Loosing Confidence

I have a sailing boat with a single engine & a fair bit of windage. In close quater marina situations (which I general avoid) I have fenders & warps handy & aim to get a crew member ashore (or myself if solo) with a bow & stern line. The boat can then be relatively easily (& safely) warped into position. It's the way the tall ships did it before there were any steam tugs.

It may not be "cool" but it is good seamanship.
 
Berthing

I am far too inexperienced to offer any advice. It scares the willies out of me too. So far I've had countless near misses (no hits - so far), have ended up spinning forlornly in the middle of the waterway, berthing in someone else's berth to get my breath back and lots of sweating and swearing.

However I'm glad you started this thread. With all the comments from some very experienced sailors here - I feel a bit better!
 
I drive afair few boats.

sorry to back up but yes the f33 is probably one of the worst out there.

Reduce the windage and have the canopy up if weather dry.

I tend to use just 1 engine and the bow thruster, that way you can drive at slowish speed drirect intowards your slot, if you loose the bow use the thruster.

Better to do that than put years of wear on your coneclutches by going in and out of gear every 2o or so seconds.

Use the drive and steer at the same time rather than relying on the bit of propwalk you get from a sterndrive.
 
Yep. I have a single sterndrive and despite doing the Powerboat level 2 on inland waters and then again on the sea for my coastal endorsement, first time I docked my own boat I got into a bit of a pickle.

Had a c**p berth though, cos I was a newbie. Blind end of the fairway, pontoon and boats to left, shelving bank with a large bush growing over the water to the right and right at the end of my finger berth, and the boat lift structure at the end.

Couple this with a 15, gusting 30 knot breeze that suddenly sprung up out of nowhere, and that was enough to ensure that I dare not take the boat out again for about two weeks.

Even then, I discovered the best way to the berth was to reverse down about 30 yards, then pull forward into my berth, all this done with drive hard over to port or starboard and the bow swinging 45 degrees off heading. Soon learned as the drive was approaching its gimbal limits to put the drive in forward, go forward just enough to straighten her up again, then continue to reverse.

Pontoon wisdom stated that all the newbies with smaller boats are put there as it is an unpopular berth. So I asked to be moved to a better berth.

It did teach me lots about boat handling though.

Some observations that I learned from my single sterdrive shallow V with significant windage.

1. Never approach the dock faster than you would want to nudge it.

2. Know what the wind is doing.

3. Always have an escape plan, think "if it does not look good at point B, I will reverse / pull away and try again".

4. If it is possible to get on and off your boat, driving in may be the best option.

5. If the berth is making it difficult ask to be moved.

6. Recognise that you can get in your slip perfectly 4 times, without touching fenders or using reverse to kill your speed and no one will be there to see it.

7. Recognise the one time it all goes horribly wrong, the pontoon will be full of owners on hand to watch it all unravel in slow motion.

8. Recognise that there is not a single one of em that has not done the same thing at one time or another.
 
I found what helped me was going down to boat mid-week and spending a few hours pontoon bashing (not literally) in my own marina going up and down ailes and berthing in and out of different vacant berths both bow in and then stern in.

Mid week in the marina is quiet so you don't mind so much if you cock things up...remember though everyone has been in your position; its just about practise and that brings confidence.
 
there are people far more stupid than you (I know that because you're bright enough to worry about it) that moor their boats successfully.

practice is the answer. Even then you get it wrong sometimes.

I spent a lot of time on the Thames, where a typical day out will involve mooring up 10 or 12 times because of the locks. I remember how much my wife and I hated it at first. Then without even noticing we got the hang of it. The communication becomes subtle and non verbal. The sheer number of times we moored the boat helped our competence build rapidly. And for much of the time we had a single engined flybridge with no bowthruster. It makes you think ahead - a dinghy racing burghee (a little, freely rotating flag) right up forward helps enormously in helping you predict which way the boat is going to blow before it happens.

Now I confidently take the boat single handed in windy conditions with no fear. And I still get it wrong sometimes, usually when conditions are perfect!

And remember, you can (and often should) put fenders on both sides of the boat and there is NO SHAME in coming alongside the neighbouring boat instead of the pontoon if the wind/tide demands it - then pulling yourself across. Searush makes the point well, good seamanship isn't always apparent.
 
Despite having two days of formal training.
Some of us are still cocking up after 40 years..............

and fear kick in big time as I return to the berth.
That will fade as time goes on but never quite disappears

and will I get over it....
Yup ..but you will always balls it up when an audience is available and no bugger will be watching when you show how a pro does it right outside the packed clubhouse.

Keep at it,just makes the rewards of boating more worthwhile in the end and you too will be able to tut tut smugly as a new arrival bounces down the serried ranks of anchors removing a little more gel coat at each collision :)
 
One more thing, if you get back to your berth and there's a strong cross wind then just go in forwards. It's loads easier than backing in, and only a bit of hassle to clamber over guard rails to get off onto the pontoon.
 
Don't be afraid to abort, go out and try again! No shame in that. Any boat owner will empathise and offer help where they can, call out and ask if they can catch a rope.
Best advise I can give if to buy a few extra fenders and NEVER NEVER thats NEVER try to fend off with a foot or hand - it will hurt like hell! Plastic is easilly repairable so if you bump it "Don't panic and carry on" it is not the end of the world.
Someone I know has never bumped his boat or made an arse of himself with an audience.
But then again, their boat hasn't moved for two years!
 
Is there anyone in or near Cardiff who could offer a few hours extra tuition at a reasonable cost for our honest friend?

It really can make a huge difference to see how your boat in your marina might be managed by someone else. An observer may well see things that could be improved that you would never even realise you were doing.
 
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I'd recommend that you go down to the boat on a weekday when the marina is quiet, and look for a double-berth where both boats are out. Fender up well and practice going in and out from different approach vectors until you feel more confident. Imagine that the other boat is there and try to get in as if you are having to come alongside that imaginary boat. The worst that can happen is that you balls it up and end up alongside the wrong finger, but you can come straight out having worked out what you did wrong and then go round for another try. Don't do more than an hour or so or you'll be totally frazzled. Go off and have a cup of tea, wait for the tide to turn then come back and do it all again with the tide in the opposite direction.

Do this for a few days until you feel more confident. As others have said, even after years of practice you should never get gung ho about it, and a little butterfly in your stomach never quite goes away, especially in unfamiliar marinas, and frankly helps to keep you on your toes.

If after a couple of sessions doing this you still can't work up the courage or the confidence to get out when its busier, then would be the time to invest in a morning of own boat training. Don't do more than a few hours at a time though, and when the session is over go off immediately and practice what you've been shown so that you can demonstrate to yourself that it has really sunk in.
 
I was the same as you a few years ago. On our second outing managed to put our new, to us, boat across 2 beths, would have been three but the finger got in the way. The fear when returning to the berth spoiled the whole day so had to do something about it or sell the boat.
Had a day own boat tuition and then spent a few weeks on my own. Fenders are your friends so use every one you can get your hands on, I had 14 out when I started. On quiet days I would just practice in and out of berths, started with the doubles and then as confidence built managed to get back in to my own single. After a couple of months had another day own boat tuition to polish up a bit more.
Its great when it all goes well, but one bad one and the confidence takes a dip and you need to practice practice practice.
Im still not brilliant and it can get interesting on some occassions, but it doesnt spoil the day now. I am no hero so have put our boat back in to another (Double) berth if the weather isnt good, a case of always have a plan B.
Also learn the importance of "Panic Slowly" as I found this the best advice I have ever been given regarding boating.
Hope it all comes together for you and that the confidence builds and you can enjoy the whole day.
 
A couple other things i learned, when everything goes totally, completely pear shaped and you can't see a way out, knock it out of gear and come up against whatever it comes up against. With plenty of fenders out, on both sides, you won't do any damage and it gives you time to gather your thoughts.

As someone else mentioned, you don't need to "drive" the boat exactly where you want it. Close enough for someone to hop off with a line is more than good enough and drag it into place with a line or two.
 
Before I start let me say like everyone I have my moments berthing, not that often though. My way of finding out how to herd my new pride and joy is to take it away from the marina and practise coming alongside a mooring buoy, port to starboard to, ahead and astern. With nothing much to hit except a mooring buoy you soon get to know and predict how your boat will behave with a given set of inputs. Does your confidence a world of good, then try in a marina.
 
Your not alone

I feel exactly the same as you..

Bought my first boat, a sealine 290 (no flybridge) last year with twin outdrives (duoprops), chose a finger pontoon berth in the marina which was totally empty both sides as my permanent berth, praying daily that no one parks next to me in my bay. Anyway, I have proceeded each time I come back in to make a complete @rse of myself trying to reverse into this massive gap! Just as you think youve got it right, the bow makes a departure for the other pontoon and boat wants to kind of get wedged diagonal :confused:

Its hilarious! being a fair bit younger than most of the marina folk, I get the old weathered sea dogs coming along the pontoon all shouting commands and b***ocking me for doing it wrong... "cut the port engine" "whoa whoa what yer bloomin doin!, you don't do it like that!" and all sorts of other stuff.. Then you get the smug yachties saying "theyre **** them motorboats... should have bought a yacht... these proper boats have a big fin under 'ere that stops all that... " (all very friendly i must add)

I have come to the conclusion that my boat WONT go backwards in a straight line! simple as that! Sterns all lined up lovely, the wheels straight, equal power on both engines, surely surely there is no reason why that shouldn't work! But no... it doesn't ... it just all goes to dog poo... the shouting gets louder, the smirking faces appear at the windows of boats moored in my part of the marina and old harry from a few boats down starts to turn red with rage cos im "not doing it right" :D

I really need to sort myself out, because i want to be able to use the boat on my own this summer as generally my days off fall midweek when i haven't got any crew to help..

Guess the others have said it really, people like us need.. practice practice practice.

Good luck, its great this boating thing though isn't it...? don't let this spoil it :)

Regards
Michael

ps if anyone here berths in fleetwood, get a shed load more fenders :D
 
Micky,
Can I suggest that you go in forwards & when you need to come out, simply turn her with warps from the pontoon & then you can motor out forwards as well.

Carry a line from the bow, round the outside of everything to the pontoon at the stern. Then cast off the bow line & give the bow a good shove off while gently hauling in the line from the bow.

You will need to make sure that your boat is not longer than the available space for turning!:rolleyes: But, if that is a problem, warp her out to the end of the finger before turning her.

Just look for ways of avoiding the problem & making life easy for yourself.
 
Thanks Searush..

Your absolutely right, it would be much easier going into the berth forwards when mooring, and I can picture the method you suggest working really well.

The only reason Ive been trying to reverse in, is to make getting on and off the boat easier (with her stern in, you can step onto the bathing platform and then slip through the little gate/door in the transom, oh and the shore power connection is on the back so is close to the socket on the pontoon). The boat is a fair bit longer than the finger, the long snout on the bow or whatever the sealine/nautical term for that bit is would stick over the main pontoon (where everyone walks past) quite a long way. Mooring nose in, I think would mean climbing over the guardrail and then gaining access through the side of the canopy - do-able but not great.. tell you what, i'll try it next time.. :)

Think I might wait til the lock gate is closed so there is no tidal run and have a play.

Anyway, don't want to nick someone else's thread, just wanted to tell you how hard i also find it.. For a living im lucky enough to fly people about on aeroplanes, and these contraptions sometimes don't behave as you want em to, but I must tell you, they're a doddle compared to my bloomin boat! :eek:

Best wishes
M
 
mickyb said:
I have come to the conclusion that my boat WONT go backwards in a straight line! simple as that! Sterns all lined up lovely, the wheels straight, equal power on both engines, surely surely there is no reason why that shouldn't work! But no... it doesn't ... it just all goes to dog poo...
Click to expand...

I bet your trim tabs are not both in the fully up position, or both legs aren't set at the same level of trim. I had the same problem.
 
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