Slip Launching Procedure

[djred889]

We are fairly new to boating and have been experimenting with the best way to leave our slip. Our boat is parked stern-in in the slip so that it's easy to board and attach the shore power. Our launching procedure after all the engine and safety checks is to run the blower for 5 minutes, disconnect the shore power, start the engines and wait for them to start to come up to temperature. We have 5 lines on the boat: 2 on the bow, 2 on the stern and 1 spring line. We take off all the lines except the spring line and since our slip has dock running along both sides, I usually hold on to the boat so it doesn't move too much. With someone at the helm, I undo the spring line and walk the boat out of the slip as far as I can and then jump onto the swim platform. By that time the boat is practically out of the slip and once I'm on the swim platform who ever is at the helm puts the boat into gear and off we go. We found this way easier then putting it into gear when fully in the slip because we always bumped into the poles at the front of the slip. How does everyone else do it?

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Run blower(s) for a minute or two. Start both engines at high idle for about 30 seconds or until they'll idle. Remove shore power, shut off AC main breaker. Take off all 3 lines, bow, midship spring then stern. Be sure rudders are straight then bump starboard motor in and out of forward gear (port tie so outside motor to keep me close to the dock) once the stern clears, port engine in reverse, stbd in fwd till I can make headway and away we go. To add- if anyone gives me a 'push off' from the dock, they're getting a planer board thrown at their head.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

What he said. No reason to push the boat out of the slip. If you have the drives aimed correctly a couple of bumps into gear will move you softly out. And as said, with twin engine power you have great maneuverability. Practice it a bit. maneuvering in close quarters starts out being a challenge, then becomes fun.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Whats a Planer board? I want to know what to watch out for!!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Everything you are doing seems fine except the walking out of the slip. Here's why...as long as you continue to do it, eventually you will jump on the swim platform and catch your footing wrong, trip on a line, get too much broadside wind (whatever else you can think of) and you're not going to make it to the helm before your boat hits something. What happens if you trip on the dock and tumble into the drink?

After you dock at the end of your trip, set the rudder/outdrive straight. When you're ready to leave on your next trip, just bump the engines into gear for 2 seconds and slowly pull away from your slip. Think about it. How you truly be the captain of the boat when you're not even controlling it?

 

[freelancer]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Fireman is on to something, it might go right 20 times but just 1 slip will lead to a bad time or at least something to talk about in the future.

My situation is a little different, no poles, just a bigger boat off to starboard. I have always taken in to consideration what was going on with the wind, current, water depth and the other boats around me.

The elements like wind and current can really effect the way your boat maneuvers as you leave or enter the slip, even when your slip is surrounded by pilings. Most importantly, practice makes better, because you'll never get it perfect...it's always an adventure

 

[arks]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

We are fairly new to boating and have been experimenting with the best way to leave our slip....... How does everyone else do it?

Sounds to me like you're over-thinking the process and making it more difficult than it needs to be.
Rule #!- DON'T stress out.
Rule #2- anticipate how the boat will react to current and wind.
Rule #3- don't move the boat any faster than needed for directional control until clear.
I'd suggest you spend some time watching the more experienced boaters in your marina and emulate their moves. The really good ones make it look simple, even in a hard blow or strong current. BTW, touching a piling is perfectly allowable, and sometimes the preferred method to move the boat where it needs to go....

After watching them, try it yourself- then maybe create a written checklist if you think it'll help you remember.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

yup.... move in AND out of the slip under power..... walking it out is setting yourself up for a bad time..... FWIW... as was mentioned above drifting is your friend. in gear just long enough to start moving and then neutral until you need to change speed or direction

 

[djred889]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

We actually have been watching people around us and a lot of them do walk the boat out of the slip some before putting it into gear. The thought has crossed my mind of falling into the water. This season we will practice taking it out under power. Another reason we walk it out is because we have to make a really tight right turn once we clear the piling. If I'm on the swim platform I can see right when we're clear and instruct who ever is driving to start the turn.

 

[sasto]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Hi dgred, I tie a temporary line midship snugged to a piling, remove all my lines. Once situated at the helm chair I instruct someone to cut loose the temporary line. Once that person is secure, I motor on out. I have used this method on boats from 18' to 64', and sometimes single handed. Have someone instruct you on when you can make your turn.

After awhile you will know where your swimplatform is in relation to your distance from the helm to the piling. I compare it to driving an unfamiluar car, not knowing where the corners are. You will soon figure it out.

Good Luck!

 

[QC]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

This season we will practice taking it out under power.

Need to confirm you understand the "bump" in gear that some have mentioned.

Another reason we walk it out is because we have to make a really tight right turn once we clear the piling.

Have you practiced one engine in reverse and the other in forward? Do so in the harbor if you haven't but twins easily solve tight turns. You need to know where the "center" of your boat is both directions. With port in forward and starboard in reverse. What point does your boat rotate around on? Try opposite as well. That may be the solution to this turn and piling issue.

instruct who ever is driving to start the turn.

Please take this as intended . . . You need to stop instructing "who ever" and start being the captain of your boat. Then work on a first mate. You don't need or want a variety of people doing the piloting in or out of your slip. Maybe a few others out on open water, but there are some areas where you need to make it clear who is allowed at the controls. It really needs to be you . . .

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Welcome to iboats. I'd also recommend against that final jump to the swim platform, You miss one day due to bad footing and weak takeoff and you're going feet first down into your props. Even in neutral you could gash yourself pretty good. Or, your helmsperson gets into gear before you're steady on your feet and off the back you go.

As for the sharp turn, you will get to the point where a couple bumps of forward to get you moving out can be followed immediately by getting on the reverse on one side to begin pulling your bow around into the way you want to turn.

Good luck!

 

[Navigator_Victory]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Practice practice practice but,,,,it does not need to be in the marina find a calm area and just mess with what does what....I am new to the carver and my last boat I could care less what I crashed into ....I generally did not crash but, had few bumps.... with my new to me boat I want to be carefull not to tear it up so I have been doing a lot of slow manuvers and figuring out the "bump" described above.....just a tad bit of power and there is almost always a slight breeze....get the two to work in your favor....breeze and power to get where you want to be....best place IMHO to practice is out in the open.....spend a few hours just tinkering around and figuring it out.....with all this said I still have not got pulling in figured out.....I still only get about halfway backed in then pull it by hand with engines off the rest of the way.....still learning

 

[freelancer]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

I use to bring a 258 ton ferry boat in to the slip 42 times a day; each landing was a separate event and different from the last one, some landings were surely prettier than others.


So I got some more docking advice for you that I learned a long time ago.

JUST READ MY SIGNATURE below

 

[djred889]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Thank you all for the advice. My parents bought the boat last summer so it is always one of them at the helm. They are very protective of the boat and don't like it bumping into the pilings. I have had lots of practice using both engines for maneuvering and i can back the boat into the slip with relative ease. My parents cannot. We will just have to practice a lot more.

 

[gdombroski]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Boy, if you can back into the slip it would seem to me that leaving would be 10 times easier

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Put the engines into forward gear for 2-4 seconds.
Neutral as soon as the transom passes the last piling/boat.
One engine forward and the other engine reverse and the boat should pivot in it's own length.
This is all done at an idle.
Docking is the same, but you can use the wind current to your advantage by not using one of the engines and allowing it to move you into position.

And remember...never approach anything faster than you are willing to hit it. As mentioned before, it is perfectly acceptable to use a piling as a pivot point with either a tending line or the rubrail.

Get on youtube and look at some of the docking procedures. There are even free online downloads to practice with using simulated wind/currents.

 

[djred889]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

I know that it sounds stupid but we have an easier time getting into the slip then leaving the slip if we don't walk the boat out. By the time we get all the lines unhooked, the wind has blown us into the boat next to ours. If I'm holding onto the boat from the dock it's fine. We just need more practice and to be more coordinated.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

maybe try hanging on to the dock from the boat..... possibly with a looped line

 

[Dolfan0925]

Re: Slip Launching Procedure

Or standing on the boat pushing off of the dock with a boat hook? Got a photo of the dock/trouble area? I couldn't imagine a scenario where it's easier to back into a slip than it is to pull out... so much so that you don't even pull out of it.