Backing up

[Ford Reese]

I have a 28TE. Is their a secret or trick to backing this boat up? Even with trying to center the rudder, I am not sure which way the boat is going to go. With other single prop boats I have handled, I always had much better control.

Thanks........Ford Reese "Chambornay"

[cdahmen]

The problem could be the left turning prop. Vessel should back to starboard . Practice in open water no wind or current and after a few minutes and help from the thruster you,ll be a backing expert.

[RicM]

Ford,
Am I sensing a theme here? A single screw inboard boat is always going to "walk" to one side or the other. Why? Because water gets denser the further down you go. The bottom blade of a prop in rotation always has more "bite" that the top blade, because water is measurably denser even 1 foot further beneath the surface. Most Albin 28's "walk" to starboard. The trick is to learn to use the boat's characteristics to your benefit, because, believe me, it's a lot cheaper to learn new technique than trying to change the handling of a boat. Docking any boat (except maybe those Hinkleys with the joy stick) is about the hardest mental exercise there is unless you do it all day, every day. I say it's the equivalent of parallel parking a car with no brakes on LSD.

[Jeff Lavallee]

Typically right turning props back to port, because when you put the boat in reverse the prop becomes "left turning"- pulling your boatin that direction. I imagine the oposite is true in your case because when going ahead your prop is left turning. The rudder is all but useless when backing because it is in front of the prop while moving astern. I agree with Cdahmen, but would add that when you are in open water, no wind or current try and find a buoy to use as a dock to see what your boat is doing better- use it as a target.

[jcollins]

There has been quite a bit of discussion about backing up an Albin. The first time I backed mine up, by wife looked at me and asked "what's wrong"?
Unless you use your boat every day, it will take a couple of seasons to get used to it. It will get easier over time. Really! Even then, there are days that I miss my I/O. (not often though) I have learned to take my time, not get flustered, try to back or dock to starboard. Use wind/current to your advantage best you can. I have also seen a few owners pull into their slip bow-in.

I have the same year as you. Our thrusters are the 25s. I agree they are not up to the job but they do help. Search around the board and you will find several threads about backing up. Here's one viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2187
I am always amazed at the crab/workboat guys. They make it look easy.

Another thought is to practice mid-week when the marina is slow. I also try it once in awhile without the the thruster.

[Denis]

First let me say this.........

Then let me add that I had a heck of a time learning to back into our slip, current and WIND were always against us. But I must say that I took a good friend with me one day, he has a ton of experience with a single inboard, and always made his docking look easy. He forced me to use the throttle much more than I was comfortable with. He would say you need to "teach her" who is boss and in control and "she" will obey. Now I can say I am 95% confident that I can get into my slip with relative ease.
Good luck.

[Jack28]

I agree practice is the way I try not to use the thruster, never know when you are not going to have it. Back and fill with power is the only way and do not let any one help you on the dock unless you are prepared for it. JACK

[jleonard]

do not let any one help you on the dock unless you are prepared for it.

Yes this is true. We have many with great intentions and they try to help but all I want is someone to hand a line to my first mate...and ONLY the line I ask for not what they feel like grabbing.
Anything else leads to trouble.
And the number one rule.....
If it doesn't feel right, head back out, turn around and give it another try from scratch. It is very difficult if even possible to make a bad situation good once you blew it. On more than one occasion with my old Mainship trawler I would do 2 or even 3 attempts before I was happy. Sometime you simply misjudge the wind or current...so what do it over. Give the dock crowd something to watch for a few minutes and get it perfect the 2nd or 3rd time.Beats fending off your neighbors anchor.

[RicM]

The above is excellent advice. Don't fight the elements,wind, current,tide will always beat you in a fight. Get them on your side and you're golden. One thing we've learned on Time after Time is that it's important to scope out the conditions, share the plan of approach with the crew so they understand the plan, and don't be afraid to go very slow and try it again if it's not lining up the first time. It's hard, but don't let the captain's ego get in the way. Don't be afraid to use spring lines or rest against a piling to gain a lever into a tight slip. Experience is the best teacher.

[jleonard]

Don't fight the elements,wind, current,tide will always beat you in a fight. Get them on your side and you're golden

YES. For example for me at my home slip it's deciding whether it's a 1 slip wind or a 2 slip wind, etc. In other words that's how many slips upwind I need to start my turn.
Sometimes a gust will send the boat sailing and goof me up...or the wind just dies and there I am in hyperspace..or it really does get blocked THIS time by the neighboring marina...

[Mariner]

Practice, practice, practice.

[Veebyes2]

If you want to see some docking skills with a single, no thrusters, go to one of these events.



Tilghman Island Day, MD, 2008

Ya gotta show the boat who is boss. Nothing wrong with a good shot of throttle to make her pay attention & go in the direction you want.

[RicM]

Applying power is an exponential thing. It can make a good situation better, or a bad one much, much worse.

[jcollins]

Let's all practice for a docking contest at the rendezvous'. (I would probably be the slowest)

[jleonard]

(I would probably be the slowest)

What is it "they" say...only go as fast as you want to hit something?