For leaving the dock; summer of 2019 we had a Hunter34, with fully enclosed deckhouse (filled with water toys) and a dinghy on davits. And, less than 50 feet to the rock wall, and it was the path for the gas dock, and a very active dinghy dock. When departing our slip, we literally had no idea what was coming in from that direction. We perfected the “Bow Bridle” technique, found on youtube: “Duncan Wells stress free sailing” (https://youtu.be/eItnxls21H0). It allowed us to get prepared, have my go off the boat and visually see what was coming in, then quickly depart without stress. Now that the freighter (ok, Hunter 34) is no longer beside us, we still use it, because my crew is in the cockpit, and departing is dead easy.
To pivot with no way on, rudder hard over to starboard, cycle the engine through reverse - neutral - forward- neutral - if you think about it, with no way on, prop-walk pulls our sterns to port when in reverse and the rudder does nothing, forward the prop wash hits the rudder and pushes to the bow starboard. About a second in each step of “R - N - F - N” will allow you to pivot clockwise.
Now, if it’s blowing 40 knots in a tight harbour, no guarantees that either of these will work perfectly!
John brings up a great point. Use prop walk to your advantage. A good exercise is to head out to an isolated mooring ball or some other fixed buoy that has no hazards close by. Use that fixed point as a reference and practice maneuvering close to it. Backing hook turns in both directions, pivots, countering crosswinds while maintaining a straight course while backing. It is time well spent learning the little tricks for maneuvering in tight challenging situations. It is actually fun to feel the improvements in short order. Remember to pause momentarily between F and R and R and F.
Pat Furr
NS 26C #133
Bandolero
Charlotte, VT
This subject pops up now and again and I hope it continues to do so. Learning control of our boats is extremely important. Because of different engines, props, boat configurations, etc. the process of backing in can widely vary. I’ve mention this before that I have sailed almost all of my life (80 in June) but I never owned a boat with an inboard engine. Bow in was not going to work with a short finger dock and wanting to cruise bow in may not have been practical at many marinas. So, I had to learn how to back in. And I was intimidated by the whole process but I am stubborn and decided I was going to do it even If I appeared to be making a butt out of myself. The first thing I did was walk down the dock and looked at all sailboats that were backed in. Had many discussions with the owner and 100 % of the owners did not know how to back in and just crashed and bounced their way in. That was not going to work for me. I went to You Tube and found a number of videos regarding the subject, including the one I’ve shown below. I have watched this thing three times and I surely will watch it at least three more. I’ve practiced every method mentioned in the video including the “standing Turn” mentioned by Bob. I could talk all day about this subject but I think the video can offer more that anything I can say. Learning how to use prop walk and not being afraid to use speed to your advantage is paramount to successful backing in. Also knowing the use of “neutral” at the right time even under adverse conditions will be most valuable to skills of backing in. I suggest the following: Look at the video (numerous times) and practice, practice and practice even more. Find an available vacant slip with possibly other vacant slips on each side and practice. Don’t worry for even for a flashing moment about an on shore or on dock audience. I know some disagree with my method of backing because I stand on the other side of the wheel while driving the boat in. Some stand to the side which provides the ability to monitor the bow as well but my control locations are not conducive to do that.
Needless reminder, never let go of the helm in reverse.
I’m on the inner stbd end of a 400 ft. Fairway. On my 26, i back out with a little stbd helm and once clear can back out the entire length of the fairway with alternating 11 o clock 2 o clock swing of the helm. The boats handle much better in reverse with some way on which makes the keel and rudder more efficient. Of course wind and current change all calculations.
Since I’m usually solo, it puts me in the “front” so i can see better. Seldom have cross traffic on weekdays and leave the weekends for the “working class”.
Butch, i find backing in easier if I have the opportunity to back down the fairway. I find it harder to control the situation with little or no way on.
Joe
Ns26c# 156
Pat, great point. Everyone brings up the value of practicing using the prop walk and windage to your advantage.
For example, with a following wind, I’ll head straight for a windward fuel or end tie dock at 90° and just before the approach, I make a hard turn to starboard which turns the vessel on her center.
At 45°, I’ll put her into a firm reverse which brings her back parallel to the dock. Go into neutral with the boat dead stopped, then let the wind bring me gently into the dock.
Above all, patience and slow speeds when docking these vessels is a good watchword, particularly if you’re used to powerboats.
I agree completely. Although I think it important to attempt to master the standing turn for potential applications, I do not use it for entering my slip. Out in the open water I build up some sternway steam to the point I have steerage. Then I enter the fairway and turn into my slip. Once while doing that, the bow got a blast of wind forcing the bow further into the dead end fairway. Knowing that I could not continue with stern in, I went forward towards the end and did a standing turn and did a partial standing turn as shown in the previous video to back into my slip. The process worked great. I think the other important thing to do is to recognize that things may not be working as planned, usually because of wind gusts or a gone astray decision, and simply go back out and try it again. Knowing the standing turn will normally allow for ease of returning to where one started.
A tip I found useful.
With the boat secured to the dock, engage astern. Look over the side and see where the wash is.
The prop walk pushes Salt Coats with her Volvo MD11C and saildrive, firmly to starboard when going astern.
I can’t believe I typed windward – of course the bow blows downwind in a crosswind. That’s not a sonic boom you hear, it’s my palm hitting my forehead.
My 26 will slide to port in reverse like a tango dancer, to starboard it is a burst and coast affair. Had a dock once with 28 feet of faiway behind me and 6 inches on each side. Had to back put to port and reverse 150 feet to a spot where there was room to turn about. You soon learn to “go with the flow” and not fight mother nature.
Question? Is not the difference of going starboard or port in reverse directly related to whether you have a right turning or left turning prop? My 30 C goes port in reverse. I can make it turn in its length in reverse with my right turning prop.
The video I mentioned earlier addresses all of the possibilities including using a spring line on an outer piling to help make the 90 degree turn.
I agree completely. Although I think it important to attempt to master the standing turn for potential applications, I do not use it for entering my slip. Out in the open water I build up some sternway steam to the point I have steerage. Then I enter the fairway and turn into my slip. Once while doing that, the bow got a blast of wind forcing the bow further into the dead end fairway. Knowing that I could not continue with stern in, I went forward towards the end and did a standing turn and did a partial standing turn as shown in the previous video to back into my slip. The process worked great. I think the other important thing to do is to recognize that things may not be working as planned, usually because of wind gusts or a gone astray decision, and simply go back out and try it again. Knowing the standing turn will normally allow for ease of returning to where one started.
In general, backing in is better for accessing your boat. Particularly if you have short finger piers. More important, is if you have any kind of rise and fall of water, you can have longer dock lines which give you a better range of up and down motion where you would be less likely to have to change shorten/lengthen your lines during periods of high or low water.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
People talk about the need for ‘speed’ ignorer to have control going in reverse. No one defines what they mean by ‘speed’.
In my experience it means only enough motion to create flow over the rudder. Too much speed in reverse and you may find the wheel pulled out of your hands and the rudder slammed against the sops followed by the bow swinging quickly over.
With our 26C I have learned that the amount of speed or throttle is determined by the wind and current speed and directions. Like balancing a bicycle practice will give you the right feel. Also accept that sometimes you have one idea but conditions require you to have a plan B. Don’t fight it if it looks like it won’t work. Don’t approach anything any faster than you want to hit it.
Practice and you will get better. Stay calm, think about what is happening and why.
Now that I have said this I had better go out and practice.
Since I wrote my novel in this thread back in July, La Reina has graduated from a 2 blade Maxprop to a three blade Maxprop. The propwalk in reverse is almost completely gone. My docking technique no longer works and spinning her around on the spot using the propwalk is likely not an option. I use to come in to a port tie slip at about a 45 degree angle. As I got close to position I would put her in reverse and give a quick short shot on the throttle. This would stop the forward momentum and suck the stern into the dock. On a good day ( on bad days I prayed for lots of helpers) I could slip her into a side tie slip with only two feet to spare between me and the boats ahead and astern. Now when I try I am nicely stopped and the stern is still 3 feet off the dock. Hero to Zero in one prop change. I am hoping that starboard ties will be easier.
I am going to have to go out and practice a new technique.
To me the correct amount of speed (going in reverse) is that speed necessary to obtain steerage. Any more than that would not seem practical or safe. Depending on wind, current and other factors the amount of speed necessary can change. For example, since I obtain my sternway steerage in the open water I need enough speed to steer into my marina fairway. Usually the other boats already parked block much of the wind as I enter the fairway along with a possible current change that I adjust my speed accordingly as I approach my slip. Usually, at this point I have the boat in neutral which provides even more steerage as the prop walk is gone for that “neutral” period of time As I mentioned before, I stand on the other side of the wheel with a death grip on the wheel only leaving go to adjust the controls. As you mentioned, it will take practice, lots of practice. I know of some boaters who will not consider practicing in heavier wind days. Those are some of the better days to practice as it probably will be that type of day when one’s skills are needed the most. It is important, to me, to get some experience with that wind turning your bow around when you did not have enough speed. On another day and conditions that same amount of speed may have been way too much. The proper amount of speed varies and there is no fixed answer. Learning when to go into neutral and learning to thrust it into forward at the proper time is just as important as learning speed. The other thing important to learn is to know when it is not going as planned and to cancel the attempt to park and to simply go back out and try again. Learning the “standing turn” may help one get out of trouble when trapped in your fairway because of a botched landing.
I too put my two cents in this thread the first time around but will reiterate my comment for newcomers. I’m not a bad boat handler. I used to operate a small ferry in Victoria harbour that needed to arrive and leave five docks an hour in all conditions of load, wind, traffic, light, etc. I also trained the other skippers.
But that said with this boat and it’s 53’ stick right up in the bow I find myself much more willing to go sailing and less worried about returning to the dock in bad conditions since I added my bow thruster. I singlehand and it has made my sailing life very much easier.
Skippers who do not like prop walk would be interested in the 3 bladed folding Australian Stainless steel slipstream by Seahawk. It has no prop walk on my 26. A good friend was impressed with it and bought one for his 30 when he lost a blade on his old prop. At first, he did not like it as he had factored in the prop walk for decades. He had to learn to dock over again without the aid of prop walk to get him into his dock.
