[C320-list] Backing into slip

[Ken Danko]

Randy:

If I were you I wouldn't back in till I had more experience with the 
boat. When I took delivery of Grace, I spend the first few hours 
practicing getting into and out of my slip. Since your boat is at the 
end of the fairway, you might consider practicing on an empty slip 
further up. Wait till someone leaves and use their slip for practice.

When coming down the fairway I try to keep the speed at 1.5 knots or 
less which means I need to shift it in and out of gear because idle 
speed for me is close to 2 knots. As I make my turn I generally have the 
transmission in neutral and rely on momentum to get me into the slip. As 
I do so the speed of the boat slows so that I only need to use reverse 
for a few seconds.

My slip faces into the wind so I use the wind to slow me down as I make 
the turn. Occasionally I have a cross wind but find that I don't need to 
be moving much faster to make the turn. When I have a cross wind I keep 
the boat in gear longer and move into the slip quicker so need more 
reverse to come to a stop.

The real key is practice.

Ken Danko

Randy Averill wrote:
> Another new owner question.
>
> I've had my 320 for less than a month and my biggest problem right now is
> parking.  My previous boat was much smaller and lighter, and I learned to
> maneuver it into the slip rather easily with its outboard motor and tiller.
> Now I would greatly appreciate the voice of experience helping me out.
>
> I approached my first couple times into the new slip with the 320 with great
> caution.  This boat can coast a long way and I can't afford to overshoot my
> slip (I'm at the end of the runway) so I slowed to a crawl.  I used a "Y"
> approach in that I came forward down the runway to my slip, turned hard to
> port (away from the slip), and then backed in after completing a 90 degree
> turn to port.  I actually parked fairly well, but it took forever because I
> was going so slowly.
>
> Last time out was my first problem because there was some wind blowing me
> into the dock.  I think if I came in faster the wind would have less effect
> (i.e., it would have less time to blow me around), but I don't know how fast
> is too fast.  Does anybody have a rule of thumb you could offer?  If you're
> coming in a idle, how early do you put your transmission in neutral?  How
> much time to stop the boat with reverse?  Any good way to get a better feel
> for this on open water?  I'm not sure I trust my ability to transfer the
> open water experience to the marina because it's so tight.  Any good stories
> to make me laugh and relax?
>
>
> Randy Averill
> Tesoro (#29)
>
>