Reversing into a Slip

Now it’s time to start to learn to back into a slip. But we’ll first start it outside the marina and next to a buoy. Use the buoy as a reference and your imagination, for now, to create the docking scenarios below.

Exercise R9 – Reversing to a Buoy Upwind:

Pretend you’re backing up to a dock. With your boat positioned downwind from a buoy, back up to the buoy and stop the boat so that the buoy is positioned 4 feet off the back of the boat. Use forward gear as you get close to the buoy.

What you learned

The boat stops extremely fast, in fact, if you use too much forward you’ll find yourself driving back downwind and away from the “dock” that you’re supposed to be tying off to. You’ll probably notice that just a spurt of power in forward will do the trick to stop the boat in position. Repeat the exercise so that you can stop the boat effectively in the correct position.

Exercise R10 – Reversing to a Buoy Downwind & Crosswind

Repeat the exercise from upwind and crosswind.

What you learned

Depending on the wind, you may have to apply a little more power to stop. For inboard engine drives, here is a crucial learning point. If you stop too early and try to start going backward again, you’re going to be forced off-course by prop walk and the wind on your bow at the exact point where it is imperative to keep straight. So it’s important to not stop too early as you will have absolutely no control. What this means is that you must practice, practice, practice backing downwind and stopping at the right point every time. Get used to how much power it takes to stop the boat, and discover exactly when you should apply that power. The only way out of this situation is to apply forward power and start the whole procedure again 50 yards out.

Exercise R11 – U-turn into a Slip:

Assume you wanted to back into a downwind-facing slip. Pretend the buoy is the piling next to your slip. Start with the boat facing downwind, begin backing and do a U-turn and back the boat into the slip.

What you learned

This is a simple maneuver that could have been trouble if you did not start facing downwind; that is, we’re teaching you to always start with your stern to the wind.

Reversing into a Downwind Slip

For an inboard engine drive system, turning while in reverse is only achieved when water from the boat’s backward movement is flowing with sufficient speed over the rudder. Whereas with stern and outboard drives, turning is achieved by the pivot of the propeller direction AND by the drive units themselves acting as rudders.

Therefore for inboard engine drives, when wanting to maneuver backward in higher wind situations, you have to get the boat moving to effect a turn otherwise the wind is going to control how your boat is pointing. Knowing this, you are best advised to start reversing with your stern facing the wind while you pick up speed – then once you have speed (turning capability) you can then begin to maneuver your boat to the slip. The image below shows an inboard engine driven boat doing a U-turn in reverse into the slip to overcome the windage and take advantage of propwalk.

For stern and outboard drives, you are still going to get pushed around by the wind but your ability to have control once in reverse comes more quickly. Still, having your stern to wind when starting to maneuver could be a good tool in your toolbox depending on how your boat reacts to reverse and wind.

Note

A simple rule of thumb for steering a boat backward: If you want the back of the boat to go one way, then turn the wheel that way. Actually, this is the same for going forward—if you want the front of a boat to go right, then turn to the right. 

Time for a fun animation that shows what not to do when trying to back into a slip and then how to do it. Note this is for any boat suffering from prop walk sail or power boat.

Inboard Engine Drive Summary

So Now You Get It – Right?

• Always begin with your stern to the wind, then maneuver your boat backward into the position you want by doing right-angle turns, U-turns, or backing straight in.
• Once the water is flowing over the rudder, you can maneuver the boat however you want.
• Just don’t stop the boat unless you’re either tied off or your stern is to the wind.
• Use enough speed to create rudder flow in order to overcome the wind.
• Steering is determined by the direction of water flow over the rudder, regardless of what gear you are in.
• Don’t be afraid to use plenty of power.
• Start with low revs to reduce prop walk, then increase as the boat begins to move.
• Anticipate prop walk.
• If you have to stop and wait for traffic, then do it with your stern to the wind.
• And if you can only remember one thing from this entire course—it is stern to the wind.

Stern and Outboard Engine Drive Summary

• In forward gear, turn the helm to starboard and the bow goes to starboard (watch out for the stern swinging wide)
• In reverse gear, turn the helm to starboard and the stern goes to starboard.
• Steering is determined by the gear and the helm regardless of water flow direction