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twin engines starting to get it down pretty good.

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Zero Tolerance

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
since we bought the bullet mt job has been to put it on the trailer. I have to say I did really good yesterday....

Ron always told me to come in slow and use forward and reverse. well while waiting at the Launch, I started just playing with the boat. I found that if I just put one engine in forward and leave the other in neutral it will move my bow very slowly just where I want it. works a lot better then reverse......
any of you have any other pointer's lets hear em.
 
#3 · (Edited)
I think most folks stay in gear too long. Quick in-and-outs work better for most, neutral to fwd back to neutral, little "bumps" at least until you get a very good feel for the action you want. It keeps the speed slow and controlable. Spend an afternoon around the docks during the week when nobody's around and just troll up and down, spinning it around, jogging to the side, backing into slips for practice. Or out on the water, find something stationary like a marker bouy and hold it off in the wind. Eventually you'll know without thinking what's going to happen even if you add wind to the equation.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
RJ

I guess it is true what they say about guys every 30 seconds they are thinking about sex.

I started looking at houseboats for you and the MRS.RJ
I found one that was 55' and was around 40k Bev could be happy and you could buy yours to :winker:
thought I found one for us 65' upper deck and just unreal.. 16,400. with that price we where going to just call and buy it. turns out that is a 2 week rental... :shocked:
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Tejas.
That is what I did was in and out quick it worked great and it was good to do it in one shot and not have him giving the look. the other times I think you are right I stayed ingear to long. and it was very calm that morning. so I wonder how it will work with the wind...
the other problem is our trailer has diamond plate over the wheels so if I don't get it right I will scratch the hell out of the boat.
next I want to try docking it .
when you guys are going into slips that are for 2 boats and you are going in what do you do?

hopefully by this time next year I won't be so nervous about the boat.
 
#7 ·
all good points... for me and my TG I find it easier to leave both engines if gear and use the steering wheel.

I try not to use the gears much as I ease it onto the trailer. once I get it straight and karen has the winch line hooked up she holds up her hands to let me know the remaining distance to where it's on the trailer completely and done.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
really no house boat ... some of them are awesome if you want a camp on water.... got a cool shot on Sunday night. of the Marina.
Nickie is reallly sick so I am playing nurse to her up all most all night and took her to the vets yesterday . I think she ate one of the kids toys Vet says she has a cold. might have to take her back and have an xray so I can feel better ....
so if I seem out there no sleep.
here is the pic
 

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Discussion starter · #9 ·
Jeff,
even if you have alot of side chop that works ? what do you do when it is on to slow it down just shut it down or put it in reverse?

I found a 37 Active thunder about a month ago that was a awesome deal . I will see if I can find it again?
to bad lets rock Ol isn't still for sale that was a sweet one.
 
#10 ·
ZT - the ramp we use it totally protected - never any chop. There are only two 37 AT's I might be interested in and both are in Florida with 675 eickerts - though I'll wait till the boating season has ended before making an offer. there's too much end of the season activity right now that are keeping prices up a little and I could get a better deal in November or December.

Ocean Performance has a beautiful 02 37' OL with Eickerts, but it's too much money for me.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Zero Tolerance said:
when you guys are going into slips that are for 2 boats and you are going in what do you do?

hopefully by this time next year I won't be so nervous about the boat.
Click to expand...
We back in a lot.

Before you get to the slips, designate one person to assist at the stern and they need to have your lines out and ready. Fenders out and ready, optional to have them tied on. That can be done after you're in position and dock lines secured. The assistant should be in the middle of the boat, away from the corners that you NEED to see. Plan ahead. Note the wind if any because it always seems to be the worst when docking... that way you can use it to help you rather than hinder you. Keep it SLOW and again, quick bumps of the gears. If you get all crossed up, DO NOT TRY TO RECOVER a botched attempt. Pull out a short ways to straighten up (most people pull out way too far). Keep it close - less distance to mess up in! If you end up in the opposite slip of the 2, YOU MEANT TO BE THERE!!! It's your story, stick to it. :D :D :D :D

Final word. Always drive the boat all the way to your finish position! You're the Captain, not some dock handlers who'll make you look like a rookie that can't finish the job.

Nervousness will go away with stick time. Use them.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Tejas.
Thanks for all the advise. I was thinking that I could do it the same way I did on the trailer but in reverse. some of the places we go have dock boys. but they seem to have no clue sometimes. so I think I will practice on our dock :cool:
 
#13 · (Edited)
One tip when docking: Never shut down you engines until the boat is completely motionless and about where you want it to stay. Too many times a wanabe helpful dockhand will give his hardest pull on you dockline and send your several ton boat towards the dock or other place you weren't counting on it hitting. Remember, you're the captain and are responsible for the boat and anything it comes in contact with.
 
#17 ·
Nobody mentioned current / tides. If you have them like we do, you know that backing into a slip has to be INTO the current. You have no control if you try to back with the current. Same with wind.

My dry storage marina almost always has a raging current to deal with. I can not tell you how many Wallys I have had to fend off cause they tried to back into a slip next to me with the current instead of into it. :angry1:
 
#18 ·
I find myself driving a twin just like a single.... right or wrong.... I keep it simple and predictable, I don't try any fancy plit shifting unless I'm just backing off the trailer and want to turn around 180, but I most always put both drives in gear at the same time and bump them in and out on the trailer and around the docks.

A nice launch ramp is a must for me... some are free, but I'll gladly pay $5 to use my favorite state park ramp... it's a well protected ramp with the perfect grade to float the boat without even getting your feet wet... it makes loading a breeze.
 
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