Backing I/O boat into slip

I find it the most frustrating and terrifying part of boating. I have a single I/o with an Alpha 1 and it is sometimes pure comedy for my dock neighbors to watch, I have aborted a dock attempt 5 or 6 times in a fast running river with wake and wind. I liken it to parallel parking a Ferrari between 2 Lamborghinis blindfolded with a gun to your head :). There is some super advice on here, the best I can give is not to enlist the help of the Lithuanian Navy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Vmk4ccQdY
 
I am by no means the best handler of my 320 with outdrives,...as compared to others at our marina.
However, going from a single outdrive to twins a couple of years ago has been challenging and a fun learning experience.
I do as others have stated, slow and easy and waiting for the action to occur after bumping in and out with your shifters.
I like the 2:00 and 10:00 approach when backing in, making sure to keep your wheel straight..... then once you have the stern entering the slip bump the appropriate shifters to straighten her out and.....your there!
Slow and easy,.........wait for the action to occur.
And when it does not look right pull out and do it again.

You will find that your experience behind the helm is the best learning tool for you.
Hang in there,... it will come!
 
Put good corner protection for your boat at the entry points.
 
dock wheels on the corners of my slip have saved my hull a few scratches on some 'questionable' returns back to my slip...

worth every penny IMHO....

cliff
 
I've had a single engine inboard which was a real crapshoot, but it did teach me to know that slow is your friend, and you need to use the wind or tide. Using the wheel was mandatory on that boat.
My current boat is a dream compared to that one.
When I first got my 300 Sundancer it had two standard rotating outdrives. Backing in to a slip was a nightmare, often made worse by the Dock Mary's who often took the opportunity to point out to me that I had "twin engines", and would start to yell directions. Using the steering wheel was the only way to get in to a tight slip.
Those folks are your worst enemies. What they don't know is that their twin inboards are nothing like twin outdrives that both spin the same way.
A few years back I got myself a counter rotating drive. One of the best things I ever did. It makes me look like a real pro.
If you have twin I/O's that counter rotate, then here is what works for me when it comes time to back in to a slip.
1. Read the wind and/or current. Current is not as much of a factor around here, so I mostly deal with wind. Especially in the afternoon when it can really gust. It's always better to power in to the wind. It gives you more control. Keep this in mind when deciding how to approach a slip.
2. Center your wheel, and drives, as you make your approach to the slip, and then don't touch the wheel again. It's tempting, but it will almost always get you in trouble
3. Use your motors to spin the boat around and line it up. Then while backing in to the wind or current, and anticipating which way it wants to push you, make subtle adjustments using the controls as you back up as slowly as possible.
4. Don't be afraid to pop those controls in and out of gear as many times as you need to. What I usually do is pop a control in to gear just until it starts to move the boat the way I want it to go, then I go back in to neutral and let the momentum move me. When the momentume stops, I pop it in gear again and repeat. This method insures that you are going slow, and allows you to make multiple adjustments if needed.
4. Don't be afraid to abort, and try again. Everyone does it.
5. Try not to rely on well meaning passengers or crew too much. They may not realize that shoving the boat off of something, or yanking it close to something, has an equal and opposite effect on another part of the boat.
When asked by someone what, if anything, they can do, I often politely thank them while asking them to have a seat out of the way until I'm in the slip. A more experienced passenger or crew member generally knows this, and will make themselves usefull by readying a line or fender.
6 Above all: Use the boat as much as possible. The more you do it, the better you will get at it.
 
Thanks very much everyone!! Have a single engine. Bt doctur aren't you in NJ?
 
Last edited:
MstrLucky,
I did, just you are asking help for when I had a single I/O.
What I found to be most helpful when backing my single I/O 260 into my slip was this.
First make sure you have good protection at the corners of your slip where your boat makes contact.
I ordered from Overton bumpers that fit on corners, others have suggested wheels which would also be great for you.
So now you are readying your approach backing into your slip at the 10:00, or 2:00 position.
Only turn wheel while you are in neutral, slightly bump into gear wait for the action to occur.
Then back to neutral, turn wheel the other way if necessary for your 10:00 or 2:00 entry into your slip.
Bump the throttle,....back to neutral.
The goal is to put the side of your boat up against the corner as you enter your slip.
This is now your pivot point, once you are at that position you use this corner while bumping your throttle to help get you into your slip.
Worked for me every time.
But again make sure you have a good bumper or wheel on that corner.
When you get used to this, you will look like a pro every time!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,224
Messages
1,428,911
Members
61,117
Latest member
cowiekc
Back
Top