close quarters boat manouvering

[Freebee]

I have to move my new (to me) boat out of the marina berth for the first time, its got duo prop outdrives and 2 by 200 hp diesel. I need to go astern for about two boat lengths then turn thro 90 deg. hopefully missing all the moored craft each side and behind me, I have never used this set up before and never maneuvered in such close confines, my questions are:

Should I have both engines running or use one only - see next question.

When I have gone astern far enough should I put the helm over to turn or put one engine forward and one in reverse keeping the wheel dead ahead?

lets hope I am not moored near you.



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[BrendanS]

Both engines, def NOT one!
Steer using both engines not wheel, until you are much more experienced with 2 engine setup

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[Roy]

Just like Brendan says. Also, remove all covers to minimise sail effect of windage on boat - even if no wind apparent, you can get a sudden gust or a pre rainfall air current crossing your path. Plenty of fenders out, keep your lines cleated and brought inboard and have a boat hook handy too. Make sure your engines are running ok and warm before you move having checked that forward and reverse gears are engaging. Take it dead slow unless windy. Just knock in and out of gear enough to give you headway/turn effect. We all get a bit scared wehn moving up the sizes, but the bigger the boat the easier it gets. Roy

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[andy_wilson]

If I understand your profile correctly, do it just the same way as you did in the old one.

Use both engines, and forget the steering UNLESS you want to amplify the effect of using the drive of just one engine in gear, by directing the thrust.

Oh, and use all the fenders.

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[jfm]

Not quite sure where the land is in relation to the boat. You are clear of boats and land after the reverse, you just want to roatate the boat 90deg in open water, right?

Steering central. If you know how to, you can put one engine fwd, the other reverse. But I strongly recommend you dont for the first time. Do it one engine at once. Nudge one engine in fwd gear and let the boat start to turn. Take this engine back to neutral as soon as you sense the boat moving forwards, perhaps 3 secs in gear. Then put the other engine in reverse until you sense the boat about to move astern, then back to neutral. Do this gently, one engine at a time. If the boat is rotating nice and slow leave it in neutral and let it rotate. The engines only need to be in gear 25% of the time in this kind of manoeuvre. Keep it slow. Do not feel any need to have any engine in gear unless necessary, neutral is a good gear to be in most of the time.

But this is a bit dodgy, boat handling by forum. Better get mate or instructor who has done it beofre? Do you have a bow thruster?

EDIT Just read your profile. You already have a similar boat. No difference, do what you did on the old boat. Sorry for telling you how to suck eggs<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by jfm on 08/11/2004 19:00 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Freebee]

I should have explained old boat has suffered from outdrive probs for as long as we have owned it, so we have never had a choice how to leave the river bank mooring, new one is the dogs b's but is buried in the pontoons at Cobbs quay(Poole) hence my retisence about reversing, we have booked some qualified instruction but before that the tanks need filling so we have to go to fuel pontoon in preparation ....at least!

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[Oldhand]

Why not get some training so you know what to do?

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[BrendanS]

Do keep up! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif
He's already posted that he has an instructor booked

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[Mike21]

Personally I would nudge the boat back using each engine in turn, taking it slowly , would then use full lock and nudge outside engine, using reverse on inside if neccessary to tighten turn. Duoprops don't have any prop walk so spinning boat using engines only with helm straight ahead is not as effective especially if there is some wind

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[BrendanS]

Yes, but first time out and nervous? That's great when you are practiced, as you are, but KISS works well when first time, as what you are suggesting needs more thinking about, so more likelihood to cock up. The less to think about the better. Doubt he'd want to take it out first time if any significant wind.

He's had boats before, so would probably go for the wheel if things aren't working as well as hoped for driving gently on engines only?

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[duncan]

get out the first time anyway you feel comfortable then go and play to find out how it works for you.

the only things that is guaranteed to be wrong is you get one throtle/gear; Brendan the other adn SWMBO the steering wheel - and that's probably only going to be wrong the first time out!

Can I pop over and see your microwave installation once it's sorted?

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[rich]

The first time on a new boat is allways Hell, till it gets moving, Coming off the pontoon is Easy,Getting back on is when you need a new pacemaker, after all these years I still hold my breath coming alongside!!!!!!

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[Its_Only_Money]

If you are really concerned then I'm sure your instructor wouldn't mind at all that the first part of the course is leaving your berth and running up to the Fuel Berth....

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Simon
Its Only Money
Fairline Sprint
Solent-based

 

[DepSol]

Yes but self confidence is a great help, if you can have it in mind that you can do it then you are more likely to succeed as you will not panic as much when the first bit might go wrong. If you think oh my god what if this happens what if that happens when something starts to gp wrong you are more likely to actually get it wrong cos your mind is in a state tof dissaray.

Mike, just think of it as rreversing a shopping trolley, wheel stright and do not touch it, then engage bth levers into reverse if you need to turn when using a shopping trolley what do you do? You push one side and pull the other so place your hand on the gear lever imagining it to be a shopping trolley if the boat wanders to one side then apply more pressure/throttle to the lever required to gently move you away.

Do you have a sissy stick? (bow thruster) if so this can help with correcting the front. Dont worry about it and keep it clear in your head which way is which when you push and pull the levers. Good luck but be confident and next time the missus goes shopping offer to push the trolley.

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[boatone]

I agree Simon.
Mike, if you really are that worried about handling the new boat let the refuelling wait until you have the instructor aboard. He/she will probably be delighted to use the refuelling exercise as part of the instruction as it will be a 'real' activity.

One thing you can do to start getting a feel for the engine controls etc is to make sure your mooring lines are well secured and practice putting the engines in and out of gear whilst firmly tethered to the pontoon. One at a time, together ahead and astern and together in contention....all the moves will give you some insight into how responsive the engines are to the controls as well as how directionality enters into the equation. You dont want to do anything other than put the engines in and out of gear....no need for trying a WOT exercise, in fact I would strongly recommend against it /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

If you really are that close to boats moored around you one or two decent crew can probably help you manhandle the boat through that part of the procedure anyway and with plenty of fenders you shouldnt need to be putting anyone elses pride and joy at risk. I used to have a 32foot narrow beam cruiser which I would regularly turn round on my own standing bankside using just a couple of lines.
A 25 foot boat is not exactly a heavyweight to manhandle even on your own.

Its still a 25 foot boat whatever the size of the engines. Its how you use 'em that counts.. In fact, for starters, try pushing it around a bit without even having the engines running.....could even get swmbo to buy you a pair of oars for xmas /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

If you really want to worry about close quarters stuff come up and spend a day in and out of locks on the Thames.....preferably on a sunday in july/august.......




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[Solitaire]

As two others have mentioned - wait until the instructor is onboard and use the refuelling as a pratcical excercise. I know Cobbs Quay well - I instruct out of there a lot - the channels between the pontoons are a bit narrow in places - lovely for getting students to do thier first resticted turns! - If you are up near A & B pontoons then you have a interesting drag down and then round the narrow channel that gets very interesting on low tide and then the drag all the way up past the dry stack to the fuel pontoon. If you are nervous, and clearly you are, then wait! Do it with the instructor! You'll not forgive yourself if you bash your pride and joy, and those around you wont forgive you if you bash theirs! Liek most things in boating, don't rush it!

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[duncan]

if he wans't nervous he must be by now..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[tcm]

Re: another idea

hm. Good idea to get the instructor.

Best idea is to go to each of the likely crashees who you are bound to wallop, and tellem you are a bit new to this, so praps they could put out some fenders as well.

Then go to the marina managaer and tell him you are totally worried and quite rubbish at driving, or even actually very rubbish, had a char with some mates on an internet who have expolained how to do to do it erm er and you have got an instructor on board but yerknow, i mean he won't be there every time so will it be ok to crash into a few boats as happened in another marina ....or wd it praps be a better idea to give you the nice outside berth on a permanent basis eh? The marina mgr will have a few words with exisintg peeps, who will all agree that they know you are rubbish at driving (cos you toldem) and hence will arrive at the decision to movem and put you inthe best (easiest) spot. hurrah!





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[ChrisKaye]

Hi Mike
Was interested to see the replies as I have exactly the same.
Old boat was single engine, new one is 2 x volvo 200hp and twice the size and I will be doing the same as you taking boat out of shamrock quay over to my mooring in the IOW (gulp !).
I'm going to get an instructor for the day as I consider a small amount of money (in comparison with the damage I could do. Last time round I got stuck in the mud just outside cobbs quay and knackered the impellor). I have since used Keith (Fat Boy as he's called) for the day from Principal Power at Cobbs on 07798 794926 he's a nice guy and always willing to do a deal on the cost of instruction.
Best of Luck
Chris

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[Mike21]

Yep, but went from shafts where all manouvering done on engines, to sterndrives.
Big difference. Found manouvering with outdrives used similar tecnique to drive outboard with the advantage of 2 engines.Would always advise use of helm on outdrives, just remember to use tickover only and don't keep in engine in gear for more than a second or two and take it slowly

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