How to dock a single-engine inboard/outdrive boat stern-first 

Would all of you just to give up complaining the boat looks dirty this is not a new boat however it is always a pleasure to see these boats still being used and still being left the issue here is a very kind and useful instructional video on how to berth in the marina so take it as you will many of us started on boats an awful lot worse and have slowly built our way towards having a larger boat polishing and waxing is not the be all and end all I have seen so many boats polished at the beginning of the season and never leave their berths I would much rather see a boat that is loved and used then a boat that is left on a berth

also helps when you don't care about a few more scratches on your boat either...

Best single screw docking video on youtube...simple and correctly done.

So, all those who are complaining about his dirty boat....at least he made a video we all spent a few minutes enjoying watching. You guys are tough.

Now, THIS is a video worth posting and watching. Unlike the thousands of other videos of people who likely don't even own boats, that are criticizing skippers that are trying dock either under challenging conditions or simply learning how. Great video.

I thought it looked pretty good. Good tip with the bow line. Don't let these other guys without docking video put you down, most of them are nothing more than keyboard commandos anyways. Thanks for posting.

Excellent tips. Throttle control is really key...use momentum to your advantage, rather than letting throttle take advantage of you (especially when you're new to boating). Th tip with the rope (sorry, bow line, as my learned friend explains ad nauseam) is very helpful to single dockers like me

We had a boat like this (Bayliner 28 classic) and it was a PITA to dock in a crosswind. The high cabin acted like a sail. You could maneuver the stern, but the bow had a mind of its own. Usually I just put the nose against a piling and then used the engine to work it around, or had a crewmate with a line to the bow. We thought about a bow thruster, but it was far too expensive. Great video. Your Flying Fox looks like an old Thompson.

Thanks for taking the time to make this video. This is truly helpful. Although I suspect you are skilled enough to make it look easier than it is. Great tip with the rope.

Very straightforward tip. Thank you for publishing that s video. It's helpful for a new boater.

Nice video and great technique with the "rope" Thank you

Hi philnjack. Even with the wind on the bow I have to berth stern-in every time. I don't use forward gear to stop the boat going astern inside the berth because:- a) I find it don't need to - it's going slowly anyway b) Engaging "ahead" to stop when inside the berth would push the stern to starboard - and usually there's someone else berthed there. c) The boat stops with just a tug on the rope which pulls it evenly and gently alongside. ...It seems to work so I just thought I'd pass it on.

Nice video. Thanks for sharing! Looks like a 26' boat. Great work.

Great video, sir. I've just bought my first boat and this video is very helpfull. Rulan already ordered ! Great accent by the way. Slow as Pro. Love it.

Excellent video! One of the best on RU-vid on tis subject!

I have a 1969 16 foot Crestliner with johnson electric shift outdrive. Very easy to dock and pinpoint maneuver have had it about 4 or 5 years. I recently bought a 24 foot Sea Ray cuddy cabin with a mercruiser single outdrive, It is a nightmare to dock, even Bow first. As soon as you switch to reverse, the Bow wants to wander to port every time. Slow and steady are a must but the trick you showed here should prove invaluable until I get a better feel for it. Thank you for this.

Brilliant on the ribbon on the bow!!!! well done!

Super helpful video - many thanks!

Brilliant advice! Thanks a lot for a very instructive video!

Good basic docking tips. Nice job. I dock in Columbia river with 7 knot current ad 20 knot winds. Sometimes takes more than one try...

Wow ... alot of people talked crap....but this guy made me feel good about docking at slip....

Thank you I really enjoyed your presentation.

single prop boats have a much harder time, duo props make reverse a lot easier. I do like the rope on the cleat...very good idea

This was an excellent video of tactics to use when docking. It's amazing how many boaters are so critical of others' videos that genuinely help boaters gain more skills.

Classic skills, flawlessly executed!

Single engine, single handed and no bow thruster. I would probably have a heart attack! Well done. Every little tip helps!

Some nice tips, thank you for the post

3:01 Just scratched all that nice paintwork

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Thank you. Great tutorial.

The rope tip may help, although we agree a multitude of fenders are a must with this technique to protect your gelcoat

Thank you, nicely done.

Nice Video and helpful. I helped myself on my boats by installing the Uncle Norm's Marine fins on my lower unit. It gave me a lot more actual steering control. Uncle Norm's has a few videos on you-tube showing how they work. They also help counteract the effect of wind on boats that can catch a lot of wind like yours and mine.

Good video mate!

Thanks Henry. Much appreciated.

I like the use of the line! Thanks!

Cool video thanks for sharing knowledge

The single with stern drives are so bad. It's the singles with a rudder that are really hard to manage. You do exactly what I try to teach people to do when docking and that's just bump it in and out of gear to slow the process down and gently move it where it needs to go. If in gear to long it speeds things up and usually causes a over shoot of where you're trying to go. Good video.

Well explained thank you

Hugely informative.Thanks for posting.

The rope trick is wonderful. Over controlling, and using too much power are clearly NOT in evidence here. I love the rulan indicator.. have to get one ! One other trick. with the helm centered, notice that application of power in reverse, will make the stern move to the left ( port). This can be extremely handy ... learn to master this .

this was actually helpful

Great Work!

awesome video

Very well done. Any negatives here are douches with docking joysticks and 3 outboards. This is old school!

well done video

I love this vid it’s a classic

Very well done

penarth marina.. flying fox... loved it

Comments about appearance of boat reminds me of an old saying attributed to Confucius..." The measure of a man is the size of the thing it takes to get his goat"... Further about sterndrives being "easy".... Deep V boats with a large deadrise angle combined with a high pitch prop can result in a boat that will only go straight back or to one side.... Not necessarily all that easy to dock. Also boats with high bow influence windage, i.e. like my cuddy with a Bimini in a gusty crosswind are.... trying. Ribbon a wizard suggestion, as is the "rope". FYI a rope is a line WHEN AND ONLY WHEN it has a specific designated purpose on a boat, i.e., bow line ( secures boat to dock at bow), spring line...( controls boats position in a slip or at a dock fore/aft).... So unless you want this rope to be called the "Help me control the bow of the boat when docking line".... its a "rope". /Captain Bob USCG Masters license since 1986

Come on guys. Be nice. I'm a stickler for bristol but...we can't all have brand new Riva's. First, know which direction your prop walks and approach the berth from the appropriate direction to use it instead of fight it. Second, like he said, knowing your rudder position at all times is very important when you are applying brief bursts of power to make small corrections. The rest is patient practice and being willing to admit your current attempt is going south and start over if need be.

I/O whether it be single or twin is pretty easy to dock, as easy as an outboard set up. single straight inboard is the hard one on a single inboard you have no steering in reverse. at least on an I/O you have an out drive and the propeller turns with the drive.

Good information, friend. Glad I stumbled across it, I can see this being very helpful. I did a search for the Rolan Indicator and came up with nothing. Can you tell me where I can find one? Thanks

Very helpful thank u

I used to wait until there were no boats in the way, and at night. LOL.

I watch these videos for the "arm chair captains comments" ,, thank you this video is eight years old and you still have wannabees that want to be as good as you

Well done

Very good, I'll have to watch over and over for all the info to sink in. No pun intended. Thank You.

Very interesting Bogbar. Do you have a link to your uncle's fin video please?

thank you!

Brilliant! 👍🇬🇧

What boat is that right at beginning on left hand side, the red one, it looks like a tug, I love tugs they are the best boats.

Sweet!

That's a nice piece . . well made and clear. Did you eventually clean-u your boat?

I couldn't agree more.

I have googled Rulan steering indicator but nothing comes up can you give more details

how about bow-first? same boat and slip .. or maybe a further in slip with the opposite side completely fill up.

A fixed shaft drive prop and separate rudder is harder to control going astern than a outboard / outdrive where the prop steers as well as drives.

I enjoyed this video,simple but correct.Thank You.

I have a 23 foot bow rider and I can't stern in as the prop-wash from our I/O pushes the whole boat around.

Good video. Where was this?

Would have been nice if propeller effect were taken into consideration. For proper manouvering it is indispensable to know whether the propeller in question is left- or righthanded, and what effect this will have on your intentions.

what sort of boat/hull is that? I have one that looks identical that I am restoring but cannot find any info on the boat

Do you know what a spring line is used for? If there was any wind or current, you would bash it up, or the guy next to you.

The boat is a Fox 700 built in the early 1980s - but it's based on the hull of the Cleopatra range made by Essex boatbuilders (Fox bought-out Cleopatra). You may find a website called "mycleopatra.ning.com" useful.

Callum, like you, I disagree with what they are saying. An I/O steers both ways in reverse like a car whereas a single screw inboard only steers opposite it's rotation while in reverse at least until it has built some momentum. You are also correct regarding short bursts but they are usually needed only when there is strong wind and/or current.

What do people with stern drive motors do? I just bought a 26’ bow rider with a volvo penta duoprop and i cant for the life of me figure what my prop position is when i am low speed maneuvering like docking. Once i turn to port and then back to starboard i can never find the center again. Any tips?

nifty trick

I don't seem to be able to post the link. I did post a video response which I think you will have to approve before it appears here. I really like the RULAN indicator. I'm never quite sure where my outdrive is. You can see more of my videos if you just search on my user name. Where are you in the world? I'm in Washington State, USA.

What if you are the boat beside you, there is no brige og cleet, just 2 poles ?

most people don't realize that in/out has a much sharper turning ratio then an outboard or twin outdrives which makes it easy to move the stern in or out

I've always been taught, there are not any "ropes" on a boat, but there are "lines" on a boat. The only rope on a boat is the rope to start an outboard motor.

Finally I found this best explained in docking.

Like it thnx

Bow thruster retrofit

nice

You make it look easy, I am just learning and this has helped I just did my powerboat level 2, but the marina has put my little dory in the tightest space possible, I guess it will give me good practice but hopefully not smash the boats on either side !

What is the model on this boat ?????

THANK CHEW

I've problems docking my twin engine shaft driven cabin cruiser when one of my engines is not operational. Basically the reverse will only go in one direction regardless of how I turn my rudder. Anyone has tips on berthing under this kind of circumstances?

Génial

Make sure there's no rope hangin over the transom!

Well done sir. There wouldn’t have been a boat in the harbor safe from me trying that maneuver.

that is a real old boat even the drive is a OMC stringer I had one and buff that thing out

Hello Phil. The full name is the Rulan Rudder Position Indicator - and I too have had trouble finding it on the internet. If you are in the UK you might like to go to the Force 4 chandlery website as search for item number 870027

Which marina is this?

sir at 3:07 you hit the dock!!!!

👌👍

omg I/O is easy. Try reversing with a keel and rudder...

Uber impressive!!!!!!