Backing Tomcat Into Slip

K

Kerry and Lisa

New member
Lisa and I received our 24 Tomcat, the Kid'n'me, from Fort Myers last Saturday. Not having piloted a boat before, it was scary for me to be alone in the boat and pilot it from the launch ramp to our slip at the Galveston Yacht Club and Marina. The latter is something that I would not have even tried, had I been able to find someone to do it for me. Also, the driver was anxious to unload and head back to Fort Myers.

The experience was all the more stressful since the weather was poor (gusts to 30-40 mph and 2-ft chop) and the area was crowded with boats participating in an annual marina event. I tried to remain calm and take it nice and slow. Nevertheless, to say that I was stressed out is an understatement. (I hate to admit this but, at one point, I even noticed my right foot feeling for the brake!)

When I arrived at our assigned pier and slip, I managed after several tries to get the boat into the slip bow first and secure her with docking lines where she remained overnight. All the other power boats in the marina were backed in, but I wasn't going to try that in such poor conditions.

Lisa and I returned to the marina early the following morning; fortunately it was very calm with only the slightest breeze. I, therefore, decided to try to back the Kid'n'me into the slip and raise her on her slings. I wasn't nearly as nervous as the day before and managed to back her in on the second try.

I can tell you that the Tomcat is an and incredibly well mannered boat. I realize this is the opinion of a novice to boating, but it really did seem that the boat was conveying confidence to the pilot! I backed out of the slip and brought her around till her stern faced the slip by putting one engine in forward and the other in reverse. She turned on a dime! Then, with both engines in neutral, at idle, and facing straight, I alternately shifted one or the other from neutral to reverse to bring the stern to starboard (port engine engaged) or port (starboard engine engaged) as needed to coast into the slip.

Now Lisa and I will take a Coast Guard boating class and also find someone to give us hands on lessons in piloting, caring for, and enjoying the Kid'n'me to the max.

My question (finally!) is: Did I accidently use the right approach to docking a Tomcat or is there a different and better way?

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.

Kerry and Lisa
 
Kerry-

Sounds like you did a teriffic job!

I'm not familiar with driving the Tomcat, but the greater motor separation between the hulls, when compared with a mono-hull, should make the dual engine steering via forward/reverse thrusting even easier.

Mono-hulls with single motors, especially a conventional inboard, are the hardest to maneuver. An outboard's thrust is much more directable than that a fixed shaft and propeller with a post rudder behind.

Some will tell you that with dual engines only the forward/reverse shifting is needed for such close-quarter maneuvering, and it works and is simple.

Additionally using the wheel as well as the forward/reverse thrusting can be advantageous in dual installations, but is more comples and requires more advanced thinking and is harder to do in tight/stressfull/panic situations.

Welcome to the Boat Brake Captain's Club. It's a secret society that few admit to being members of, and has similar Fraternal Chapters of Astronauts, Submariners, and Skydivers. Our Motto: "Keep your eyes on the target and your feet on the brakes, and don't be a party to any funeral wakes!"

Congradulations on your new Tomcat and welcome aboard!

Joe.
 
Sea Wolf":3dxt0pgx said:
Kerry-

Sounds like you did a teriffic job!

I'm not familiar with driving the Tomcat, but the greater motor separation between the hulls, when compared with a mono-hull, should make the dual engine steering via forward/reverse thrusting even easier.

Mono-hulls with single motors are harder to maneuver. The conventional inboard with it's fixed propeller and shaft with the rudder behind is the hardest to maneuver. The outboard is easier to manuever because an outboard's thrust is much more directable.

Some will tell you that with dual engines only the forward/reverse shifting is needed for such close-quarter maneuvering, and it does work, and is simple.

Additionally using the wheel as well as the forward/reverse thrusting can be advantageous in dual installations, but is more comples and requires more advanced thinking and is harder to do in tight/stressfull/panic situations.

Welcome to the Boat Brake Captain's Club. It's a secret society that few admit to being members of, and has similar Fraternal Chapters of Astronauts, Submariners, and Skydivers. Our Motto: "Keep your eyes on the target and your feet on the brakes, and don't be a party to any funeral wakes!"

Congradulations on your new Tomcat and welcome aboard!

Joe.
Click to expand...
 
Kerry I have a Tom Cat and you did exactly the right thing with engines and clutches to turn boat.....Like anything else practice on calm days as much as you can and note tide and currents and how they effect the boat....good luck with her its a great boat....Ed
 
Ed,

I posted a big thank you directly to Joe on the Sea Wolf and thank you as well. (I only just noticed that one can respond either to individuals or to all forum participants.)

Please check out my new posting under the topic "The Cat." Since, like the Kid'n'me, your 24 Tomcat sports 100 Yamahas, I think that you can probably give me good advice on how to run Tomcats in rough seas. Of course, I hope to avoid such conditions as much as possible, but it is always best to be prepared.

Thanks.

Kerry
 
First you did the right thing, and "did good". Remember that some of the outboard cats have engines set up differently than inboards. Mine are set up opposite to what inboards are--so when you get into a "new" boat, be sure and practice. Yes, the in and out of gear is the best way to back with the engines alighned straight. But I do find that I can turn a 180 better if I allow the thrust effect of the foreward engine to have precident.
Also always consider what the wind will do, and use it to your advantage. The Tom Cat hulls act as keels, and thus are very nice handling boats.
 
My question (finally!) is: Did I accidently use the right approach to docking a Tomcat or is there a different and better way?

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.

Kerry and Lisa[/quote]

The only thing I see you could do different is 2 shots of tequila and a lortab first. :lol: just kidding
 
Kerry and Lisa...

Sounds like you handled the situation perfectly! Especially for a new boat. I've been boating for many decades, but a new boat can have a totally different feel from one's old boats, even if he/she was experienced.

I really feel for your having to jump in unexpectedly and get it to the dock in high winds in a crowded marina. 'Sounds like you stepped right up to the plate.


I noticed that you are speaking of Galveston Marina.... I am supposed to meet my sons at some marina in the Galveston area for some offshore fishing in early July this summer. Would your marina be a good place for me to reserve a slip for a week or so? Do you know of a good place for me to arrange a slip close to the Gulf for fishing?

I'd really appreciate any information.... especially from such exceptional "pilots" as you two!

John
 
Kerry and Lisa, you're not alone. I am not that far ahead of you on the learning curve.

The slip that I am renting requires me to maneuver my TC sideways in between 2 other boats and tie up to the side. I can get about halfway there and then it all falls apart and becomes a Chinese fire drill. Using my twins, I can walk the stern in close to the dock. But once I'm there I can't seem to get the knack of moving the bow in without throwing the stern back out.

Any suggestions from Brat-dom?

Warren
 
Warren...

I had the same problem trying to dock, like parallel parking, there at Edmonds Marina. The dock hands said the thing to do is to drive right straight forward, perpendicular to the docking spot, and pass off lines. Depending upon the wind, you could tie one end down and either motor or pull the other end up to the dock. If enough room, then go forward on a spring line.

Basically, they just wanted the bow up to the dock and some lines passed off.

Other than that, I don't have a better idea.

John
 
Above relates to wind off the dock. If wind is blowing you into the dock, then just adjust forward and backward while the wind blows you sideways into the docking slot.

John...


btw.... what happened to the "Edit" tag thing that used to be at the top of these entries?

John
 
drjohn71a":2qi6cjpd said:
btw.... what happened to the "Edit" tag thing that used to be at the top of these entries?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I discovered that too this morning on one of my posts. Did you also notice there is a button now for Yahoo IM?

Bill, can we have our edits back?

Warren
 
Warren,
After you get the stern in, then get a spring line--from the dock aft, to the amidships cleat. As you power foreward very slowly (just a few kicks) this will bring the boat parallel to the dock. If you can drive the bow in, then the spring line would be the opposite (dock foreward, boat aft).

The TC pivoits around the engines, unless you have another point of pivot--and the spring moves this pivoit point. There are various devices you can use to get a spring line ahore, over a piling to a cleate or bull rail.
 
The "Boats for Sale By Owner" forum is the only one that does not have an Edit button - that was intentional. Has come up a few times before, will no doubt stay this way.
Lori Ann":1icrqfda said:
drjohn71a":1icrqfda said:
btw.... what happened to the "Edit" tag thing that used to be at the top of these entries?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I discovered that too this morning on one of my posts. Did you also notice there is a button now for Yahoo IM?

Bill, can we have our edits back?

Warren
Click to expand...
 
I thought about using a spring line but rejected it as being for wimps and by golly I was going to do it like the pros! Now I feel better about my boat-handling skills (or lack thereof.)

Warren
 
Warren... Alot of those big fishing boats around Massachusetts load and unload using ONLY spring lines!! And those are the real pros...

John
 
Whimps' bottom line method:

Just get in close and use a long boathook or two!

Old axiom: "Never approach a dock faster than you're willing to hit it!"

Joe.
 
Warren,

It's always special to hear from a fellow Cat lover. The 255 is a beauty; we saw a new one at Bulldog Boatwerks when we went to sea test what is now our 24 TC. Nothing wrong with salivating and dreaming!

It's always something! On reading your post, my wife Lisa had only one comment: "I'm sure glad that I don't have to learn to parallel park"!!!! (Lisa still panics when she has to parallel park her truck.) At present, the only parallel parking I plan to try is when we go in for fueling, and I'll make sure that there are no other boats around when we do.

Anyone else having trouble with SpellCheck. I just get a blank screen.

Kerry
 
A spring line to maneuver certainly isn't whimpy or amateurish... especially when compared to whacking other boats or the dock! :wink: Joan and I discuss each arrival as we come in; I have no problem making a pass or two to see what the wind/current is doing to my maneuvering. Then I'll tell her where to cleat off first, knowing that once there is a line on, I have much better low speed control. (Learned this on the tri with an 8hp motor that had very little turning room) Toss a line on, maneuver in easy, and look like you know what you're doing.

Check Chapman's to see the various ways they recommend a spring line for maneuvering around the dock.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Kerry and Lisa":1e5yr62l said:
Warren,

Anyone else having trouble with SpellCheck. I just get a blank screen.

Kerry
Click to expand...

Doesn't work with a Mac computer, usually, depending on your browser.

Of course, you can export the message to a word processing program for a spell check, then bring it back if you have considerable spelling problems.

Joe.
 
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