New to the area

The name "Francy Free" was starting to grow on me, I will miss it...
 
I think we should still call him by Francy Free I agree with Mike I can't get that name out of my head. What was Bob's old boats Name?
 
The ceremony did not take place yet.

I want all of you to join me in this ritual.

And I now that you will all attend. Right?!?!

Oh by the way, I will have FREE Beer and Champagne.

See I new that caught your attention!!!

Just remember Todd and John, I know where you live....(boat that is)
 
bob, it might help just a tad to know when and where the ceremony will be...
 
Go slow and don't back tell the people on board to shut up unless they are knowledge. Keep your calm. The worse thing is to panic. There will always be people at the dock. Don't practice when the marina is busy.
 
if it's windy and you have a bimini, drop it before docking to reduce your sail area. also, give your crew very specific instructions so they don't hurt themselves or your chances of docking. the second time i was docking the boat, my wife hopped out when i backed down to the finger dock. problem was the finger dock was supposed to be long our starboard side but i misjudged the wind it and it was perpendicular against my stern. i had to do some close quarters maneuvering so i told the wife to stay on the dock but throw the line back in. of course when i said "in", i meant in the boat. she threw it in the water. a little forward, a little reverse, the line fouled the prop, and big problems ensued. easy to laugh about it now, but not then.
 
Hey guys - it was great to meet some of you this past weekend! Thanks for all the tips and advice!
Here is a poll for you - how many of you use just use the engines while docking? How many of you use both?

I am being told to use both... just trying to figure out what is easier...

Hopefully this weather clears up soon!
 
With both my twin outdrives and my twin inboards, I use only the engines for docking. I know that your captain is a fan of using both - my concern is that once you turn the wheel, unless you have a rudder angle indicator, it is almost impossible to get the drives/rudders amidships again.
 
I assume both means "shifters plus wheel" as opposed to "shifters plus throttle"

For the most part, my goal is to just use the shifters. I reccommend you getting used to this first to keep things simple and gain confidence.

With practice, once you're confident and don't get frazzled, you can start to use all three (shift, rudder, throttle). Having said that, I still on occasion mistakenly add throttle instead of shifting but so far, nothing I couldn't un-do (luckily).
 
AS Mike said, I know Capt Don does tell alot of people with that boat to use both. I have run your model several times and found that if you use only the engines, (wheel straight) you need to use a little throttle to get the boat to respond backing up. If you use only the engines you have to insure the boats wheel is straight. If its not the boat will handle differently.

The only advise that can be given is do what you feel more comfortable with. The boat handles great either way. From what I saw of your lessons, it looked like you were doing well with the boat.
 
I was taught by someone who used engines only. As has already been stated once you turn the wheel you can no longer rely on just engines. It was a hard lesson for me to learn, and to this day the only way I am sure of myself, is to leave my right hand on the shifters and my left hand in my pocket.

Also when I am going down the fairway, I usually leave one engine in forward and do all of my compensating with the other engine, either by going forward, revrse or just neutral.
 
As I only have one motor, using the wheel is basically imperative. I do use wind and current to help me dock if it is in my favor, but the wheel, at least for me is really important.
 
Yup, Capt. Fleming does like to use both wheel and engines while docking. He says that our outdrives are too close together for effective engine only docking. I disagree. I am an engine only docker now...in most cases. I have used the wheel, but only if the wind makes me crazy.
 
Thanks all for the advice...

Doees anyone know of a captian that I can hire that can teach me engine only docking?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top