Interesting read on docking...

For those of us who learn best by digesting words first, then replicating with action, these seem like a great idea, especially if they're as thorough as it sounds like they might be. I might just make the investment to see how well lesson 1 is built.
 
sfergson727 said:
To me, it boils down to managing your momentum. If you can do that, you can dock a boat. If you can't, then boating is an expensive endeavor.

Fun read though, looks like an entertaining book.
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And don't forget to put the gear down..............How's the JOB working for you?
 
I'm no mod, but did this docking thread just get highjacked?
 
sfergson727 said:
To me, it boils down to managing your momentum. If you can do that, you can dock a boat. If you can't, then boating is an expensive endeavor.

Fun read though, looks like an entertaining book.
Click to expand...

It does look like an entertaining read. I learned most of what I know about docking by reading, reading, reading and reading. Then watching video after video online. All of this has be extremely valuable... AND as much as I agree about managing momentum I have to say it's not that simple.

The principles you learn from reading and watching videos are very sound...but they only go so far in real life. My last 4 boats have all handled completely differently around the dock and at low speed. I mastered docking, low speed maneuvering and anchoring with my 240SD then moved to the 280DA. Everything that applied to the 240 was different... I couldn't handle the 280 to save my life and couldn't get the anchor to hold ever. It took an entire season of practicing docking and anchoring before the next season was fun. Fast forward a few years when I downsized to a 20' Cobalt with a BIII. I was cocky and figured if I was the master of single screw 280 I would be able to work miracles in this little boat. No way...brought it in for gel repair after the 2nd outing. The pivot point was different than the previous boats, it coasted at slow speed like a greased banana peel, the throttle had a much longer delay when applying reverse thrust to slow down. None of my tricks worked and I had to re-learn that boat. Fast forward again to my current 24' Cobalt...surely this will be somewhat like my 240SD and similar to my 20' I just sold, right? Not even close! My current boat has a 502 MAG with a Bravo I single prop. Crank the wheel hard left and drop in reverse and the boat goes straight. No more approaching at an angle to the port side, slowing then hard left with a bit of reverse thrust to tuck the stern against the dock. Nope, you just plow straight into the dock at an angle. Also, with 415HP I can go from 0 to Throw-You-In-Your-Seat just by breathing on the throttle. I have no shame in admitting that I had rather spendy gel repair bill last season. It took all season but now I know how to approach and land gently with my current boat.

Managing momentum, predicting the wind and current, managing your approach....yes... all true. But none of it matters if you don't know your boat.
 
sfergson727 said:
So far so good, I still have my good days and not so good days, but I've held up to the rigors of night flying so far. I don't seem to have any problem getting on a night schedule, but it takes me 2 to 3 days to get back to being awake during the day and sleeping at night. I have 19 years left before mandatory retirement, I suspect my body isn't going to let me go the distance, but I've still been fortunate to get to recapture my dream job, even if it doesn't last for the rest of my career. I had forgotten how much I love flying, and it is so sweet to be doing it again. At the same time, I had to come to terms with losing it once, so if it happens again, I will be okay with it.

Thanks for asking!
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Good deal! Enjoy it while you can.
 
It would appear that some (haters) on this site would do better polishing the inside of their holding tanks than posting nonsense. Have a wonderful warm day.
 
Pretty Good! A little funny. I have had sailboats my whole life, and had some experience with ski-boats and handling a Monterey Fishing boat and a friends Single Engine Fu Hwa trawler. I 'assumed' a 38 foot, twin engine, power boat was going to be a cake walk for me to put in a slip. As per what the Dawson 'read' indicated. I was amazed at how little effect the tiny rudders had at slower speeds, and how much sideways movement there was when trying to turn into a slip from a fairway. After several ten point landings, and rubbing out some black streaks, I finally swallowed my pride, sucked up my gazillion years of boating experience, and got a professional Captain to operate my boat, and show me how to bring her into the slip, and a regular dock. One day of instruction, and I was 80 percent better. After two years, I can back into our slip, or go in forward, in most conditions. And I can do it without rubbing the dock or yelling at my crew (if I even have crew). I now have my USCG Captains license, and have added passable twin engine handling to my maritime skill set. I can confirm "It is not your fault", and "Docking a Power Boat is difficult". Items that I found useful : 1)Go down the middle of the fairway. 2) Stop, and turn the boat in the middle of the fairway to line up with your slip. 3)See what the wind and current is doing, and how it is affecting the boats position. 4) Bump the boat in and out of gear using the engines to steer the boat 'slowly and majestically' into the slip. 5) It is ever so helpful, at this point, to have the rudders straight, and the Trim Tabs up. 6) There is no penalty for using both forward and reverse gears to straighten the boat out as needed.
 
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