inboard boat handling

Mike Timm · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 13 City: Winnebago

Has anyone ever thought, to put a small stern thruster under the swim platform? While I understand there's a learning curve to backing up the inboard, it only seems that a thruster, would be much safer, and more manuverable. Or is this just another MILLION dollar idea, that no one caught. Any ideas out there? Question

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

you'll get the hang of it after a while with a little practice.

people moving around in the boat makes it difficult, so try it by yourself or make everyone sit down.

have a little forthought and hang a few fenders off the side. ( never assume your riders will catch you. )

with a right hand prop i like to come in counterclockwise. left hand prop ....clockwise. use the momentum of your turn to pull the stern into the dock.

manual thrusters ( paddles ) work pretty good. Cool

DJew Jake · Posted: May 01, 2004 2:54 pm Post subject:

Just make it so you come in so your boat sucks into the dock in reverse, you gotta sort of whip it in, also i found i can get my mobius to turn either direction in revers with the rudder its like "bow steering" a canoe

Mike Timm · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 13 City: Winnebago

Thanks for the replies all. I guess what i'm trying to get at is, the slow speed manuevering, that is necessary, in and around others. Especially in the marinas. Having full control, at any speed, in any situation. Idea

Bruky · Guest

sounds like you are either completely new or coming off from an I/O.

jflock2 · Outlaw Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 234 City: Atlanta

Once you've practiced, I think you will find that inboards are the easiest type of boat to manuever...what kind of boat do you have?

Mike Timm · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 13 City: Winnebago

You've got it. We've always had outboards, until now. Purchased 04 Centurion Lighting edition, with most of the bells/whistles. Dealer sold us on it, for the various watersports uses. The open seating arrangement, with the V drive is great. We do pretty much all of the watersports. Really like to go hydro-foiling, but also do the wakeboarding/slalom/and trying to learn the barefooting. So no excuses this season, going to gather them up, and go big. Anyone out there, from the upper Mississippi, around Savanna/Sabula area.

Mike Timm · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 13 City: Winnebago

It got up to 48 today, and had to take the boat out. Learning the new handling, or lack of, with the inboard. Basically the boat (Centurion Lighting), that we've got, will back to the right, but your lucky to hold it straight, while trying to back to the left. Any more ideas? Idea

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

always dock so when you reverse, ' to the right ' is the correct direction for the stern (back) of the boat. you'll get it after a while with some practice.

eldorett · Criminal Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 96 City: Massachusetts

Just like everyone said, its all about practice. Once you get the hang of where the boat naturally wants to go when you do certain things, then getting it where you want it when you want it becomes a snap as you employ those tricks. Inboards rely on momentum which definitely takes some getting used to but you'll be able to parallel park the thing in no time once you do. Docking maneuvers may not be as intuitive with something like that but in most situations, nothing handles like an inboard.

Fishmaster · Posted: May 02, 2004 8:36 pm Post subject:

WOW - This one hit's home. I had a dad issue Whaler outboard at 13 and have had countless O/B's and I/O's only over the next 27 years. We just got a Tige 22V with V-Drive and I still miss the far superior control in reverse of an I/O or outboard.

There are docks I just can not get into anymore becuase you have to have the control in FWD and REV to get into them. I also miss being able to trim up in shallow water but that's not a big factor on our lake.

On the upside, I would not go back. The seating layout is great. A real swim platform is heaven over putting the board on in the boat and doing a diver down over the side. Last but now least, the wake is so well crafted on the wakeboats today if your mostly using it for wakesports you'll overlook everything else with a big smile on your face.

wakeskier · Addict Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Posts: 593 City: Leominster, MA

Yeah, I'm making the transition this year too!
Definitely a bit different, but getting the hang of pre-planning my moves.

The biggest problem I'm still have is when it's really windy, or there's a lot of current. I worry about getting blown to the side and ending up parallel to shore (doesn't seem like there'd be an easy way out of that situation?)

Any pointers?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I hate that helpless feeling when you are heading into bad spot, and you are powerless to really do anything about it because it just doesn't steer as well at docking speeds as your old i/o.

there is this spot where we launch where we have to turn the boat around 180 degrees in a relatively short span of distance, and I always hit somebody's boat, or at least have to have somebody "catch" for me and push me away. I hate that.

Swass · Guest

I'm sure they do, too. Shocked

Mike Timm · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 13 City: Winnebago

Finally some feedback, of users, not fully satisfied, with their boats handling. You should'nt have to rely on human bumpers, to get the job done. And back to the original question, why not a stern thruster? Check out this site www.vetus.com, and look at stern thrusters.

Fishmaster · Posted: May 03, 2004 9:15 pm Post subject:

There are lots of stern thrusters (http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=stern+thruster&fr=my_top) and even more bow thrusters, but since we all need new boards, ropes, vests, etc, not to mentions ballast, heaters, shoiwes, etc - I dont see them hitting many peoples radar screens.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Yea, you shouldn't have to rely on human bumpers, but if there is any wind at all, the space I have to turn around in is only around 5 feet longer than my boat, and the inboard just can't seem to be able to swing that at docking speed. I end up using a human bumper and putting it in reverse alot.

Mike Timm · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 13 City: Winnebago

If given the option of perfect pass for $1500, or the stern thruster, for the same, I would probably do both.

Mike Timm · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 13 City: Winnebago

Whats up camerboy
Not trying to nock your techniques, only wondering if somebody out there, has ever done this sort of thing. The bigger inboard boats, have been using these for years. Why not a smaller/cleaner looking version, for ours.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I think it's a good idea. From experience, though, I would say just get one and put it on yourself. Anything that goes onto a boat, especially a water sports boat, suddenly doubles in the price it would have been if sold for any other application.

Like waxes, boat wash, heck, damn near anything that has more than one application, if you buy it at a boat store, it's at least a 25% price increase.

Bruky · Guest

im glad we dont have people like camera boy running into our boat lol jk man! Wink

i havent been in an i/o but once, but how much harder IS it? i must not be following, but why would you need a stern thruster? we dont have any problems with our boat, but maybe were just wierd... Rolling Eyes

Swass · Guest

So, I'm talkin' on my cell phone while idling away from the dock in reverse. The people in my boat are yellin' "dude - stop...DUDE!" I'm thinkin' "WTF? Why is everyone funkin yellin at me?" Well, they're yellin' at me because I'm about to run into someone. What do I do? Yeah, I panic and go faster in reverse. "THUNK!" No damage to his boat, but I splintered the corner of my swim deck a little bit. : ( Thank god he was cool about it. I know I wouldn't have been as forgiving as he was.

"My name is Swass, and I can't drive."

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Let me clear this up, I never hit another boat, only some guys aluminum pontoon once, and it was just a tap. Mostly I have a human bumper or race from the helm to push off myself. I'm getting better already, though, but it is nothing like an I/o where you can go where you want as slow as you want.

Swass · Guest

Sorry, but "aluminum pontoon" = "boat." Welcome to the club.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Maybe an aluminum pontoon is a boat in your book, in my neck of the woods we call them "idiot barges" or "swamp-people-party-boat" well, I guess then they are boats, but whatever.

Swass · Guest

Are you reluctant to be lumped in with the likes of me?

No problem - I can take a hint!

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Swass, do you have a pontoon boat?

I understand that they are "cool" in some states. Like I said, at our lake, Pontoon boat=Grandma Float.

riverfreak · Posted: May 06, 2004 7:40 am Post subject:

cameraboy???? apparently you have never been on one with 12s, full of people with your boats anchored, in the middle of the lake, cookin' BBQ, drinkin' beer? well call me an idoit cause I'm on the Granny Float when I get the chance!!! Cool

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

No man, NOBODY shows up with a pontoon boat if they don't want to get harassed.

Honestly, I can see how they could be fun, and I wouldn't mind having one, but they just have this bad rep where I'm from.

One of my friends suggested that we all get one this year, and my cousins threw him into the bay and taught the baby to call him "aunt Ken."

Swass · Guest

No, I don't have a pontoon boat.

riverfreak · Posted: May 06, 2004 8:37 am Post subject:

thats just plain silly to me and very shallow...... how can a boat that can barely go over 30mph and has 0 wake have a bad rep......that would be my favorite boat to see on the lake.....one that wont f--k up the water?

Mike Timm · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 13 City: Winnebago

Hey Cameraboy, I here your nocking slow moving boats. You see its not how fast your boat is, its how many toys you can get to the beach. You see we have a 32' houseboat, thats top speed is about 10mph, but its a place that you can sleep/eat/and do what ever else is needed. And not have to leave the beach, every night. And then you can go play on the water, with the jetski's/ or better yet the Centurion. The one who dies with the most TOYS wins.

King of the Tigers · Posted: May 08, 2004 9:54 am Post subject:

Personally, I've found more toys just makes my life more complicated and less fun.

1 boat for me please.

But back to the original post. I've only ever had inboards so I guess I'm just used to the maneuvering.

But I'd recommend trying out different techniques while out in the middle of the lake so that you'll get an idea of how the boat responds.

Eric Golsan · Posted: May 08, 2004 12:21 pm Post subject:

Inboards react to throttle (forward and reverse) and steering in conjuction with one another. Unlike I/Os that you can steer them in either forward or reverse the same.

Use the rotation of the prop to help you manuver the boat. Practice and go slow.

Try putting a 35' sail boat into a slip, thats when you better know your boat.