[C320-list] Backing into slip

[John Frost]

On my 270, I have had excellent results minimizing prop walk backing out of
my slip by first goosing the throttle briefly to quickly get a little speed
backwards and then immediately slipping into neutral at idle. This lets the
rudder work nicely as the boat drifts backwards and away from the dock on
the port side. I find I only move a few inches to port during the initial
goose. Once I am out of the slip, I put it in reverse again to pickup speed
and complete my maneuver.

I haven't tried on my 320 yet, but physics is a pretty consistent science.

Best Regards,
John Frost
(256) 650-0335
 

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Robert Seastream
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 4:44 PM
To: C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Backing into slip

I seldom back with my 320.  The prop (3 blade) walk is immediate no 
matter what I try.  It surprised me once (Belfast, ME past summer) by 
going to starboard although that might have been the breeze.  I have 
the wing keel and think a fin might back straighter, at the expense of 
increased draft (though it might point better upwind).
In other news, 'Intuition' was hauled yesterday.  Tomorrow I go to 
winterize her and bring the dinghy (Pipsqueak) home.

Bob Seastream
Intuition # 906


On Oct 30, 2007, at 3:43 PM, SYC wrote:

> The person who rented the slip before I did set up a bridle using 
> docklines.
> Granted, this works much better when going into the slip forward 
> (because it
> creates a natural V-shape). Quite a few people at the marina take one 
> look
> and then go and make one for themselves. All you really need to do is 
> get
> the nose of the boat into the slip, going at idle speed, and the bridle
> guides the boat right in. It takes awhile to get the rope lengths just 
> right
> but it is very nice once it is set. Mine uses 3 lines: the first is 
> hung
> from 2 hooks that are attached to the "front" - landside - part of the 
> slip.
> The other 2 lines (long ones!) are spliced to the center of the first 
> line,
> then they are attached to the pilings at the outer ends of the slip. I 
> guess
> it helps to have a center piling between slips. There is enough slack 
> in the
> first line so that the other lines pull it out about 3 ft. from the 
> wall.
> The end result is a bridle with a built-in "V", attached at 4 points 
> (2 in
> the front wall, 1 on each end piling). This is really hard to describe
> without pictures!
>
> Joan
> C320 #90 Persistence
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Irving Grunes
> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 1:40 PM
> To: 'C320-List'
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Backing into slip
>
> A really good way to practice backing is to do figure eights using at 
> least
> one buoy to practice on.  Then you can practice using all the 
> different wind
> directions to see how the boat reacts to each of them.
> Good Luck
> Irv Grunes #851
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Hare
> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 10:01 AM
> To: 'C320-List'
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Backing into slip
>
> Oh, how easy it would be if we all had slips just like Adam's.
> Unfortunately, slips come in all kinds of configurations.  :)
>
> Re: #1 Marina conditions frequently determine how you "park".  :)
> 30% of the slips in my marina require back-in approach due to water
> currents.
>
> I also come in slowly enough to make the dock hands start to pace when
> possible.
> That's good advice, but you have to have enough speed to maintain 
> steerage
> to counter wind and currents, which isn't always as slowly as you'd 
> like.
>
> It's "docking" when I dock it.  It's "parking" when my wife docks it.
> Occasionally we call it "Crashing".
> After all, whoever has the helm chooses the terms.
>
> -Cheers
> -J
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Adam Weiner
> Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 11:00 PM
> To: 'C320-List'
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Backing into slip
>
> Number one:  Why do you back into the dock?  Why do you make life
> difficult for yourself.  It is easier to dock bow in and then back up
> into the fairway.
>
> Number two:	I come into my dock so slowly that you can feel the
> slime growing on the bottom.  This isn't a speed race.  My crew jokes
> that they can read a Harry Potter book in the time it takes me to dock,
> but hey I don't have fenders down and I dock have any scrapes on the
> boat.
>
> Number three:  I put my boat into neutral anywhere from 20 yards to 200
> yards from the slip depending on head wind.
>
> Number four:  If you want to practice drop a couple of fenders 
> connected
> to light anchors in an empty spot of water and practice docking between
> the fenders.
>
> Number five:  It is called docking not parking.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Randy Averill
> Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 7:42 PM
> To: 'C320-List'
> Subject: [C320-list] Backing into slip
>
>
> 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)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>