New Pontoon owner needs help

[KFC]

Hello everyone, this is a great web site!<br />My problem is, I just bought a new 2002 22ft Tahoe Pontoon with a Yamaha 50 2 stroke and I am having trouble pulling into my boat slip.<br /> The first time I took it out everything went great, I put it back in fine with the wind coming from the east. Yesterday the wind was coming from the opposite direction and I wedged the boat 3 times before getting it in. Can anyone out there please tell me the correct procedure for pulling into a boat slip step by step. I have never owned a boat before and all this is new. I only take the boat out during the week because the weekends here on the Indian river in delaware are awful, there are a lot of boaters, so while I'm learning I feel it is safer to pratice when there is less traffic. Any help would be greatly appriciated.<br />Thanks to you all and safe boating.<br />Ken

 

[jollymon]

Re: New Pontoon owner needs help

Pardon the pun, but I am in the same boat as you, I bought a pontoon boat about 2 months ago. But I am starting to get the hang of docking it. You did not say much about your slip. IE do you pull in along slide like a dock, or pull in between two other boats, do you have finger piers etc. Also is there any current?<br /><br />I dock mine parallel a dock, with a pretty swift current most of the time. I have found the best approach is for me to dock into the current at an idle speed, I wait until my boat is about 3/4 of the way along side slip before I start turning in. The key is to just have enough throttle to make headway.<br /><br />Also ask around at your marina, I am sure someone will give you advice. I nknow that at my yacht club peolpe are always there to give advice and a hand.

 

[wayne c.]

Re: New Pontoon owner needs help

Yo KFC, I might be able to help a little. I'm on my 2nd pontoon ( '02 Bennington 90 hp Merc 4-stroke). I also keep my boat in a slip at marina during summer months. First of all everything in moderation--go slow when heading into your slip, idle if possible, use prop to keep pontoon moving and for direction--in and out of neutral. A biggy in wind is the binmini top if you have one. In the wind it pulls boat all over at low speed. If possible fold it to radar position before coming in if wind is a problem. My pontoon is 8' 6" wide and slip is 10' wide, needless to say , after all this time, I still have trouble in the wind . Good Luck !!

 

[KFC]

Re: New Pontoon owner needs help

Hi Guys,<br /> Thank You for the advice. I dock between 2 boats with current and wind.It also has poles that separate the boats. Sorry I don't know the correct terms yet. My boat is also 8'6" and my slip is 10' wide. Putting the top down is a good idea, I will give it a try the next time I take it out. My wife and I felt like Abbott and Costello the other day when we could not get the boat in the slip. When we finally got it in we sat and laughed at our selves, and I'm sure others were laughing at us. We just love the boat, it's nice to finally be able to go fishing out there when ever you want.<br />Ken