Backing in

[Capt. Dean Moore]

Shorter Walk

All single engine vessels "pull" in reverse to one side or the other. When backing in, always present that direction of pull to the slip. Rotation of the prop dictates the direction of pull while in stern propulsion. It's easier than you think and you don't have so far to walk down the dock to the local watering hole. For good advice, seek help or more detailed information from a local professional captain.

 

[G. Ned Christensen]

H26 backing in is great!

The H26 has a high freeboard and is difficult for my wife who is only 5'2" to climb over. Backing into our slip is easy and has solved the problem. We have a Honda 9.9 outboard motor. While it does take a little practice, I have not found backing in to be more difficult than going in bow first. It is much easier to load gear when moored stern first than balancing on narrow finger piers.Ned ChristensenSecond Wind

 

[Frank Hopkins]

I always back in, approch slip dead slow. as I mear the outer pilings steer hard to starboard lining boat up with the slip. shift to reverse and throttle up to start moving backward then idld down. standing at the wheel facing the stern, drive in in.

 

[Ron Johnson]

My Hunter is No Passage

The Hunter cockpit design and craft entry is ideal only if the craft has the pointy end away from the dock. This is especially true for floating docks. The backing maneuver requires patience, practice, and some knowledge. Use the wind to advantage; always start backing with the nose downwind (assuming no current). Personally, I have found that a Maxiprop gives me an edge because of the increased surface area and optimized angle of attack. We have successfully backed into our slip with a 30kt side wind.The only way to park.

 

[Wayne Estabrooks]

My backing technique

I back my '97 h340 into my slip which is most of the time as my finger pier is short (only about 10 ft. long)and it is easier to board or disembark from the cockpit. I have backed it in in a 25 knot crosswind successfully! There is another row of slips across from me so it is not a straight shot backing into the slip. My technique involves motoring past the slip quite a ways, 100 ft or so with the slip on my port side. I then back in reverse and get some way on. When the vessel has some way on, I then reduce power or put it in neutral so it doesn't pull to port. I continue backing with the momentum of the boat and sometimes add a little burst of reverse power. When the port piling is abeam the cockpit, I execute a 90 degree turn and line up and back into the slip. It always looks like I will hit the starboard piling but the boat turns sharply and it is usually successful.

 

[Gary]

All depends...

In our marina boats almost always go into slips bow first. I prefer this way (likely because it is what I know best) in heavy winds. Get the boat in the slip and get lines on her. My dock lines stay on the dock all the time. When I do want to back in for maintenance or for a dock party, etc. I really have no problem doing so, the 29.5 backs well (standard 2 blade prop)AND like some others have mentioned, best to take those big storms on the bow if you can. One more point, the 29.5 has NO mid-ship cleats and when backed in I NEED a spring line. This means running a long line to a cleat and fastening to the base of the shrouds. Poor, poor design by Hunter.

 

[Allen (Dusty) Palmgren]

How else???

Well, since I've owned my Hunter 22 now for about three weeks and the only way I've put her into her slip is to back, I guess so . . . in fact, I think I feel more comfortable backing in than I would driving the bow toward the pier. Allen

 

[Tom]

No sweat!

We have always backed our H31 into the slip. My technique is to approach the slip (on our port side) slowly, and turn to starboard sharply when the bow is abeam the slip. This brings the stern around opposite the entrance to the slip, and reverse throttle backs us right in. Try it!

 

[Dick Litchfield]

Prop switch helped

With the old 2 blade I used techniques similiar to others noted here. Approach with slip on port side, hard turn to starboard, use port crab to aid the turn, gain way, etc. With new 3 blade it has been a new learning experience. Now I pull past the slip, still on the port side, power reverse, gain way, throttle down and drive her in to the slip. Still not a thing of beauty, but it's gettng better.

 

[m. watton]

yup, it's fun

no problem...the 376 is very predictable. i like to back into the slip for dock parties. boat can accomodate about 15 people using the walk-thru transom and dock space. same with the 336. just had to learn the characteristics of the particular boat. hunter is one of the best reversable boats around!!

 

[Mike Sjogren]

What happens if you must take the slip to stbd?

My slip is to starboard. I am now glad I go bow in. But, for all the good reasons posted here, I have thought of backing in. Is the maneuver impossible if you have to fight the port crabbing?

 

[Ray Squires]

We are new to sailboats, but have always backed into our slip. Our H28.5 turns much better in forward, so I tend to do most rotating in that direction, leaving only straight or slight turning movement in reverse. The best trick I have picked up so far is to throw my rudder hard over at the point my stern clears the neighbor boat and put the engine in reverse. With a little luck, I can stay at idle speed and have the boat just reverse after a 90 degree turn. For me the wind usually primarily effects how 'perfect' I try to slip it in. On a light day I'll move back and forth if I have to to back it in through the pilings. With wind, I'll tend to grab the first piling I can reach and pull it in.