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I have been lurking for a while, but my family just purchased a '63 Nauset that has been restored (although not historically). This is our first boat.

I am having a heck of a time trying to dock the boat in the slip. I have done some reading and tried practicing, but I still cant get a smooth landing. Can anyone give me series of steps that they use, which way to turn the wheel, when to be in forward/reverse, etc. I understand that wind and current need to be held into account, but I just need a solid foundation to start from.

The set up is docking on the starboard side, no parallel parking. Single engine (70 hp Tohatsu).

The issue seems to be that the lowest forward speed is to fast. If I put it in neutral I quickly lose steerage. I have been having some issues with the throttle. There seems to be no fine adjustment - either we are underway at 6 knots or 15+. I'm not sure if that is contributing factor.

Any help is appreciated.

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I believe you need to get your engine set up correctly otherwise it will always be a fire drill. Check your cables to see if you can adjust your idle speed. You should be able to approach the dock slow enough that you can rock the transmission between forward and reverse to bring you to a smooth docking. It just takes time to learn a new boat.

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Check out http://www.whaler.tv/play.php?vid=106 – but I agree with Meridian, just engaging forward should not cause a great deal of speed

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My , engine engaged in idle makes about 2.5 miles an hour. I would check your engine first.
Other things to consider is to approach the dock from down wind and down current (dock can't smell you coming) If there moving in opposite directions pick the strongest. Prop walk is something else that is useful. This is when you put your engine in reverse the stern will move slowly to one side or the other without any movement from the steering wheel. Hope this helps.BG

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Very seldom should the motor be put in neutral while docking......You can use your forward and reverse to help guide the direction and reverse as a brake or slow down......Bear in mind that we are talking low speed.......Also, you will find it much easier to manuver if you are aiming into the current vs riding with the current

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If all else fails, gently nose into the dock and tie a bow line off with a little slack. Then engage reverse and drag the stern around to the dock.

Idle at 6 knots is too fast.

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Try "Bumping" the motor in and out of gear while bringing her in, (or manuvering) this will slow your approach speed (idle). I dock on the starboard side and I find that "Reverse." is easier (I guess due to the prop walk). I nose in to which ever is stronger (Current or Wind). 6 kts is a "Crash Landing" along the dock (We've all done them if it makes you feel any better), you will get better with practice. Try "Bumping" the throttle, and be patient as the boat slowly comes around (wind, tide, weather, conditions mean a lot too), you'll be a "Pro" by July !

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If there's a lot of wind and/or a lot of current, it can be tough.

Any docking in rough conditions is a good one as long as you can walk away. :)

Practice, Practice, Practice.
Everything is usually in slow motion when docking unless conditions are rough.

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Slow speed can make maneuvering difficult but it can also significantly decrease damage that can occur when docking doesn't go as expected.

I regularly dock 60 tons at work with no bow or stern thrusters. Just differential throttle on the outboard jet drives. Some days I look like a pro, other days I'm sure its a comical view from land.

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If you are doing 6 knots when putting it into fwd your engine must be idling way too high. If that is the case, you're going to blow out your lower unit dropping it inot gear at such a high RPM.

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Once you get your idle speed sorted -

Take the boat out (by yourself) and practice slow speed maneuvering. I chose lobster pots, some use a throw cushion and toss it in the water.

I would practice:
- getting the bow as close as possible without touching.
- coming alongside (from different directions to counter wind and currents).
-backing up to the pot without hitting it.

I also went to the ramp and practiced launching, retrieving as well as landing at the courtesy floats when it was very quiet.

At the beginning of each season, I do a bit of a refresher.

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Practice, Practice, a few bumps, and much more Practice. Having recently gone a fishing trip with friend on his 30 ft twin screws I got to appreciate what real parking at a slip is like...A windy day it was ugly...:-) And we had to back into the slip with this... With your 16 it become piece of cake in any condition after a while. Practice fast short busts of forward and reverse in a clam area with no one near by...;-) Don't jam it into high speed, just quick shifts with a little gas. Most important that you get the feel of the throttle. You will get the idea.

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You could just run it up on the rocks like they do here in Montana. Blows me away to watch it. I guess that's why most of the boats here are made of metal. . . .

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I like the Rookies that head into the dock at a high rate of speed...........throw a line to someone on the dock and then yell "CATCH IT"

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You need to run as slow as possible when docking, When going into reverse to stop or slow down don`t accelerate as you will lose control. Remember when backing your motor will pull your boat slightly to starboard.(righthand prop)

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I agree, get your idle sorted out - after that, it's just a matter of practice. In really ugly conditions or a tight fit, I nose in and drop a kid off the bow with a line. Everything slows down once you've got a line ashore.

And remember - there are only two types of Captains:

1) those who have crashed a dock
2) liars

Tim

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Unfortunately my motor has a tendancy to stall out when I'm coming in to the dock and drop it into reverse. We have really fast tides down here and my marina is always packed with boats so its a harrowing experience every time I come in. As long as the motor doesn't stall, I'm fine. Otherwise I find myself drifting towards a brand new Donzi, Yellowfin, or some other boat that costs more than my house.

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I had a 150 Merc "Tower of Power" that ran like a raped ape but it wouldn't come off idle unless I goosed it, backed off, and goosed it again in rapid succession. Instead of having it fixed I lived with it. But then again, I didn't spend much time in the company of Donzis and Yellowfins. I think you need a mechanic. :)

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This is foolishness and nonsense that makes you sound like for all your years you've never been out in rough weather or rough water.

Sometimes the best control is had with the judicious use of a little to a lot of throttle, even in reverse - you regain steerage with motion, fore or aft. Practice, practice, practice, and don't be afraid to use throttle when the waves and wind are against you to hold yourself off the dock or other boats! Coming in too slowly with a cross current or wind away from the dock will land you in a place you don't want to be, similarly a strong wind onto the dock will require a fair bit of juice to keep yourself off. Only with practice will you learn how your boat handles in favorable and adverse conditions. Only with practice will you learn what is too much or too little throttle, what is the correct rate at which to add or cut throttle to make the boat do what you want it to. The best guideline as a starting point is never to overreact, and never to use too much input too quickly - a beginner's overreaction that will force you to overreact in the opposite direction next, and will only jam you up worse. This is not driving a car, there are no brakes. Throttle in the opposite direction is your closest thing to brakes, and it is only with practice that steering input + throttle input can become second nature rather than hesitant and slightly delayed overthought reactions rather than natural movements.



If you want to watch some precision docking that proves the above poster 100% unequivocally hands-down and without any refute to be completely wrong about losing control while accelerating in reverse or needing to run as slow as possible when docking, go on youtube and check out the Tilghman Island workboat docking races. Or the Hooper's Island Waterman's Rodeo. Or the Kent Island Waterman's Fest. These are all single screw boats.

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I've known several inboards that didn't handle for beans in reverse. Didn't matter how much or how little throttle you gave them or which way you cranked the wheel. Lots of designs out there - new and old. Not all them are well suited to water rodeos, whatever the hell that is.

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At any rate..........get your idle looked at.

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This is fun for the family and your self. Go out in out in the middle of the lake or bay and throw out a fender (bumper) with a short loop piece of line on. Then drive away from it and turn around and then try to practice coming up to the floating fender as if docking. This is good for practicing driving up to a person in the water also. You can also take turns letting everyone in the boat try to come up along side a fender floating in the water.

The Chapman boat has great information about docking and is good reading for learning seamanship.

Use Forward, neutral and reverse to control the boat all at idle. Learn how to come to a complete stop in the water and how to read the current and wind. These are hints to help learn how to dock. But nothing replaces the practice. I usually go to neutral while approach then go into reverse and then back to neutral. to stop the boats momentum.

After you pull the starboard side up to the dock you could turn the wheel completely the other way and hit reverse (all at idle speeds) This will pull the transom to the right towards the dock.
Archie