactly the setup i have, starting boat position is like mine, same approach. I am in the top right inside slip. But imagine if one draws the lower limiting pier longer, - it acutally is as long as my pier, and adding a wide pontoon boat to its outer side makes that hazard two slips' width more than the one on the sim. The approach is parallel to my slip, but has to avoid the two slip-widths more offset to the right, thus the S turn,

[ALX357]

if i backed in... have to try it...... kind of hazardous with the motor facing the dock, but actually the bow would be the same distance out in the traffic lane as the motor skedge (raised) is now.... and the bow would be alot more visible than the black motor and prop. PLUS, with the stern approaching the dock, and forward motion backwards, i might be able to fend off from the dock or other boat with a boathook or fender, since i would be right there in the cockpit. hmmm. Isn't it always best to have the motor out of the water when not usinig ? prop facing dock .... actually would be cheaper to fix motor damage than radical bow collision,
I have to show you some heart-rending photos of a whole line of boats here that got smashed for hours against the dock when the remnants of Kat blew thru there last week. (different marina with its end dock facing open fetch to long wide expanse of water) Four foot waves ... inadequate spring line setting, and some cleats acutally broke off the docks. Really shocking damage for winds that didn't seem to warrant any additional preventative measures. One boat sunk from puncture by dock winch, and another topside cabin, deck and windows totaled from grinding against the dock winch. Numerous eat-up teak rails, and another boat with a huge shark-bite in the bow, 6-inch wide 2 foot tall gap open all the way into the V-berth, from just grinding back and forth against the dock.
Docks were decked with concrete slabs, faced out with 2-by lumber, which also was chewed up. There is now a huge stack of new pressure-treated 2x8 SYP in their parking lot for repairs to the docks.

[Frank C]

The three biggest advantages of backing the Mac:

• 1. More wetted-surface drag on the big fat stern, less windage, lesser effects of wind-push.
  2. More immediate responsiveness with prop & rudder directly under your butt.
  3. Much better visibility & fending access.

Just remember that long bow is swinging out there too, where you're not watching. Practice with a helper & boathook stationed on the bow.

[ronacarme]

My slip is on the seawall at the end of a narrow aisle between two sets of slips, all shoal water.
Entry is at minimum speed with 3 " of CB line out and shoal rudder and motor down.
When leaving slip, aisle is too tight to allow turning to proceed forwardly up the aisle. Thus, with the same items down, we back out of the slip and up the aisle stern first with good control.The small amount of CB down limits the tendency of the bow to wag back and forth like the tail on a dog.

[ALX357]

Thanks for all the right suggestions.....
Frank, as you said, the 3 advantages were evident when i backed in...
practised alone yesterday evening, came in three times no problem backing in.... was calm no wind, so that may add complication later, but for now i am getting used to the backing in.
Three more advantages.... The bow of the boat is a much more obvious obstacle for the pontoon boats nearby to see and avoid than the all-black motor and prop raised up and sticking out into the lane.....
And it is easier to dismount early and get onto the dock to catch it and manage docklines, when the boat has first entered, ( 20ft. dock ) rather than having to wait until the cockpit is even with the end of the dock.
Plus it makes for a much more graceful first impression for new guests to come out forward and go rather than motoring in reverse, then getting turned around after a few minutes.... Later after a good sail or run, coming into the marina and getting into reverse seems more natural.

[Beam's Reach]

I've found it much easier to back in as well. However, when we go down to just sit on the boat for an afternoon or for dinner at the dock, we prefer to have the cockpit facing out rather than in. A little more privacy and you don't have everyone that walks by on the main dock looking down your companionway into the cabin. So I just keep practicing my bow first docking.

[Frank C]

Al,
I should have had your fourth advantage too, plus one more:

The three biggest advantages of backing the Mac:

• 1. More wetted-surface drag on the big fat stern, less windage, lesser effects of wind-push.
  2. More immediate responsiveness with prop & rudder directly under your butt.
  3. Much better visibility & fending access.
  4. Easier to mount & dismount.
  5. Easier to load & unload.

Just remember that long bow is swinging out there too, where you're not watching. Practice with a helper & boathook stationed on the bow.

Blake's got it right, too. Privacy suffers when the cockpit is right on the dock,
so his solution's right too ... just gotta learn to switch-hit!
Whenever clearances are tight, the Mac is easier to handle in reverse.