Reverse???

[Gym]

It was windy on Sunday and this one bar has about 30 slips, most are doubles with no dock between. Every down wind dock was occupied and over a few hours, we watched dozens of boats come in, try to get that near spot, fail once or twice and leave. Luckily I got a single shooter earlier.

Hmmm, are they double slips before you go into the bar or only after you come out? There have been some very favorable reviews on @Cobra Jet Steering LLC new fangs attached to his Ultimate fins. Check them out. I will be adding these when I get some time.

 

[rkluck]

I also got those telescoping dock poles from West Marine. It enables people to guide the boat in (pull, it has a hook, or push) to keep her straight. This kept people and theirs hands in the boat. I thought it much safer. It works as well when pulling along side another boat.

 

[haknslash]

I also got those telescoping dock poles from West Marine. It enables people to guide the boat in (pull, it has a hook, or push) to keep her straight. This kept people and theirs hands in the boat. I thought it much safer. It works as well when pulling along side another boat.

I bought something similar at Academy Sports. It's a telescoping paddle with a dock hook/grabber handle. I figured I could kill two birds with one stone on that purchase.

 

[Bennie]

It was windy on Sunday and this one bar has about 30 slips, most are doubles with no dock between. Every down wind dock was occupied and over a few hours, we watched dozens of boats come in, try to get that near spot, fail once or twice and leave. Luckily I got a single shooter earlier.

And that is why I have a Keel Guard....we just beach the boat :-D

 

[Devildog]

I am new to jetboats. I have had some issues with slow speed maneuvering, but am getting the hang of it. One thing you very well may know, but I didnt, was that you can leave the boat in the NO WAKE mode and cycle back and forth from neutral, to fwd to reverse and it stays in the NO WAKE mode. That made a big difference for me.

Could you walk me through how you do this. Are you using the + and - buttons to go Forward, Neutral or Reverse?

 

[captras]

You dont use the + - to go F N R. Set your wake mode using the + - to get to the speed you want....I recommend ONLY the slow speed. But then as you approach your parking you can move your throttle between F N R as necessary. The RPM will remain constant so it only requires just a quick bump into what ever direction you want. For example, if you are approaching the dock and you need to bring your front to the right, turn the wheel right and bump it into F for just a second then back to N. It will turn without increasing your speed. If you want to slow, just bump it to R for a second, and it will slow you down. Again, I recommend you are at the slowest WAKE MODE speed. I am no expert and still learning. I have learned one VERY important thing.....dont get in a rush. Take is slow an easy and you will dock like a pro. If you look at You Tube, there are some good videos of docking a jet boat....but notice...they are ALL done very slowly. Good luck!

 

[mraz72]

I turn the wheel to direct the jet pump and bump the throttle. One you get the hang of which direction to turn the wheel and how much throttle to give, you'll get it.

I wet slip my boat and back in all the time, although today was a bit windy and was a little challenging. I try to center the boat between the dock and my neighbor, I then kill the engine when I am about 1/2 way it and still floating backwards. I jump onto the swim platform and stop my backwards momentum by using my feet on the dock, I then jump off, grab the boat and move it into position.

 

[swatski]

Here is the right way to do this.

I believe it was Mel @txav8r who actually invented the procedure.

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[captainhook]

I have a difficult time both docking in forward or reverse. Every once in a while I can nail it, but where we boat there is always current in the river and often wind. 90% of the time I can't get the boat in but on an angle. I like the no wake mode tips, but doesn't that come in too fast? I come in at a snail's pace and still have trouble with zero throttle, I just alternate the throttles between forward and reverse and a very occasional blast of higher RPM. Perhaps that is my problem; little/lack of control with jet drives. I've been driving jets for over 20 years on PWCs and I can turn those things on a dime even in difficult conditions, but the boat is still proving challenging for me on my third season. The interesting thing for me is I can do pretty well approaching another boat in the open water, but confined spaces are difficult.

 

[Devildog]

I have a difficult time both docking in forward or reverse. Every once in a while I can nail it, but where we boat there is always current in the river and often wind. 90% of the time I can't get the boat in but on an angle. I like the no wake mode tips, but doesn't that come in too fast? I come in at a snail's pace and still have trouble with zero throttle, I just alternate the throttles between forward and reverse and a very occasional blast of higher RPM. Perhaps that is my problem; little/lack of control with jet drives. I've been driving jets for over 20 years on PWCs and I can turn those things on a dime even in difficult conditions, but the boat is still proving challenging for me on my third season. The interesting thing for me is I can do pretty well approaching another boat in the open water, but confined spaces are difficult.

I haven't really had any major issues docking unless it is a super tight space. My pier at the marina is on the end, so I have a ton of space to pull in. The downside is that when a space is tight (many of our restaurants), I get a little anxiety because I don't do it a lot. So far so good though .

Much like you, I also come in Suuuuuper slow and just bump the throttle in F/N/R. I'm gonna try Captras method just to see how that works. I'm always looking for new and better ways to do things.

 

[Nick Hughes]

I actually prefer to come in with a little speed, that helps it track pretty straight. And then just nail reverse and turn the wheel opposite to the side of the dock you want to kiss at the last 5 feet. Be sure to let your passengers know the procedure about to occur.

 

[captras]

I am buy by no means an expert. Limited experience, it has worked for me,but I have not had to deal with winds or current yet. Hope it works or for you, and you don't end up cussing me out

 

[Ronnie]

I recommend doing exactly the opposite of what this fellow jet boater did.

 

[Nick Hughes]

That was a pretty good nearly 180 in that slip.

 

[Zeus2013]

Well, I will be backing into a slip Saturday, hopefully....will try the throttle method, maybe get there early to avoid all the onlookers...

 

[Bennie]

@captainhook - I run into the same problem when we get some strong tides. The procedure that @captras mentioned above works perfectly for me. The No Wake keeps the engines revved as I want then I just work the two engines to provide the desired directional thrust.

Those tight places are a killer though, the water just moves faster and as we pull very little draft we succumb to it very quickly.

 

[txav8r]

I believe it was Mel @txav8r who actually invented the procedure.

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Shoot NO, I didn't invent it! It has been in use probably as long as jet boats have been around...and once you get the hang of it, you too can dance your way into the slip!

 

[Julian]

Boat hooks can be your friends....don't feel like you can't use them

 

[Derek Fosbury]

Boat hooks can be your friends....don't feel like you can't use them

I feel like shouting that to most of the non-boaters that rent 50' houseboats and try to dock them in the channel or go through the locks!!

 

[Julian]

I feel like shouting that to most of the non-boaters that rent 50' houseboats and try to dock them in the channel or go through the locks!!

Especially when you are dealing with wind and/or current! Hook the dock, shut off the engines and manually pull into the dock....safe, no scratches and less stress!