fireball
Well-Known Member
Yup - we do if it's that sort of berth and we're being social or need to do work on the back or expect to be on and off a lot ... otherwise quite happy just to nose in ...
does anyone reverse into marina berths?
- Thread starter Burnham Bob
- Start date
dt4134
Well-Known Member
It's actually easier for me to reverse in.
There's about 7/8ths of a boatlength between the end of my finger and the fingers of the row of pontoons opposite, which means I'm still in a tight turn when I come into my berth.
Coming in ahead I need to let the end of the finger disappear under the bow by just the right amount to avoid hitting it, but since I fitted a sprayhood I can't see the bow well enough.
I can see a lot better going astern. I face aft and look at the other wheel to gauge the rudder position.
The disadvantage of coming in astern is that there's a period during the last stage of the turn where there's no option to abort. If I straighten up to give a burst of ahead I'd hit the pontoon and if I just give the burst of ahead the prop wash will drive me into the pontoon. The secret is to abort early if it doesn't look right.
There's about 7/8ths of a boatlength between the end of my finger and the fingers of the row of pontoons opposite, which means I'm still in a tight turn when I come into my berth.
Coming in ahead I need to let the end of the finger disappear under the bow by just the right amount to avoid hitting it, but since I fitted a sprayhood I can't see the bow well enough.
I can see a lot better going astern. I face aft and look at the other wheel to gauge the rudder position.
The disadvantage of coming in astern is that there's a period during the last stage of the turn where there's no option to abort. If I straighten up to give a burst of ahead I'd hit the pontoon and if I just give the burst of ahead the prop wash will drive me into the pontoon. The secret is to abort early if it doesn't look right.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
In a Twister? 
It's hard enough reversing out - never mind reversing in
It's hard enough reversing out - never mind reversing in
Boathook
Well-Known Member
Reverse into my berth all the time. I then face the prevalling wind (if SW'ly). Else where I make the decision based on the weather at the time.
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
Out here (Turkey) most people reverse in. There are no finger pontoons and your berth simply consists of the gap between two other boats, sometimes barely wide enough. You just learn how to get your boat to steer going astern. My technique is to start reversing from well enough away to get up good steerage way, but in my home marina with a narrow gap between pontoons the method is to come to a stop opposite the gap and use a combination of bow thruster and prop walk to spin the boat and get it moving back very slowly into the gap. Folk with long keeled boats often need the marina rib to nudge them in.
silentlady
N/A
Depending on your boat reversing in can be a good idea. At least you can see what you are going to hit.
Monique
Well-Known Member
I practice this manoeuvre occasionally with a 46 footer. As I always back into my berth, it gives me the assurance that if my "bowthruster" goes on strike, I can berth just by pushing my way in...