Boat handling lessons

Salt_shaker · 08-25-2015, 12:26 PM

I like to go nice and easy. I think it looks more professional too

. Take your time. Learn how to read the water, current ripples, wind ripples etc. You can use them to your advantage. I swear some days with no wind no current I do a worse job backing in my slip than when its honking. you'll actually learn to use them as a tool.

I've seen a lot of text book skippers. meaning, if I push this and turn that, the boat should go that way. always be prepared for it not to happen. I also tell people (my pet peeve), give yourself plenty of room. worse comes to worse, you will be able to back out of a situation, IF, you have given yourself the room to do so. Your power should allow you to back into the wind. Trying to bring the bow around into the wind, can be a challenge.

ex. I was at town docks sunday. a guy with say a 22' was in the corner of the dock. port side to the street, bow facing the corner. there was another boats bow close to his in the corner, and another boats stern to his. he was pretty tight in the corner. the wind was coming over his stbd quarter. what would you do?

As I was walking along, I saw him leaving. He had pushed out about a foot and was trying to go fwd making a right turn out, into the wind. guess what. no way. When he got back on the dock, i suggested to back out, and turn when he had room.

so I kicked his port quarter out a bit to clear the boat behind him, he turned his io to stbd and backed out. too bad, he then tried to make the turn again once he was about a foot broadside to the boat and hit.

so, we did it again, i told him get out into the middle of the piers before turning. he did, he turned and was on his way.

sorry sort of lengthy, but its a good example of, keep your cool. think a bit how youre going to get out of a slip before trying it. then, when you really need to move the sticks fast, it will be like 2nd nature.

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08-25-2015, 12:26 PM	#26
Salt_shaker Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I like to go nice and easy. I think it looks more professional too . Take your time. Learn how to read the water, current ripples, wind ripples etc. You can use them to your advantage. I swear some days with no wind no current I do a worse job backing in my slip than when its honking. you'll actually learn to use them as a tool. I've seen a lot of text book skippers. meaning, if I push this and turn that, the boat should go that way. always be prepared for it not to happen. I also tell people (my pet peeve), give yourself plenty of room. worse comes to worse, you will be able to back out of a situation, IF, you have given yourself the room to do so. Your power should allow you to back into the wind. Trying to bring the bow around into the wind, can be a challenge. ex. I was at town docks sunday. a guy with say a 22' was in the corner of the dock. port side to the street, bow facing the corner. there was another boats bow close to his in the corner, and another boats stern to his. he was pretty tight in the corner. the wind was coming over his stbd quarter. what would you do? As I was walking along, I saw him leaving. He had pushed out about a foot and was trying to go fwd making a right turn out, into the wind. guess what. no way. When he got back on the dock, i suggested to back out, and turn when he had room. so I kicked his port quarter out a bit to clear the boat behind him, he turned his io to stbd and backed out. too bad, he then tried to make the turn again once he was about a foot broadside to the boat and hit. so, we did it again, i told him get out into the middle of the piers before turning. he did, he turned and was on his way. sorry sort of lengthy, but its a good example of, keep your cool. think a bit how youre going to get out of a slip before trying it. then, when you really need to move the sticks fast, it will be like 2nd nature.