Near death whilst berthing! Advice needed!

[Daydream believer]

When it comes to manouvering a power boat I think that the editor of one Motor Boat magazine is a class act. There was a cruise of MOBOs which turned up at Goes in Holland. They filled the inner harbour & were rafted right across the basin. There was one long multiplatt across the harbour joining some of them in line.
When it was time to leave the editor took his Broom MOBO & went into the very narrow approach to the footbridge. This was to make some space. He had the windscreen of the fly brige just short of the lifting footbridge & the bow under the bridge. There was a couple of feet each side. Visitors to Goes will understand how tight this was.
He sat angled with the RH on the 2 throttles just twiddling them to hold the boat dead centre. Looking back at the other boats. No fenders needed. A very attractive young lady in a somewhat tight T shirt emblazoned with the magazine name, then had the long line, I spoke of earlier & expertly coiled the lot. It was very long, so took some skill.
The next bit was brilliant & what every secretary should note. She took a bottle of suncream & plastered it all over the helmsman's head gently rubbing it in.
All the time the chap just sat there holding the boat in an absolute still position using throttle & props & thruster. He did not blink an inch. No wavering. Kept the boat spot on position while she caressed his bonce with 2 -Shall we say, "appendages"- bouncing about 12 inches from his eyes. The concentration required must have been extreme. It just shows what you can do with 2 props & a thruster.
When the bridge opened they all went through & 30% of them managed to hit the walls as they went through the bridge opening

 

[Bouba]

When the bridge opened they all went through & 30% of them managed to hit the walls as they went through the bridge opening

Possibly because they were looking at the girl...

 

[doug748]

.....That meant I tried to drift onto the berth at almost no speed. Inevitably got taken by wind, tide whatever......

Yes indeed, the essence of the elegant comment in post 20; as a few people have mentioned, you can come in too slowly in any boat

.

 

[Refueler]

Possibly because they were looking at the girl...

Eastern Road ... traffic lights near Tudor SC. I'm in my 1953 Land Rover ... and alongside my right is a low open top sports car with young lass driving ... with what must have been most air conditioned short skirt ever !!
In front of me is Vauxhall Corsa ... I'm high up and cannot avoid looking down to the right ..... but with corner of eye noting the lights.

Lights go green - Corsa pulls fwd .. I drop clutch and BHAM - the Corsa is literally a 'drop kick shot' of the LR front ... its Driving School Corsa and student has stalled in front of me.

Try explaining that one to the Wife !!

Anyway - Corsa and I pull of to the side and of course LR is unmarked ... I look at Corsa and appears to be ok. Instructor says ... hang on matey .. and opens rear hatch door ... all the plastic panelling then 'popped out' ... whole back was pushed about 1/4" in ...

OK ... back to coming alongside !!

 

[Bouba]

So, as per usual, someone comes onto the forum seeking guidance and wisdom…and the best we can offer is…while manoeuvring don’t get distracted by pretty girls

 

[DipperToo]

There aren't many boats it won't work with, mainly where the rudder has no propwash over it or the prop heavily offset on the quarter which can have peculiar characteristics.

Twin rudders with the prop between them makes for interesting manoeuvring in close quarters. Quite a few sailing boats have this configuration .... and the midships cleat approach fails as you have no propwash to keep the stern in.

 

[Rhylsailer99]

I have no mid cleat, and I am mostly solo sailing. I get stressed when I get off the boat holding 2 mooring lines, and try to secure the boat as fast as possible.
I find it best with the tide running against me, then by securing the front cleat first the boat should not spin around.

 

[Obi]

Dear Yachties,

I'm sure all your tips are well intentioned. But however so, no use to a bloke with a 7m motor boat. Try it. You will find you need to re think it all.

Same for a twin screwed motor boat.

You need to keep moving.

Stop is not top. In and out of gear, use that helm. Keep moving.

Guess how I know?

I am a yachtie. Any advice I offered is general and still applicable. Examples of my own experiences provided are to illustrate how much one should be considering the affecting factors when berthing and how they can cause different outcomes; possible different outcomes need to be considered.

 

[Refueler]

I have no mid cleat, and I am mostly solo sailing. I get stressed when I get off the boat holding 2 mooring lines, and try to secure the boat as fast as possible.
I find it best with the tide running against me, then by securing the front cleat first the boat should not spin around.

Its well worth looking at fitting a Midships cleat .... or even just using a stanchion base as an initial line point till tied up.

 

[capnsensible]

I am a yachtie. Any advice I offered is general and still applicable. Examples of my own experiences provided are to illustrate how much one should be considering the affecting factors when berthing and how they can cause different outcomes; possible different outcomes need to be considered.

Understood. My point is though, with no keel, motorboats handle completely differently. I'm luck to be able to try both.

 

[capnsensible]

Its well worth looking at fitting a Midships cleat .... or even just using a stanchion base as an initial line point till tied up.

I think the stanchion idea can sometimes work but is very risky if something goes wrong. I was shown and tried and passed on a stronger alternative. Remove genoa sheet from winch and car. Bowline in one end, loop over winch. Pass other end through car and you have a midships line via two strong points. Works for sub 30 ft boats very well.

 

[Dellquay13]

My 6m motorboat with outboard berths completely differently to my bk yacht.
The OPs described method should be close, if he has outboard or outdrive. Maybe a bit more reverse thrust steered towards the pontoon. My mobo almost parallel parks like a car.

 

[Beneteau381]

When it comes to manouvering a power boat I think that the editor of one Motor Boat magazine is a class act. There was a cruise of MOBOs which turned up at Goes in Holland. They filled the inner harbour & were rafted right across the basin. There was one long multiplatt across the harbour joining some of them in line.
When it was time to leave the editor took his Broom MOBO & went into the very narrow approach to the footbridge. This was to make some space. He had the windscreen of the fly brige just short of the lifting footbridge & the bow under the bridge. There was a couple of feet each side. Visitors to Goes will understand how tight this was.
He sat angled with the RH on the 2 throttles just twiddling them to hold the boat dead centre. Looking back at the other boats. No fenders needed. A very attractive young lady in a somewhat tight T shirt emblazoned with the magazine name, then had the long line, I spoke of earlier & expertly coiled the lot. It was very long, so took some skill.
The next bit was brilliant & what every secretary should note. She took a bottle of suncream & plastered it all over the helmsman's head gently rubbing it in.
All the time the chap just sat there holding the boat in an absolute still position using throttle & props & thruster. He did not blink an inch. No wavering. Kept the boat spot on position while she caressed his bonce with 2 -Shall we say, "appendages"- bouncing about 12 inches from his eyes. The concentration required must have been extreme. It just shows what you can do with 2 props & a thruster.
When the bridge opened they all went through & 30% of them managed to hit the walls as they went through the bridge opening

I remember a few years back in Douglas, IoM marina, early start and the bridge needed opening. Got ready, cast off, backed out and a boat nearer the bridge backed out and started fannying about. Bit of wind and tide so I had to sit there in the v tight alley way in a holding pattern until fanny got out of the way and the bridge opened. It was in out in out on tickover. That 15 minutes taught me a lot. I was v proud of myself. Didnt touch anybody and kept her where she was. The big fat 3 blade left hand prop with its big kick helped immensely.

 

[ylop]

The OP doesn't tell us what went wrong. Is he alone? If not then in my experience a lot of the issues are in communicating with the crew. If you are then you need a very good routine. If you have people on board who are not "crew" then the pressure seems worse - but a few minutes at tickover well away from the dock explaining what you want them to do can remove a lot of last minute panic. For home berth its handy to know where say your shrouds (or some other visible point) sit with respect to a dock cleat so you can judge fore and aft position better than looking forwards.

 

[Refueler]

The OP doesn't tell us what went wrong. Is he alone? If not then in my experience a lot of the issues are in communicating with the crew. If you are then you need a very good routine. If you have people on board who are not "crew" then the pressure seems worse - but a few minutes at tickover well away from the dock explaining what you want them to do can remove a lot of last minute panic. For home berth its handy to know where say your shrouds (or some other visible point) sit with respect to a dock cleat so you can judge fore and aft position better than looking forwards.

If I have non boaty people on board .... then because I have a reasonably manageable boat size .. I tell them to sit and enjoy the spectacle. Well before time - I prepare my lines .... one from bow led outside back to cockpit. One from midships led back to cockpit ... and of course stern line coiled ready.

This means I can drop mid line on cleat ... set boat up on it ... step ashore with bow and stern lines ...

People will talk about wind ... tide ... etc. but if time and thought and not rushing and panicking .. it still works.

If a non boaty really wants to help ... then first thing I say to them ... DON'T JUMP to pontoon ... STEP down to it and when I see them step down - I know I am just about to touch ... They can then just wrap line on shore cleat and hold it

 

[Dellquay13]

A lot of 7m powerboats blow around like crisp packets on a puddle, you can’t slowly coast in.
With high windage and no keel, you need sharp bursts of directable power for any control

 

[Jokani]

Beginners stupidity! How do we come alongside a pontoon and berth? I literally just messed it up 20 times in a row and had to give up. Believe it or not I've had ownboat tuition so this should be easy.
I have a 7m powerboat.
This is how I believe we do it:

Approach at 20 degree angle at 2 knots. Reduce angle as we come alongside. Put into reverse for a click and stear towards pontoon.

Is that about right?

I was in a similar position to you, albeit in a sailboat. and I took some own boat tuition. The first thing the instructor said was 'do not engage reverse until you are at the berth and need to stop'. He likened this to an aircraft approaching landing, perfectly lined up, everything in control and then when still 100ft in the air engaging reverse, he got me to picture the result, and said it is no different to a boat. Now I do as he said and 'sometimes' find berthing a smoother experience.

 

[Bouba]

The principle of docking with transom power (outboard or outdrive) is always the same....approach the dock at about 30 degrees...when the boat gets close go into neutral and coast in...when almost touching the bow to the dock...turn the wheel quickly towards the dock at full lock...and give a quick burst of reverse then neutral....the boat will miraculously come along side at a dead stop...allowing you to tie up (preferably at the midship cleat).
Now all that has to happen as one smooth quick action....practice on a calm day. When the wind is going onto the dock, just ride it for now using lots of fenders...(eventually you will learn to come in under control)...if the wind is blowing you off then you may need to increase your angle of approach, increase your power bursts (power and length of time)...and decrease your coasting. Wind from all other angles has to be done by experience and experimentation depending on the direction and force and any local peculiarities such as wind going through canyons or buildings protecting you etc.
Good luck and enjoy yourself (and on a calm day you will)
PS...if the day’s conditions defeat you, identify anywhere that you can pull over and secure the boat while you wait for the weather to get better (bring a book)

 

[johnalison]

I was in a similar position to you, albeit in a sailboat. and I took some own boat tuition. The first thing the instructor said was 'do not engage reverse until you are at the berth and need to stop'. He likened this to an aircraft approaching landing, perfectly lined up, everything in control and then when still 100ft in the air engaging reverse, he got me to picture the result, and said it is no different to a boat. Now I do as he said and 'sometimes' find berthing a smoother experience.

Not ideal with my boat. With a 2-blade folding prop I prefer not to spend vital milliseconds engaging gear, and so will generally do my final approach with the engine in astern and idling, ready for a short blip of the throttle. My procedure is a little different for each side, since use of the prop walk will encourage the stern to tuck in to starboard and my arrivals are generally gentler that way.

 

[Daydream believer]

Beginners stupidity! How do we come alongside a pontoon and berth? I literally just messed it up 20 times in a row and had to give up. Believe it or not I've had ownboat tuition so this should be easy.

I cannot help thinking that either the tuition was very poor, or your ability to learn is rather low. If you do find learning difficult,( not everyone can grasp things easily first time, so it is no disgrace) then you need a lot more tuition, because 20 times is a lot of failures
Alternatively, get a better instructor. Some might not always suit one's personality & a change may be a good move. I suggest a different sailing school ( I assume that you did go to a sailing school & not just some mate for half an hour). Otherwise, chat to the management about the problem & ask them to suggest a different instructor, more akin to your ability.
We on the forum can suggest methods, till the cows come home. But without seeing you in action, none of us can really solve the issue. Most boats, & owners, have their little foibles. You need more instruction. The cost can be saved by not belting someone's boat & causing damage. It will only ruin confidence & add to the insurance bill.