I was just looking for some opinions. I am hopefully moving back up to a new to me 30 ft Grady 306 Canyon. I went down from a Marlin to 257 Fisherman , which I really enjoyed, but missed going further offshore. When I had my Marlin, I docked bow in because I felt that the easiest method in the marina. Winds can pick up in the fall and summer afternoons and I was trying to avoid pucker moments as much as possible. My thinking was the propellers and boat are really meant to go forward, so more control. I still had a few pucker moments on windy days. Now I am on a private slip with easy access, so my plan is to learn how to dock stern in on this slip and then when I return to a marina, I would continue to go stern in. I realize there are many reasons to dock stern in but my question is do people feel that once you get the knack, engines going in first actually creates more control especially windy days? It will have a bow thruster like my Marlin. Thanks for your opinions.
Bow in or stern in when docking
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Stern in, easier to run shorepower cords. Easier to flush motors. With twins they back up easier in reverse. Also it’s better to keep the expensive parts away from other boats that might hit them.
SkunkBoat
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vocz
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luckydude
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I have a buddy who has a Canyon 271, twin 300s. He goes bow in and he is an artist doing it. It's a pretty tight fit but he gets it in there every time. No bow thruster.
Sardinia306Canyon
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In Europe 98% of the marinas have no "finger docks" and we must dock either bow or stern to the dock and we have lines from sea bed to stern what makes all boats move depending on wind. If one is pulled tight and the other side sloppy then entering in between them can need to be very slow and push the boats away and that would not work stern first.
As getting on the dock over stern is more complicated with raised outboard boats most dock bow to dock, others use a gangway.
Sailboats dock mostly stern to dock as bow is to narrow and hight to climb on the dock, same for big inboard boats.
On a outboard boat it depends on preferences, particularly if dock has finger docks to get of the boat on the side.
I believe that with a outboard boat entering bow first is easier than stern first, but thats probably because i always do it bow to dock.
Chris
As getting on the dock over stern is more complicated with raised outboard boats most dock bow to dock, others use a gangway.
Sailboats dock mostly stern to dock as bow is to narrow and hight to climb on the dock, same for big inboard boats.
On a outboard boat it depends on preferences, particularly if dock has finger docks to get of the boat on the side.
I believe that with a outboard boat entering bow first is easier than stern first, but thats probably because i always do it bow to dock.
Chris
here is an interesting tidbit I learned regarding the bow/stern docking question. Our club has mostly what are called private slips. That is when there is a dock/finger dock on both sides of the boat and a main dock usually to the bow of the boat . A few boats back in, stern to main dock.
Most of the slips face southwest and gets a lot of sun in the summer. The sun and warm summer waters makes for serious hull growth, whereas the boats backed in face more north and have a lot less growth.
Knowing that, I still pull into my slip bow to main dock because it is much more difficult to back in since the slips are 11 feet wide and my beam is a tad over 9 feet. In addition, there is almost always a stiff early afternoon breeze on a good day. and gale force afternoon winds on the other days
Most of the slips face southwest and gets a lot of sun in the summer. The sun and warm summer waters makes for serious hull growth, whereas the boats backed in face more north and have a lot less growth.
Knowing that, I still pull into my slip bow to main dock because it is much more difficult to back in since the slips are 11 feet wide and my beam is a tad over 9 feet. In addition, there is almost always a stiff early afternoon breeze on a good day. and gale force afternoon winds on the other days
Legend
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We have a slip that has lots of wind and strong tide currents and for years I docked stern in with no bow thruster - not easy but doable on most days.. Many boats in the marina with thrusters have tough times docking. A few years ago I notice the police boats and Sea Tow boats were all docking bow in so decided to give bow in a try. My opinion bow in is a heck of a lot easier. We also appreciated that we got to take advantage or the sun during late afternoon and early evening in the cockpit area. The only downside is I need a 50 foot shore power cord. Not a downside for us but if marina slip is much shorter that the boat then boarding can become an issue.
I appreciate the input. My plan next year will be to try to master stern docking in at the private slip, where it's fairly easy to dock and see if I like it enough to carry it over to a Marina when I switch back. The key for me, bow in or stern in, is to not to get too bow thruster dependent. Thanks again.