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Random Quote: If you can taste the salt in the air.....it's time for a bigger boat!
I had something happen to me that has never happened to me in my years of boating and, it has me thinking about selling my boat.
I bought a Trophy 2206 Dual Console (22' 6" + outboard motor). It is the biggest boat I have owned to date. It is kept in a Boatel (no trailer). When I return from being out, I have to back up in reverse in-between two tight docks so that the fork-lift can take me out. Sometimes there is a boat on either dock or both making it extremely tight. If there is a boat on both sides, there is literally inches in-between the boats I have seen backed up in-between them.
Anyway, one day, there was a strong cross-wind while I was backing in and it caught the bow of the boat and swung us sideways between the two docks. I *freaked* out about it and ended up falling in the water trying to make sure that the boat didn't hit the dock. Not a scratch on the boat because it didn't hit anything but, I was wet to say the least. Now, I *freak out* every time I start backing up to dock (if there is a boat on either side). I couldn't do it if there were boats on both sides.
All of the Boatels in my area close at 5:00 p.m. so, if I come in after that time, I am going to parallel park in between two other boats that also came in later than they pull boats out. I am not sure what to do. I am *afraid* I am not going to be able to do it and it has me thinking about selling my boat.
Any advice?
P.S. For those of you that say people come out to help you, consider yourself lucky. I had one couple that was just lounging on their boat and watched as this unfolded. They did not bother to get up and help. All they said was "turn the motor off before someone gets hurt". It was running but not in gear.
Thanks,
Frank
Last edited by ftlee20723; 11-03-2009 at 06:25 PM.
It is difficult to back up a single engine boat like that. The trick to it is to trim the engine up about 15 degrees to get the prop wash flowing under the transom instead of into it. It really takes a lot of practice to get good at it with a single engine. Even if you get good at it you will have occasional problems. Once the boat starts getting away from you, it is almost impossible to correct it in reverse. All you have to do is take it slow and have passengers hold you off the boats if you get off course. You can also pull it in forward and let the Dry Storage dock hands spin it around for you. They should not mind. Most marinas prefer customers pulling in forward so they don't worry about getting blamed for scratched boats.
I would keep the boat. We all make a fool out of ourselves sometimes. Buy a trailer and then you don't have to be in at a certain time. If you want to make yourself feel better sit at a busy boat ramp one morning. I promise you will see people that have less experience and skill than you. You could also take a friend with you that has more experience to help you out.
Did the other boats cause the problems? They did not.
Look, when I started boating 50+ years ago, the advice I got from much older friends was to take the Sunday paper out into the bay. Why would anyone take the Sunday paper out in the bay? Because you can crinkle it up and tie it to a fishing sinker to make it into a target float, an obstacke in other words. Put 4 or 5 of them in the bay that are 25' or so aprt and practice backing your boat in a slalom course around the newspaper floats.
You need practice. Where better to get it than out of sight of the people in your marina. Do this for a couple of hours per day per weekend and you should should gain confidence in regard about your ability to handle your boat.
No major league baseball player hits .300 without tons of practice in the batting cage. Why should you be different?
__________________
Capt. Lindsay Fuller
June Bug Charters
Beach Haven, NJ
IGFA Certified Charter Captain
Member - Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association
Member - Ducks Unlimited
Member - IGFA
Member - NCMC
Member - TBF
Life Member - RFA & NRA
Did the other boats cause the problems? They did not.
Look, when I started boating 50+ years ago, the advice I got from much older friends was to take the Sunday paper out into the bay. Why would anyone take the Sunday paper out in the bay? Because you can crinkle it up and tie it to a fishing sinker to make it into a target float, an obstacke in other words. Put 4 or 5 of them in the bay that are 25' or so aprt and practice backing your boat in a slalom course around the newspaper floats.
You need practice. Where better to get it than out of sight of the people in your marina. Do this for a couple of hours per day per weekend and you should should gain confidence in regard about your ability to handle your boat.
No major league baseball player hits .300 without tons of practice in the batting cage. Why should you be different?
Don’t sell the boat as that is part of boating. I don't care what other say, every time I arrive and/or leave the dock I am nervous/tense. I use to be nervous with our 19 ft run about but after docking our 58 ft single screw trawler the 19 ft is a cake walk. Most bigger boats leave and arrive at the dock early in the morning and/or late in the evening when the winds are down and things are calm. There have been many times I have wait an watch other boats, until conditions are right of help on the dock as arrived. If you ask/call most marinas will assist and help you dock if nobody is around.
Make sure you have the lines and fenders down and ready. The lines should be the length of the boat so you can handle both ends at one time. Also buy a book on lining a boat properly. Anyway a lot of us get nervous, you just have to pick the right time and practice. If you have not hit something yet its just a matter of time before you do. Beleive me a boat can take a lot more than a human body can.
You have been given earnest advice. Just relax and don't sell your boat. Practice backing up. Go slow and keep your head in order. You might consider using big cushy fenders in strategic places too. If after some time and practice and you are still not comfortable change your scenario and get a trailer. Don't give up. Everyone screws up. I saw a guy in a brand new 50' Viking who thought he was hot stuff attempt to do a Carolina back-in. He whacked a piling so hard that I thought he broke it. He put a nice scratch on his boat and cracked the piling. You are being conscientious. The guy in the Viking was being a D.H. With practice you WILL WIN.
I understand the perceived fear. I am a relatively new boater. This is only my 3rd season. My first 2 were with a 22' Grady White and this year I upgraded to a 29' Stamas with twins. In the beginning of the year, I was "affraid" to take the boat out by myself because of my fear of docking. I have a finger slip on one side and a boat on the other. Also, my slip is perpendicular to the flow of water so manuvering was challenging. In fact, the first time I docked the boat (bow in), I scraped the dock and clipped off 2 thru hulls (above the water line). I then learned to slowly back in while using the current and wind to my advantage. I back into it. The biggest thing I did to make my mind at ease was to put bumpers out before backing in. This way, if I were to hit the dock or the boat next to me, there would be no damage.
I was taught to never put any part of my body between my boat and anything else. As I see it, there are no exceptions to this rule. It's not worth losing life or limb over a scratch in the fiberglass. That's why everyone has (or should have) insurance. The other thing I was taught was to go as slow as possible while still maintaining control. Once I got over my "perceived fear", I started taking the boat out more by myself and began to enjoy the experience.
Don't sell the boat. You will regret it.
__________________
----------------------
David
Sold (thanks Angler's Edge): '81 Grady White Bimini 220 w/ '93 Evinrude 200
Let me tell you, mistakes and learning is what boating is all about. Honestly, If I let my fears and mistakes dictate as to whether or I not I remained a boat onwner, I would be bored bank fishernman.
To date....
Dropped boat off trailer in 2004 at the launch dock. Picture this, two buddies and me at 4am (dark) in a damm busy boat ramp. I backed-up the boat and had to tap the brakes, and the un-hooked boat slid off the trailer! I was the laughing stock of about 35 people. I felt like crap and boy was I embarassed. Of course, I got ZERO help and 10 min later my buddies and me got the boat on the trailer and were in the water a short time afterwords. BIG LESSON, DON'T UNHOOK BOAT TILL AT WATERS EDGE.
I once tried pulling the same boat outta the water and forgot to lift the motor---a nice skeg dragging for a few truck lengths! Another VERY embarassing moment! BIG LESSON, DON"T FORGET TO LIFT MOTOR.
I have more....but, suffice it to say, I LEARNED. So will you. Don't worry about what other people think. Phuk 'em. I bet they've done wore.
Fishing and boating are what me happy. If it makes you happy too, then just improve your confidence by doing it more.
You're a pretty big guy to post a fear like this. And you want to know what? You're perfectly normal. I bought a brand new boat and have to back it in to two different slips. One is a rough-water slip, and one is calm but can have tricky winds. When we first bought the boat my wife (who loves boating) looked me square in the eye and said, "Pete, don't get me wrong, I LOVE the boat and I love boating with you and the baby -- but I really really HATE docking." It was a stressful couple of weeks until we both got a routine down... and yes, we still mess things up. Honestly, we can dock in ANY circumstance as long as we do ONE thing: Remain patient and calm. So what if you have to make 20 passes? Don't worry about other people looking or what they think. Just concentrate on docking and if it helps, remember a great rule: If you're going slow enough, you can't do much damage to the boat if you hit something.
Don't sell you boat. Just keep at it.
Another story: This is my first year with the boat. I can pretty much dock it in both spots solo (most times). last week, the wind so crappy that it took me about 6 times before I got things lined up well. My wife came over to the "calm" slip and grabbed a line... My entire neighborhood can see me at the "calm" slip since it is across the harbor from us. Ironically, I'm one of the few people with a single screw -- and they can't imagine how I back it up with the winds at times.
Like the others ahve said, don't let it get to you. One of the great things abotu boating is that it is always changing. Wind and curents make no two docking sessions the same. Just relax, and try it again. Practice is the best advice you can take. Throw a life jacket over the side in the back bay and practice maneuvering up to it. Use a couple and weave your way in between, around and any other way you can. Challenge yourself and have some fun with it. Drop the jacket in the water tied to a rope and sand bag to keep it from moving, run away from it then come back to it and choose where you want it to be ahead of time. Try getting it dead center 2 feet off the bow, when you get on target, try to swing the boat around and bring it along side with as little maneuvering as possible. Its a great way to learn how your boat handles wind and currents and how you can use both of them to actually help you move the boat.
I am by no means as seasoned as some of the guys here but when I go my current boat, I spent a whole lot of time bonding with it to get the feel for it. Open water, calm water, rough water, wind and strong currents became my classroom for a while and is every time I head out. Now I know the boat well enough to be able to take that part of it out of any situation. I know what the boat can do and how to make it do what I want it to, I just have to adapt that to the presant situation when I am out there.
Keep the boat, get back out there and have some fun. Practice, be prepared and you will be fine. And remember, all those people that are standing there watching, have either been in that spot before or will be someday.
__________________
John
2006 World Cat 250DC
Twin Honda 150
Need Advice...
