Great video. It reminded me of a female customer of mine telling a lady considering buying a zero-turn mower, but didn't understand how to steer it. My customer simply told her to drive it just like you push a shopping buggy! Simply the best description of how to drive one I ever heard!
A suggest refinement for the advanced class. Put something on the cart that will extend out from the front a bit. This can replicate how the bow swings as the boat pivots on its turning axis about 1/3 back, depending on the boat. Using wind and current to leave, or return, to the dock can be beneficial too. I operate in the Sacramento delta so there are river and tidal currents as well as winds that can be up to 20 knots. USCG Sta. Rio Vista’s docks are right on the river and offer a good place to practice. (If they’re not busy). A look at using spring lines would be interesting. I’ve often had to bring 38’/40’ single engine trawlers into their slips in the marina with 12+ knot winds, often gusting much higher, coming in on the port bow. This can be interesting as they don’t handle well at docking speeds and share a slip with another boat, whose owner may be sitting there watching to see if you’re going to play Captain Crunch with his costly mistress. (Get a walking fender out!) To account for this some come in at a high speed then throw it into reverse to avoid ramming the dock. This can work ok in a perfect world. But I was docking a 38’ Grand Banks with a single diesel engine one day. When the throttle was put into idle so we could shift into reverse, the engine remained at a high rpm so we couldn’t shift. Fortunately we were close enough to kill the engine and coast in and get a line around a piling. An educational experience.
WoW, thank you so much for sharing! I went to a school out there when I was in the Coast Guard and we went up the Sacramento River. I thought it was awesome!
Another really good video, and don’t disagree with anything you’ve said . . . but, in the right circumstances / room you can get off the dock going forwards, using opposite side aft cleat, you may be already familiar with this technique? But if you’re not, maybe worth finding a ‘spronging off’ video, really useful manoeuvre 😊
Another aspect is not docking too close behind or in front of boats already docked. People wanting to dock boats think they can do so like parallel parking a car. As you indicated in the video, you need space to maneuver away from the dock when leaving, even more so if wind, waves and current are present. Practicing maneuvering your boat in open water gives you a better understanding about docking, navigating buoy fields, slips and handling your boat. If you haven't already planned, a video on anchoring would be helpful. Pontoon boats are popular, but people don't realize they are harder to anchor. Just like the type and size of rope for what it is being used for as well as the type and size of the boat, anchors and their chains and rope need to fit the boat and purpose.
Great explanation Captain. Great job. 👍🏼
Glad you liked it, thank you so much for watching and commenting!!!
Great video. It reminded me of a female customer of mine telling a lady considering buying a zero-turn mower, but didn't understand how to steer it. My customer simply told her to drive it just like you push a shopping buggy! Simply the best description of how to drive one I ever heard!
That’s an awesome story, thank you for sharing and thank you for commenting!!!
Very nice way to explain this. Well done! THank you.
I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!
A suggest refinement for the advanced class. Put something on the cart that will extend out from the front a bit. This can replicate how the bow swings as the boat pivots on its turning axis about 1/3 back, depending on the boat. Using wind and current to leave, or return, to the dock can be beneficial too. I operate in the Sacramento delta so there are river and tidal currents as well as winds that can be up to 20 knots. USCG Sta. Rio Vista’s docks are right on the river and offer a good place to practice. (If they’re not busy). A look at using spring lines would be interesting.
I’ve often had to bring 38’/40’ single engine trawlers into their slips in the marina with 12+ knot winds, often gusting much higher, coming in on the port bow. This can be interesting as they don’t handle well at docking speeds and share a slip with another boat, whose owner may be sitting there watching to see if you’re going to play Captain Crunch with his costly mistress. (Get a walking fender out!) To account for this some come in at a high speed then throw it into reverse to avoid ramming the dock. This can work ok in a perfect world. But I was docking a 38’ Grand Banks with a single diesel engine one day. When the throttle was put into idle so we could shift into reverse, the engine remained at a high rpm so we couldn’t shift. Fortunately we were close enough to kill the engine and coast in and get a line around a piling. An educational experience.
WoW, thank you so much for sharing! I went to a school out there when I was in the Coast Guard and we went up the Sacramento River. I thought it was awesome!
Keep it simple. Great analogy familiar to all. Keep the pearls coming chief.
Thank you for your comment, will do!
These are great! Keep them coming!!
Thank you so much!
Excellent instructional video, very simple, very practical, once u have the concept the learning becomes easier
Thank you so much for your comment!
Good one
Thank you so much for commenting!!!
Good training aid. 👍😎 Now if I could just simulate wind and current sliding the whole boat sideways while I’m trying to make these maneuvers. 😬
I know right! Thank you so much for commenting!
@@UrjunkMygold Baby steps!
Sometimes is best to draw a picture with crayons. Good stuff Chief!
You got that right Brother, thanks for your support!
Another really good video, and don’t disagree with anything you’ve said . . . but, in the right circumstances / room you can get off the dock going forwards, using opposite side aft cleat, you may be already familiar with this technique? But if you’re not, maybe worth finding a ‘spronging off’ video, really useful manoeuvre 😊
Thank you so much for sharing!
Brilliant……
Thank you so much!
Another aspect is not docking too close behind or in front of boats already docked. People wanting to dock boats think they can do so like parallel parking a car. As you indicated in the video, you need space to maneuver away from the dock when leaving, even more so if wind, waves and current are present.
Practicing maneuvering your boat in open water gives you a better understanding about docking, navigating buoy fields, slips and handling your boat.
If you haven't already planned, a video on anchoring would be helpful. Pontoon boats are popular, but people don't realize they are harder to anchor. Just like the type and size of rope for what it is being used for as well as the type and size of the boat, anchors and their chains and rope need to fit the boat and purpose.
Thank you so much for your comment and your advice. I'm working on that video as we speak!
Funny, when I was in the Coast Guard, the coxswain who trained me took me to the local grocery store and taught me the same way.😃
Outstanding, thank you so much for commenting!