Twin screw docking techniques

[QBhoy]

Thanks again guys.
I understand the principles for sure and no doubt the old man will keep me right initially. Perhaps it's just the enormity of the boat, in comparison to my own boat history. I haven't spent much time on the boat at sea, just during the winter for maintenance etc. Probably because when the sun shines, I'm out on my own boat with my own family.
Once a bit of confidence is gained and a few close quarters manoeuvres are under my belt....should be grand !

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

A few practice goes and you'll have cracked it. Remember to watch out if there's any cross wind or tide and allow for it. If it's too tricky maybe berth forwards ... easier driving into a small space and going astern out into a big space ... use one of those ladders that hook onto the sidedeck if you've got high sides or the swim platform doesn't reach the pontoon. Loads of things you can do to make things easier ... buy twice as many big​ fenders!

 

[Javelin]

I move a lot of boats around whilst at work I have one big helper and that is current and wind either one way or the other.
So the technique is to stop the boat adjacent to the berth and angle in slightly and let the tide and/or wind do the work.
My job is to just keep the boat still in relation to the land.

When maneuvering at slack water I tend to put one engine in forward tickover and balance the boat with the other engine so I'm just using one lever instead of twiddling both at the same time.

Life was made much easier a few years back when we acquired an ex RNLI Atlantic 21 with twin outboards.
Keeping the engines in the middle and not touching the wheel its perfectly possible to maneuver on and off moorings, turn round and even moor stern against the flow with the added security of knowing you have 21ft of rubber fender each side.
I've taken quite a lot of customers out in it to practice twin engine maneuvering and its worked really well.
So see if you can chat up a local twin engine rib owner and have a play.

 

[QBhoy]

Thanks again guys...some more sound advice.
As mentioned in recent posts about wind. That's what the difficulty might be. A 42 ft boat with a rather large air draft acting like a sail. Especially when it's preferable to dock the boat on the down wind side of the jetty to keep her floating just off it, when lines are secured.