Re: Docking A Twin Engine Boat
When manuevering a twin engine boat with use of forward/reverse on the two engines, remember that the boat will tend to rotate around the props. Think of a transverse line through the boat, in the location of the props, as a "fulcrum" or pivot point.
Use of differential power this way will move the bow of the boat, more than the stern (especially with outboards & I/Os), unless you have the bow tied off to the dock. For example, if you need to "parallel park" the boat along a dock to the port side, you can nose the boat in at an angle, take a turn around a cleat or post on the dock with a line, and then shift the port engine into forward and the starboard engine into reverse. That will swing the stern of the boat into the spot. As you do this, the bow of the boat will need to come off of the dock a bit, so be ready to provide some slack in the line.