230 Challenger handling
- Thread starter Perky
- Start date
- Status
DooGuy
Active Member
I don’t have docking mode, older 230, but can tell you with practice your boat will drop jaws at the docks with its maneuverability. I prefer to back in whenever I can, actually built a loading dock for my slip just for stern docking.
Before
After
My advice. Go out to a quite area on a calm day and chuck a basketball or bumper in the water. Then learn the feel of your boat by practicing backing in to, touching various sides of boat etc, using them as if they were a dock. No fear of damage and not in front of a bunch of looky loos trying to get the next YouTube video. Just make sure to not have a line attached so you don’t suck up.
Before
After
My advice. Go out to a quite area on a calm day and chuck a basketball or bumper in the water. Then learn the feel of your boat by practicing backing in to, touching various sides of boat etc, using them as if they were a dock. No fear of damage and not in front of a bunch of looky loos trying to get the next YouTube video. Just make sure to not have a line attached so you don’t suck up.
Do you need to add any throttle backing up, does the boat track straight, also was it difficult to get used of turning the wheel in opposite direction you want the stern to move. Thanks again.
DooGuy
Active Member
All depends on conditions, if no wind/current and waters like glass then probably won’t take to much of any power to idle in. If there’s current/wind/waves etc then it’s all dependent on how much of each etc. I’m pretty active on the sticks usually just forward and reverse with little adjustments on the wheel. My marina is on the river and we get a good amount of wind and then have river current to contend with and I can say I rarely if ever touch the throttle when I’m bringing into slip, the idle is more than sufficient. Just work the forward/reverse bucket. My usual technique is stay about a boat width away from dock. Pull up to just about middle and helicopter turn( 180) until stern is lined up then reverse straight in. Occasionally I make use of the side bumpers, but that’s what they are for. Again slow and steady wins the prize. Speed will not. (I’ll see about doing a video in a couple weeks when I put in, give me a chance to use new dash cam).
The steering took a little to get used to, drove props for 20 years. But with practice and a lot more practice, I don’t even think about now. It’s completely 2nd nature.
Thanks for all the information. If you end up taking a video would it be possible to show me one when you're working the levers. Much appreciated. Thanks again.
DooGuy
Active Member
Hey Jack, thank you for the reminder. I will get it done in the next couple days and post up.
Joe Starbuck
Member
Perky, I recently got one of these Challenger 230s. One thing I came to realize is that Forward/Neutral/ Reverse is not an all-or-nothing choice. You can be in Neutral and just pull back a little to get a "little" reverse. Same thing with Forward. I have never used docking mode, because idle (1800 rpm) usually gives me enough power to make all the docking moves I need, unless the wind/current are significant. I don't back into slips, I am a trailer boater. "Does the boat back up straight?" It can, but you need active steering inputs because centering the wheel does not guarantee your buckets are dead centered.
That was an awesome video. Thanks so much for taking the time to do the video. Much appreciated. I've just purchased the Poppy boat cover similar to yours. Would it be difficult to put on at the slip with access only two sides of dock, rear and one side only. Thanks again for your help. Enjoy your weekend. Jack
DooGuy
Active Member
Here’s the other view, no throttle just the forward /neutral/reverse and working the wheel to turn it. Practice with a buoy in open water so you can get the feel before adding pressure of doing at the docks. Once you’ve got it down it’ll be second nature and you won’t think about.
Last edited:
LionOnABeach
Active Member
This right here. I don’t ever use the throttle when maneuvering for docking or loading on trailer (except a quick blip once I’m on the bunks to push it up). I back down into spots and tie up with other boats in “party cove” type settings all the time and it’s just nice and slow and easy. I was new to this boat about a year ago and did practice out in open water a lot. It will become second nature in short order.
DooGuy
Active Member
I'm in Dunnville, ON, Canada, my slip is located close to a dam so we get a lot of current and winds. The first time I tried was a bit hectic to say the least, turning into the slip a bit early. My biggest problem is getting over the steering in reverse being opposite. I had twin sterns drives before and hardly touched the wheel when backing in. It definitely takes patients and practice, but I must say the I'm coming along. That was a great video and has definitely helped. I purchased a full cover from poppy with the ratchet similar to yours, with my dock I only have access to the stern and one other side, wondering if it would be to difficult to install at the dock. Thanks again. Jack
DooGuy
Active Member
Yeah I did twin sterns before having a jet and it took a while to unlearn and relearn. Totally get that. Hard to explain the difference, have to feel it etc. I’m about 1/4 mile from the main damn as well.
For the cover I’m lucky for access all around. Mines the factory cover with the ratchet on starboard side. When you dock are you on starboard or port for your main dock? It takes a bit of finagling but I’ve done the cover from inside starting with bow and working way back when I docked at a place with only stern access. Mine has a zipper access on the swim deck
so I can stand on the deck while putting cover around rub rail on stern etc. thinking if you don’t have doc access to ratchet just have to figure out a tension that is just right enough to slip over rubrail etc and then maybe throw a line over for rouge winds.
For the cover I’m lucky for access all around. Mines the factory cover with the ratchet on starboard side. When you dock are you on starboard or port for your main dock? It takes a bit of finagling but I’ve done the cover from inside starting with bow and working way back when I docked at a place with only stern access. Mine has a zipper access on the swim deck
so I can stand on the deck while putting cover around rub rail on stern etc. thinking if you don’t have doc access to ratchet just have to figure out a tension that is just right enough to slip over rubrail etc and then maybe throw a line over for rouge winds.When I'm backed in I'm on the starboard side. Is the cover fairly easy to manage yourself? Thanks again.
DooGuy
Active Member
I think I manage it pretty well. Couple hands always helps with buckling around the tower but I’ve covered just as many times by myself without too many issues.
turbosl2
Well-Known Member
I back into my slip every time as well. Doo Guy hit all the high points. If you hold your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel the way you turn the wheel is the way the jets will push the stern while in neutral or reverse. Its the same concept as backing up a trailer. I am surprised on how easy i can move the stern of the boat while in neutral. Its like having thrusters.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
