had a close call when leaving slip yesterday

Kermit · Jul 9, 2012

It helps a LOT to use the outboard for steering when motoring slowly. Your boat's tiller won't do anything without forward (or backward) motion in the water. Even though I had read this and been told, I really didn't get it until I needed the control. Use the tiller on your motor. Trust me, it will work.

gpd955 · Jul 9, 2012

I can't really explain it since I don't know anything about your boat/engine/wind/current. One thing I have learned, since we get some serious crosswinds here and I back into a narrow fairway, is to stay off of the wheel (hands on wheel, no turning though) until the boat decides where she's going. I found that making any maneuvers when moving astern out of the slip is useless since I don't have enough sternway to get steerage.

For example, if we have a west wind, once my stern clears the finger dock, the boat gets pushed stern to starboard. I will allow the wind to turn me and then go backwards out of the fairway until I get into the harbor (about 50 yds.). After battling wind and boat I finally decided if I can't beat 'em, join 'em! Not sure if that will work with the outboard.

Another option is to use a spring line to make your maneuver out of the slip. It will give you control of the boat and will allow you to get into a more ideal heading once you're ready to cut loose.

kenn · Jul 9, 2012

We also have a small boat with an outboard. The best suggestion I can make for exiting on a windy day is to mentally plan the exit, then to execute it crisply and with enough power... just idling the outboard in forward won't give you control.

Steering with the outboard as well as the tiller is also helpful.

gpd955 said:
Another option is to use a spring line to make your maneuver out of the slip. It will give you control of the boat and will allow you to get into a more ideal heading once you're ready to cut loose.

Also a great idea - this allows you to point the boat in a controlled manner.

TENACITY CS36T · Jul 9, 2012

Agree with above about not fighting it, use it to your advantage and try and see what effect your prop wash has when in reverse, try to experiment in a calm area with plenty of room. Knowing this will help with maneuvering as far as helping or hurting a situation

NYSail · Jul 9, 2012

As said, plan your exit based on the wind... and dont panic and gun the engine. When your boat is moving slow you can grab onto things and hold yourself if need be. Practice and soon you will have command.

When I was first sailing with my uncle, every time out of the slip was a huge deal...Uncle screaming, Aunt yelling, neighbor boaters all giving commands and protecting their boats. Uncle never took the time to "feel" the boat respond and use it accordingly. Once I took control, I slowed the process down and mastered it. Thats not to say there wont ever be times when all hell breaks loose...

finding41 · Jul 9, 2012

Did you have your keel down? I know that if I have my dagger board up my Mac 26D slides sideways cross the water. I now keep about 3' down when near the dock area.
I have a heck of a time backing up and using the tiller and motor together. I am going to hook them together some how so the tiller isn't 90 degrees form the motor. It will zip over one way or the other if you don't hold it.

dawg2 · Jul 9, 2012

If it is REALLY windy and it is a tight spot: Use a pole and push yourself out, get lined up then put the motor in gear. Been there, done that. It is slow and hard work, but it works.

jGo · Jul 9, 2012

A good rule of thumb is that you need at least a full boat length of forward progress before your rudder will have steerage.

I agree with the other posters, use the directional thrust of your outboard. I keep my tiller to midships until I have good, controlled forward progress down the fairway at which time I center the outboard.

Directional thrust is one of the two key benefits of having that ugly thing hang off the back.

Ray Bowles · Jul 9, 2012

Newsailor, You never had enough speed to have steerage with your rudder. Unless there is a good flow of water over the rudder it will have no effect on turning the boat. It becomes more of a brake at very low speed.
In these conditions one is better to lash or lock the rudder/tiller straight ahead and steer the boat with the motor. Be sure the motor is warmed up and operating correctly before leaving the slip. Use shots of power to move the boat smartly where you want it to go. When you have boat speed position the motor straight ahead and use the rudder/tiller.
Practice this out of the marina and you will be able to do anything you need to do within less than 1 hour.
There are other methods of leaving a slip in your conditions that use spring lines etc but those require more boating experence than you might currently have. Good luck and thanks for posting you experence. We all learn something every time there is a post like yours.
Ray

Don12364 · Jul 9, 2012

Two Techniques Worth Trying

My boat has an inboard engine and these wrinkles work. I see no reason why they should not work for an outboard powered boat too.

First:- With the strong cross wind, immediately you let go your lines the boat will do a 'sideslip' and hit the leeward pontoon. Already you are out of control.
If you single up your shore lines with just a slip on bow and stern. Then engage reverse and increase to about half throttle. Keep it like this for fifteen seconds or so until there is plenty of water flowing over both rudder and keel. Though actually stationary, the boat thinks it is going backwards so you have instant helm response. Yell "leggo" to your foredack hand and release the stern line simultaneously. You will exit the dock at quite a rate - but at least under control and with no sideslip.

Second:- In reverse, the stern of most boats try to 'seek the wind'. This means the bow pays off downwind leaving you stern to the wind. So go with the flow and consciously attempt to back out of the channel. This way there will be no time when the boat is stationary in the water and drifting and again momentarily out of control.

Once outside the marina and in clear water you will have all the time in the world to disengage reverse and go ahead.
Try it before you need it.
Nice pics BTW.

Squidd · Jul 9, 2012

Donalex said:
...Second:- In reverse, the stern of most boats try to 'seek the wind'. This means the bow pays off downwind leaving you stern to the wind. So go with the flow and consciously attempt to back out of the channel. This way there will be no time when the boat is stationary in the water and drifting and again momentarily out of control.

Agree...with the wind, it's easier to "pull" a chain than to try to "push" it...

amry69 · Jul 9, 2012

You have some great advise here, I learned a lot reading these responses. Since I have been struggling with the same issue thought I'd share my two cents anyway. I'm a beginner and the purchase of the boat came with a couple months of slip. I swear hitting a trailer is easier than my slip.

Anyway, pretty breezy the other day, same configuration as your diagram (except mirror image). Lots of traffic (July 4th) and I knew my bow was going into want to go leeward. First, loosen the set screw on the motor and use it to steer along with the rudder, don't let them fight with each other. Second, backed all the way out with my stern windward. I've seen bigger boats back out of the marina, thought what the hell.

Worked great!

Comanche5 · Jul 9, 2012

Sounds like you didn't have enough velocity to allow your control surfaces to function. But also read up on prop walk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propeller_walk) if you haven't already done so. Its an interesting byproduct of your propeller's motion that can either be a friend or foe when getting in and out of your slip.

LuzSD · Jul 9, 2012

Newsailor, it WAS windy yesterday, we decided to enjoy a glass of wine in the afternoon/evening on the boat instead of going out as we had on on Thurs. Friday and Sat. I first applaud you for going out in wind.......thats good! You look like you have a slip that works with your prop walk, that is helpful!! I won't address that in my list below ...

6 years ago a very knowledgeable young man was talking to us about the tricks he used when taking new sailors out on their new boats OR when taking prospective buyers out on a boat for sale. Here are a few of his secrets, they have worked very well for us.

calm yourself before you begin
assuming you don't have a prop walk issue, pull out from your slip with enough speed to maintain backward motion (discussed by many already)
Keep your wheel fairly straight, let the boat show you what its going to do.
Pretend you are lighting up a cigarette.... take some time, slow things down, remember nothing happens in a hurry so its best to allow the boat time to move out into the fairway.
when you are clear of the dock and all the dingy's in your way,put the motor in neutral and let it continue backing up
put into forward gear with some throttle and start turning your wheel (or tiller ) to head out of the fairway...........continue small motions, because every large motion you make will need to be corrected as much.

Many people mention my favorite tricks.....keep enough speed and come in with just what you need, you almost can't come in too slow...and if you are, it can be corrected more easily by increasing forward speed than decreasing with lots of reverse. All of this is gained by doing it so get a plan, one that is not too complicated and practice practice practice. Enjoy the challenge and ask for help from dockmates at first........ no shame in that!!

Benny17441 · Jul 9, 2012

From what I can see you made one mistake and that was to allow the bow of the boat to cross the wind. A boat at slow speed has no stearage and the wind and currents will turn it whichever way. "I put the outboard in forward gear but by this time, the wind had pushed the bow over to the right..." I don't know what you were doing but there should have been plenty of time to let the boat drift back into the middle of the fairway before engaging forward and throtling it up to gain stearage. Let me recreat a hypothetical way of doing it. As the boat starts to back out it starts to turn sharply to port. It is determined reverse wont do it so the outboard is hifted to neutral. If there is a pylon the boat can be allowed to rest against it or used as a pivot point. There is no rule that says the boat has to only be steered by the tiller. I would have jumped on deck to fend off and push off from the pylon or big yacht #1. The idea is to push the boat back into the center of fairway going with the wind or current without turning it so it does not cross the wind (The tiller is moved opposite in reverse) . While you wait to drift back you could be getting ready to shift the outboard into forward but do not throtle up until you have gained enough space to allow your stern to drift to port and again miss yacht #1. You could say you want to keep the boat's bow pointed to the slip you just left until you are ready to throtle up, gain stearage and point the bow down the fairway. Forget about trying to manuever the boat like a car. It is more like observing which hay it wants to go and then providing well timed inputs to alter it's movement to where you want to go. Anything but crashing into another yacht is fair game. I was sitting at a dock in Key West when I saw a 41' Morgan back straight out of a slip at what seemed to be 3+ knots. The fairway had barely 50' and I anticipated a bad crash; since it was so quick I failed to notice the skipper had laid a carefully measured spring line to one of the rear cleats and when the line went taught the boat was turned with its bow facing the fairway exit. A man tending the line at the pylon released it and it was hauled into the boat as it made its way out. It was a display of boat handling. Practice and become familiar with how your boat reacts to throtle, rudder, wind and current.

sinnettc · Jul 9, 2012

Been there, done that.

I agree re backing into the wind if possible. I've tried the other way and bounced off a couple of other boats.

DO make sure your tilt latch is locked. I motored into our slip the other night, popped the outboard into reverse and throttled up to stop, and the @#$@# motor came up like my wife's kitchen aid mixer! It does no good at all at a 45 degree angle! Luckily we have new docks with nice rubber bumpers all around.

Sail123 · Jul 9, 2012

The best advice I have is lots of insurance. I keep a million dollars coverage on anything I may hit that I do not own. Had you bounced off those two boats, that could be serious lunch money.

I look at every possible problem I can think of, and I am quite comfortable sitting at the docks if anything looks iffy.

had a close call when leaving slip yesterday

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