I have never pulled into my slip going forward, my shore power line is not
long enough to reach..
The very 1st time ever I docked a keel boat (or any inboard boat for that
mater ) I backed it into its slip (U shaped slip) . That was the day of my
sea trial 24 hrs before I signed a big check...
It's probably a combination of the fact that my slip is very protected,
anything less than 15 knots in the bay and it's glassy water at my slip.
My boat has a somewhat modern design having been designed in 1989, and my
surveyor is a 30 + year experience sailor who calmly walked-me through the
procedure. It was a total cake walk. no problem whatsoever.
The trick for my boat is to give it a moderate goose in reverse and
immediately put it in neutral. Its funny how in reverse, as long as you
have it in gear, the rudder is very sluggish until the boat has some speed.
Conversely, even if the boat is creeping along the second you get it out of
gear, the rudder is immediately responsive.
I have a Martec 2 blades folder and the moderate amount of prop walk I get
helps my 180 spin I do every time I pull in the cove. It's a very simple
process: Pull in, make a slight starboard bend then sharp port tack to
shape the turn like a question mark, put it in reverse and give it a mild
goose which does 3 things: complete the 180 turn (Prop walk), stop the
forward motion, and get the boat going backwards. Then just back in pretty
much straight backing-up minding the bow to make sure it lines-up with the
slip. Finish with a final minor forward thrust blip to stop the motion.
Every time we sail with friends they offer to help with the docking and the
answer is always the same: No need for any help , 2 people is plenty, 1
person is enough, it's that simple.
>Backing into a slip is not something I've yet tried. When visiting other
>clubs I tend to avoid experimentation (read: embarrassment) so I go bow
in.
>But I think it's cool and if I had a slip I'de practice. I watch those
guys
>with modern boats actually shift into reverse and idle straight in,
astern!
>What a concept! If I idle in reverse the boat just spins. I'm never in
> reserve longer than a couple of seconds!
Regards,
Francois Rivard
1990 34+ "Take Five"
Lake Lanier, Georgia
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