Do you ever watch other people dock their twin outboard boats and make it look easy? But after every trip, you can’t seem to get in on the first try, or the wind is howling, or there’s a large crowd watching you. Every step of the way, if it can go wrong, it does, and the entire situation can cause dockside trauma.
So what’s the easiest way to dock with twin outboards? I’ve got some easy-to-follow steps that will help you handle it with confidence. You’ll learn how to make the docking process smooth and stress-free. There’s a simple way to learn this skill without tearing your hair out. And no, it doesn’t involve “just practice practice practice” or “only go as fast as you’re willing to hit the dock”.
Before we get into the steps of docking your boat, let’s first talk about the common mistakes that boaters make and tips to avoid them.
Common Docking Mistakes
- Improper Use of Throttles and Steering Many boaters mistakenly rely too much on the steering wheel instead of using the shift and throttle to maneuver the boat. With twin engines, it’s more effective to use the shifter to control the boat’s movement, as this allows for better pivoting and control in tight spaces.
- Overcorrecting In situations where the boat is not aligned correctly, some boaters tend to overcorrect by applying too much throttle, which can lead to loss of control. It’s often better to reset and try the maneuver again rather than overcorrecting with more power. Pro tip: Listen to your engines. Knowing which motor is in forward and reverse and how much throttle is applied without looking at your throttle is important to master this move.
- Ignoring Environmental Conditions Failing to account for wind and current can lead to docking mishaps. It’s crucial to assess these conditions before attempting to dock, as they can significantly affect the boat’s movement and alignment.
- Lack of Preparation Not preparing the boat with fenders and lines before approaching the dock can result in damage to the boat or dock. Proper preparation is essential to ensure (replace) a smooth docking process.
- Approaching Too Fast Approaching the dock at a speed faster than desired can lead to collisions. It’s important to approach slowly and use neutral gear to control the speed and direction as needed.
Docking a Boat with Twin Outboard Engines – step by step
- Get Ready Early: Before you approach the slip, make sure to set up your fenders and lines. Also, check the wind and current, so you’re not caught off guard when you’re close to the dock.
Pro tip- Look at a flag to assess wind direction prior to approaching the dock. Check for wind current and speed by looking at which way and speed at whic water is flowing around a piling. - Adjust the Engines: Trim your engines all the way down using the tilt-trim switch at the throttle. This helps direct the propwash under the boat, making it easier to maneuver. If you don’t, the propwash might just hit the transom and make steering more difficult.
- Approach the Slip: As you head toward the slip, come in at a 90-degree angle. When the middle of your boat lines up with the middle of the slip, stop and center the steering wheel. From here on, use the engines to turn the boat by shifting one into forward and the other into reverse. Resist the urge to touch the steering wheel—let the engines do the work.
- Start Spinning: Use opposing engines to spin the boat. Remember, the bow moves toward the throttle you shift into reverse. For example, if you put the starboard throttle into forward and the port throttle into reverse, the bow will swing to the left.
- Maneuver the Boat: In ideal conditions, with no wind or current and plenty of room, you can spin the boat until it’s parallel to the finger pier. Then, just shift both engines into reverse idle and back into the slip. But in reality, you’ll often need to continue maneuvering as you back up.
- Tight Space Tactic: If there’s not enough room to spin the boat fully, start the turn, then take the forward throttle out of gear. This will stop forward thrust and the boat will begin backing up as it continues to spin. This can help you get closer to the slip or even partially into it, giving you more room to swing the bow around. Keep in mind that pulling the forward throttle out of gear slows the spin, so you’ll need to shift in and out of gear to balance spinning and backing up.
- Finish Docking: As the boat moves into the slip, briefly reverse both throttles to stop any spinning motion. Then, slowly back into the slip until you’re alongside. If the bow isn’t lined up perfectly, make light adjustments by shifting one throttle into reverse and the other forward until it’s in place
